Becoming a Technical Writer via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Arizona State University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering technical writing courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
technical writers,
business writers,
writers,
creative writers,
life underwriters,
songwriters, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 46,270 people employed as
technical writers alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$65,610.
Insurance underwriters make on average $63,330
per year and there are about 98,430
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Arizona State University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Technical Writer
- Publishing Companies
- Literature Departments
- Writers Associations
- Schools
- Colleges
- Research Centers
- New Channels
- Media Companies
- Political Party Offices
- Corporate Communication Departments
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Technical Writer
- Respectable understanding of the english language
- Understanding of vocabulary
- Sound knowledge on technical terms
- The ability to design and create new documentation
- Flexible working hours
- Learn good time management
- Opportunities of commanding tasks
- Solid research, language, and writing skills
- Improve writing skills further
- Experiment with new ideas
Potential Drawbacks
- Constant reworking and repetition
- Rare to get a byline on a manual help system or other document that he or she has produced
- There is less reputation in this job
- Staff technical writers tend to work long hours
- At times unable to receive pay for overtime
- Different changes come over the course of career
- Required to work on site at least part of the time
- Going to both formal and informal meetings
- A sedentary profession that does not involve travel
- Guidelines can be frustrating
Related Professions to Consider
- Document Specialist
- Nonclinical Technical Writer
- Senior Technical Writer
- Junior Technical Writer
- Technical Editor
- Grant Technical Writer
- Content Manager
- Technical Author
- Scientific Technical Writer
- Technical Procedure
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Technical Writer
- Where did you go to school?
- Why did you choose technical writing as your field?
- Do you have any experience of technical writing?
- If you are currently employed, why are you seeking this position?
- Have you had to work in a team before?
- How long do you expect to be in this position?
- What software are you trained to use?
- Can you edit web languages?
- How did you hear about this position?
- What was the process you followed for production?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Technical Manager
- Senior Medical Writer
- Investment Banking Writer
- Technical Writer Senior Job
- Staff Writer
- Software Manager
- Editor
- Illustrator
- Software Developer
- Software Editor
Technical Writer Training books
Technical Writer (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- English
- Civil Engineering
- Communications
- Political Science
- Technical Drafting
- Pre-law
- Mechanical Engineering
- DX Arts
- Accounting
- Business
Technical Writer Salary Information
Category: Insurance underwriters
| Total # Employed in the US |
98,430 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$30.45/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17.13 |
$21.33 |
$27.8 |
$37.34 |
$47.8 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$63,330 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $35,630 |
$44,380 |
$57,820 |
$77,660 |
$99,420 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.6% |
18.3% |
22.4% |
8.6% |
42.5% |
6.1% |
1.4% |
|
Insurance underwriters — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Delaware |
$36.88/hr
|
$76,700
|
| Oklahoma |
$36.5/hr
|
$75,910
|
| North Dakota |
$34.56/hr
|
$71,880
|
| Virginia |
$33.52/hr
|
$69,710
|
| Missouri |
$33.51/hr
|
$69,710
|
| Florida |
$33.17/hr
|
$69,000
|
| Colorado |
$32.82/hr
|
$68,260
|
| Kansas |
$32.79/hr
|
$68,210
|
| Ohio |
$32.08/hr
|
$66,730
|
| Mississippi |
$31.9/hr
|
$66,350
|
| Utah |
$31.4/hr
|
$65,320
|
| West Virginia |
$30.87/hr
|
$64,210
|
| Kentucky |
$30.84/hr
|
$64,150
|
| Tennessee |
$30.81/hr
|
$64,080
|
| Michigan |
$30.32/hr
|
$63,050
|
| Wisconsin |
$30.31/hr
|
$63,040
|
| Wyoming |
$29.84/hr
|
$62,070
|
| South Carolina |
$29.2/hr
|
$60,730
|
| North Carolina |
$29.13/hr
|
$60,590
|
| District of Columbia |
$28.96/hr
|
$60,250
|
| Montana |
$28.94/hr
|
$60,200
|
| Maine |
$28.88/hr
|
$60,060
|
| Idaho |
$28.36/hr
|
$58,980
|
| Connecticut |
$28.34/hr
|
$58,940
|
| Nebraska |
$28.33/hr
|
$58,920
|
| Alaska |
$27.9/hr
|
$58,040
|
| Louisiana |
$27.87/hr
|
$57,970
|
| New Hampshire |
$27.8/hr
|
$57,820
|
| Oregon |
$27.47/hr
|
$57,140
|
| Iowa |
$27.42/hr
|
$57,020
|
| New Mexico |
$27.27/hr
|
$56,720
|
| New York |
$26.98/hr
|
$56,120
|
| Hawaii |
$26.73/hr
|
$55,590
|
| Maryland |
$24.67/hr
|
$51,310
|
| Alabama |
$24.59/hr
|
$51,140
|
| Nevada |
$24.39/hr
|
$50,730
|
| Indiana |
$24.32/hr
|
$50,580
|
| Puerto Rico |
$24.2/hr
|
$50,340
|
| Arkansas |
$24.05/hr
|
$50,030
|
| South Dakota |
$24.02/hr
|
$49,970
|
| Washington |
$23.21/hr
|
$48,280
|
| California |
$22.36/hr
|
$46,510
|
| Massachusetts |
$22.21/hr
|
$46,200
|
| Pennsylvania |
$22.14/hr
|
$46,050
|
| New Jersey |
$21.45/hr
|
$44,620
|
Category: Technical writers
| Total # Employed in the US |
46,270 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.55/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17.82 |
$22.94 |
$30.16 |
$38.7 |
$48.09 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$65,610 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $37,070 |
$47,710 |
$62,730 |
$80,490 |
$100,020 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.8% |
4.9% |
14.1% |
6.1% |
48.9% |
18.8% |
6.4% |
|
Technical writers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$38.41/hr
|
$79,900
|
| Colorado |
$38.4/hr
|
$79,880
|
| North Carolina |
$35.65/hr
|
$74,150
|
| Florida |
$34.76/hr
|
$72,310
|
| North Dakota |
$33.35/hr
|
$69,360
|
| Ohio |
$33.12/hr
|
$68,890
|
| Idaho |
$33.06/hr
|
$68,760
|
| Oklahoma |
$32.77/hr
|
$68,160
|
| Mississippi |
$32.69/hr
|
$68,000
|
| Connecticut |
$32/hr
|
$66,570
|
| Oregon |
$31.3/hr
|
$65,100
|
| Tennessee |
$30.86/hr
|
$64,180
|
| Nebraska |
$30.53/hr
|
$63,510
|
| Kansas |
$30.53/hr
|
$63,500
|
| Arkansas |
$29.94/hr
|
$62,270
|
| Alaska |
$29.84/hr
|
$62,070
|
| Utah |
$29.61/hr
|
$61,580
|
| Virginia |
$29.41/hr
|
$61,180
|
| Kentucky |
$29.12/hr
|
$60,580
|
| Wyoming |
$28.78/hr
|
$59,860
|
| District of Columbia |
$28.34/hr
|
$58,940
|
| Delaware |
$28.32/hr
|
$58,910
|
| Wisconsin |
$28.19/hr
|
$58,640
|
| Montana |
$27.86/hr
|
$57,950
|
| Louisiana |
$26.8/hr
|
$55,750
|
| Washington |
$26.73/hr
|
$55,600
|
| South Carolina |
$26.47/hr
|
$55,050
|
| Hawaii |
$26.36/hr
|
$54,840
|
| New Hampshire |
$26.36/hr
|
$54,830
|
| Iowa |
$25.84/hr
|
$53,740
|
| Maryland |
$25.65/hr
|
$53,350
|
| New York |
$25.63/hr
|
$53,300
|
| Guam |
$25.54/hr
|
$53,120
|
| Alabama |
$25.35/hr
|
$52,730
|
| Massachusetts |
$24.48/hr
|
$50,920
|
| New Mexico |
$24.09/hr
|
$50,100
|
| Maine |
$24.08/hr
|
$50,090
|
| Puerto Rico |
$23.45/hr
|
$48,770
|
| Michigan |
$23.36/hr
|
$48,580
|
| California |
$22.79/hr
|
$47,410
|
| Pennsylvania |
$21.49/hr
|
$44,690
|
| South Dakota |
$21.48/hr
|
$44,680
|
| Nevada |
$21.26/hr
|
$44,220
|
| West Virginia |
$21.16/hr
|
$44,010
|
| New Jersey |
$18.66/hr
|
$38,800
|
| Indiana |
$17.42/hr
|
$36,220
|
Category: Writers and authors
| Total # Employed in the US |
43,390 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.04/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $13.5 |
$18.63 |
$25.91 |
$36.41 |
$50.82 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$64,560 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28,070 |
$38,760 |
$53,900 |
$75,740 |
$105,710 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.6% |
3.4% |
9.6% |
3.2% |
47.9% |
26.2% |
9.0% |
|
Writers and authors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$42.11/hr
|
$87,600
|
| Oklahoma |
$40.48/hr
|
$84,200
|
| Florida |
$37.42/hr
|
$77,820
|
| Alaska |
$33.59/hr
|
$69,860
|
| Delaware |
$33.38/hr
|
$69,440
|
| Connecticut |
$31.52/hr
|
$65,570
|
| Mississippi |
$31.37/hr
|
$65,260
|
| Virginia |
$31.3/hr
|
$65,110
|
| Arkansas |
$30.29/hr
|
$63,000
|
| Kansas |
$30.28/hr
|
$62,990
|
| New York |
$30.19/hr
|
$62,790
|
| Missouri |
$30.14/hr
|
$62,690
|
| North Dakota |
$29.57/hr
|
$61,500
|
| Nebraska |
$27.56/hr
|
$57,320
|
| District of Columbia |
$27.31/hr
|
$56,810
|
| Wyoming |
$26.9/hr
|
$55,960
|
| Indiana |
$26.37/hr
|
$54,850
|
| Ohio |
$25.89/hr
|
$53,860
|
| New Mexico |
$25.69/hr
|
$53,440
|
| New Hampshire |
$25.69/hr
|
$53,430
|
| Idaho |
$25.68/hr
|
$53,420
|
| Utah |
$25.57/hr
|
$53,190
|
| Oregon |
$25.31/hr
|
$52,650
|
| North Carolina |
$25.09/hr
|
$52,180
|
| Michigan |
$24.81/hr
|
$51,610
|
| South Carolina |
$24.7/hr
|
$51,380
|
| Tennessee |
$24.23/hr
|
$50,400
|
| Nevada |
$23.01/hr
|
$47,860
|
| Washington |
$22.98/hr
|
$47,800
|
| Montana |
$22.83/hr
|
$47,480
|
| Hawaii |
$22.69/hr
|
$47,190
|
| California |
$22.5/hr
|
$46,800
|
| Alabama |
$22.46/hr
|
$46,710
|
| Maine |
$21.93/hr
|
$45,610
|
| Puerto Rico |
$21.16/hr
|
$44,010
|
| Louisiana |
$20.69/hr
|
$43,040
|
| New Jersey |
$20.55/hr
|
$42,740
|
| Wisconsin |
$19.82/hr
|
$41,220
|
| Massachusetts |
$19.53/hr
|
$40,620
|
| South Dakota |
$19.32/hr
|
$40,180
|
| Kentucky |
$19.29/hr
|
$40,120
|
| Maryland |
$19.23/hr
|
$39,990
|
| West Virginia |
$18.63/hr
|
$38,750
|
| Iowa |
$18.18/hr
|
$37,820
|
| Pennsylvania |
$15.65/hr
|
$32,560
|
Category: Gaming and sports book writers and runners
| Total # Employed in the US |
14,790 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$11.28/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.33 |
$8.18 |
$9.78 |
$13.0 |
$18.0 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$23,460 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15,250 |
$17,020 |
$20,350 |
$27,040 |
$37,440 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 9.8% |
35.8% |
32.9% |
7.8% |
11.8% |
1.6% |
0.3% |
|
Gaming and sports book writers and runners — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| District of Columbia |
$16.25/hr
|
$33,800
|
| Alaska |
$16.18/hr
|
$33,660
|
| Colorado |
$14.75/hr
|
$30,670
|
| Kansas |
$14.35/hr
|
$29,850
|
| Maryland |
$14.21/hr
|
$29,550
|
| Kentucky |
$13.56/hr
|
$28,210
|
| Montana |
$12.72/hr
|
$26,470
|
| Hawaii |
$12.25/hr
|
$25,470
|
| South Carolina |
$11.59/hr
|
$24,110
|
| South Dakota |
$11.34/hr
|
$23,580
|
| North Dakota |
$11.18/hr
|
$23,250
|
| Wyoming |
$11.06/hr
|
$23,000
|
| Louisiana |
$10.65/hr
|
$22,150
|
| New York |
$10.45/hr
|
$21,740
|
| Alabama |
$10.31/hr
|
$21,450
|
| Tennessee |
$10.27/hr
|
$21,360
|
| Arkansas |
$10.16/hr
|
$21,140
|
| West Virginia |
$9.89/hr
|
$20,570
|
| Pennsylvania |
$9.87/hr
|
$20,530
|
| Utah |
$9.56/hr
|
$19,890
|
| Ohio |
$9.54/hr
|
$19,840
|
| Michigan |
$9.53/hr
|
$19,820
|
| Massachusetts |
$9.42/hr
|
$19,590
|
| Nevada |
$9.37/hr
|
$19,480
|
| New Mexico |
$9.36/hr
|
$19,460
|
| Nebraska |
$9.32/hr
|
$19,390
|
| Washington |
$8.74/hr
|
$18,180
|
| New Jersey |
$8.69/hr
|
$18,070
|
| Mississippi |
$8.52/hr
|
$17,720
|
| Oregon |
$7.26/hr
|
$15,110
|
Category: Copy Writers
| Total # Employed in the US |
43,390 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.04/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $13.5 |
$18.63 |
$25.91 |
$36.41 |
$50.82 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$64,560 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28,070 |
$38,760 |
$53,900 |
$75,740 |
$105,710 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.6% |
3.4% |
9.6% |
3.2% |
47.9% |
26.2% |
9.0% |
|
