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Technical Writer

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AVG. SALARY

$55,810

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EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

Technical Writers Career Video

About This Career

Writes technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

This career is part of the Arts, Audio-Video Technology and Communications cluster Journalism and Broadcasting pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Organizes material and completes writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
  • Maintains records and files of work and revisions.
  • Edits, standardizes, or makes changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.
  • Selects photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material.
  • Interviews production and engineering personnel and reads journals and other material to become familiar with product technologies and production methods.
  • Develops or maintains online help documentation.
  • Assists in laying out material for publication.
  • Studies drawings, specifications, mockups, and product samples to integrate and delineate technology, operating procedure, and production sequence and detail.
  • Arranges for typing, duplication, and distribution of material.
  • Observes production, developmental, and experimental activities to determine operating procedure and detail.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Documentation Designer
  • Documentation Specialist
  • Engineering Writer
  • Medical Writer
  • Information Developer
  • Narrative Writer
  • Requirements Analyst
  • Technical Communicator