Digital and Technical Writing

 
 
 
 
 
 

Technical Writer

Job Description

The position of technical writer is one of many tasks and skills. The foremost job of a technical writer usually encompasses composing documentation for the producers of a product, in other words, they put technical information into easily understandable language. This writing is then given to consumers or users of the product as manuals, etc. In addition to manuals, technical writers may also create articles, project proposals, product instruction, technical reports, web pages, training materials, brochures, online documentation and help systems, assembly instructions and sales promotion materials.

Due to the wide range of tasks a technical writer must take on, the consideration of the target audience for each project is essential to succeed in the job. Further, a technical writer follows the project through interviewing, writing, editing and revising, layout, and publishing.

Alternate Job Titles

Technical writers may choose to specialize in a specific industry, for example, medical writing or software documentation. For this reason the position of technical writing could also be referred to as: Medical Writer, Policy and Procedure Writer, Proposal Writer, Publications Specialist, Science Writer, Documentation Specialist, Health Writer, Information Developer, Technical Editor, Web Editor, and Information Designer.

Education Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Technical Communication, English, Engineering, Communications, Journalism, or related field.
  • Some employers want an applicant with a specialization in one field of technology.
  • Strong computer skills.
  • Equally strong, concise, informative writing skills.

Experience Needed

  • Generally, some experience in technical writing (1-3 years). In this case, an internship may prove beneficial later on.
  • Strong computer skills including knowledge of many authoring programs, as well as software developmental tools.
  • Equally strong, concise, informative writing skills.

Salary and Benefits

  • Median annual earnings for salaried technical writers were $50,580 in 2002 according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Salaried writers also usually have benefits which include vacation, holidays, sick leave, bonuses, health and life insurance, and profit sharing opportunities.
  • For freelance technical writers, the average hourly wage ranges from around $25 to $40 an hour and usually does not include benefits.

Personal Skills

  • Active listening
  • Communicating with others
  • Information gathering and organization
  • Active learning
  • Creativity
  • Persistence
  • Visual interpretation
  • Analyse of products and problems
  • Problem solving

Job Outlook

"Demand for technical writers and writers with expertise in specialty areas, such as law, medicine, or economics, is expected to increase because of the continuing expansion of scientific and technical information and the need to communicate it to others. Rapid growth and change in the high-technology and electronics industries result in a greater need for people to write users’ guides, instruction manuals, and training materials. This work requires people who are not only technically skilled as writers, but also familiar with the subject area." ~U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics

Day in the Life

The link below leads you to a site with several day-in-the-life testimonials from those who work in the technical writing field.

Important Classes

In the Digital and Technical Writing track here at MSU, there are many classes relevant to a future profession in technical writing. They include:

  • WRA 320 - Technical Writing
  • WRA 410 - Adavanced Web Authoring
  • WRA 417 - Multimedia Writing
  • WRA 415 - Digital Rhetoric
  • WRA 210 - Introduction to Web Authoring
  • WRA 420 - Advanced Technical Writing

In addition to these classes in the PW program, courses in English, computer engineering, journalism, graphic arts, and mechanical drawing may also prove beneficial. Further, having background knowledge in the form of courses from a specific field may lend itself to a specialization in technical writing.

Works Cited


Written by Lauren Parker | Last updated 11/12/05