# Technical Writers

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/technical-writers
- SOC code: 27-3042.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $90,390 (10th percentile $57,440, 90th percentile $145,270)
- Projected growth: Little or no change, +0.8%
- Openings a year: 3,200
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CAI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 30 |
| Investigative (I) | 45 |
| Artistic (A) | 54 |
| Social (S) | 17 |
| Enterprising (E) | 16 |
| Conventional (C) | 72 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 90/100)
- Getting Information (importance 83/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 80/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 77/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 76/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 76/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 75/100)
- Processing Information (importance 75/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 74/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 73/100)

## Skills

Writing, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Coordination, Monitoring

## Knowledge

English Language, Computers and Electronics, Administrative, Communications and Media, Administration and Management, Public Safety and Security, Education and Training, Production and Processing, Customer and Personal Service, Mathematics

## Also called

Assembly Instructions Writer, Clinical Writer, Com Writer, Contracts Writer, Documentation Writer, Engineering Writer, Global Technical Writer, Grant Writer, Handbook Writer, Health Science Writer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2313) (CIP 2313, 792 colleges)
- [Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0909) (CIP 0909, 621 colleges)
- [Business/Corporate Communications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5205) (CIP 5205, 74 colleges)
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services (CIP 1902, 29 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/syracuse-university-2667) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $63,858 | $90,535 | $24,250 |
| [Southern Methodist University SMU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-methodist-university-smu-2498) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $56,398 | $89,330 | $17,375 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $63,165 | $87,946 | $12,125 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $63,370 | $85,459 | $19,500 |
| [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign-main-campus-2927) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $55,788 | $83,451 | $16,000 |
| [University of Miami](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-miami-2955) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $49,501 | $82,999 | $15,250 |
| [Pepperdine University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pepperdine-university-2101) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $56,348 | $81,417 | $20,549 |
| [University of San Francisco USF](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-san-francisco-usf-3034) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $50,062 | $81,285 | $19,500 |

## Related careers

- [Document Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/document-management-specialists): $116,580 median pay
- [Project Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/project-management-specialists): $102,320 median pay
- [Editors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/editors): $77,920 median pay
- [Management Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/management-analysts): $101,860 median pay
- [Proofreaders and Copy Markers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/proofreaders-and-copy-markers): $51,120 median pay
- [Data Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/data-scientists): $120,230 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.