A technical writer creates detailed, clear, and accurate documentation that simplifies complex information for targeted audiences. This includes preparing instructional materials, manuals, articles, and guides that help users understand and use products or services. Technical writers collaborate with experts like engineers and product developers to ensure accuracy and relevancy. Their work is crucial in various industries, particularly technology, healthcare, and engineering, where precise information is vital for user success and regulatory compliance.
Read on if you want to make a career out of technical writing. This article describes the technical writer’s job, the required qualifications, and how to succeed as a technical writer. If you’re looking to learn via video, then see this resource:
What are the Technical Writer’s Responsibilities?
Writers can work as documentation specialists, creating and updating company paperwork related to training and developing technical staff.
Technical writers also write journal articles, occupational outlook handbooks, and other high-quality documentation, depending on their expertise.
Here are technical writer responsibilities:
- Research any technical concept or information related to their company or department’s field of operation
- Plan technical document development according to company needs
- Compile information by order of usability
- Develop and edit the required documentation
- Organize all technical documents into the database and make copies for data security
- Maintain a detailed glossary and library of technical terms and records at all times
In addition, other technical writers have more specific responsibilities in their professional field, making it a diverse job with varying duties.
For example, medical writers write drug-related literature and product reviews in medical journals.
Technical writing is quite a diverse field, and professionals in it can have a variety of responsibilities depending on the company.
For example, if you work as a Google technical writer, you work on writing documentation on how users can embed YouTube videos. And if you’re a LinkedIn technical writer, you write documentation on how users can create a LinkedIn profile.
Nevertheless, all technical writers have common job duties.
Here are some of the primary responsibilities of most technical writers.
Subject Matter Research
Because they write the very literature that professionals in a field will study to become experts in their niche, technical writers must be subject matter experts to some degree.
Their expertise comes from conducting detailed theoretical research into a professional area or topic and developing content based on their findings.
While conducting subject matter research, many technical writers will:
- Gather topic-related information from various sources such as journals, competitor literature, dissertations, whitepapers, professional social media, LinkedIn, or job boards.
- Study written information on a specific subject and correlate it to their topic.
- Discern useful information and narrow their research down to specific points.
- List those points in order of importance to the subject.
Also, writers interview existing experts or take courses based on their research topic.
Technical Document Planning
Since technical documents are vital to the company’s operational requirements, writers must plan their development instead of starting on singular notice.
Writers plan the resources each technical document consumes and its impact.
While planning technical documentation, most technical writers will:
- Ascertain project scope and resource input based on the complexity of the document
- Familiarize themselves with the subject
- Maintain a work log containing regular tasks for themselves and their team (for senior technical writers)
- Interview internal experts and managers for insight
Sometimes, (senior) writers operate as full-time managers for the technical writing team.
In this capacity, they’re responsible for developing systematic writing approaches for more efficient work and setting time targets for team members.
If you want to learn more about the technical writing process, check out our Technical Writing Certification Course.
Technical Writer Role
While most technical writer role requirements are specific to each job, some roles require each potential writer to develop.
Here are some of the roles that companies expect a technical writer to fill:
- Outstanding Communicator: As a technical communicator, part of the technical writer’s job is to ensure the documents and content they write are understandable. Technical writers need excellent technical communication skills to transfer technical knowledge without using complex language.
- Tech-Management Pro: Since most modern companies (SMEs and corporations) use software for data processing and housing, technical writers need to know how to manage advanced software systems for storage, research, etc. Furthermore, if technical writers work in a technical field, they must have at least a working knowledge of functional software and machinery.
- Technical Know-How: While technical writers typically don’t need to have experience in the area they’re writing about, it’s beneficial to have at least some practical knowledge of how certain aspects of work from a technical standpoint. For example, information technology and computer science writers must have experience with practical cybersecurity implementation.
- User Experience Development: This relates to communication skills. Writers need to provide the optimal solution for each of the pain points of a reader in their content.
- Effective Information Researcher: Conducting research is one of the fundamental technical skills for a writer. Technical writers need to refine and streamline their search to collect the most helpful information about a subject quickly.
- Detail-Oriented Writer: The most successful technical writers know which details to give.
- Single-Source Selection: Some projects require writers to create multiple documents on the same topic, however, for readers of varying proficiency levels. Writers need to know which source has ample information to benefit all readers and spin the content to suit beginner and advanced readers.
- Critical Thinker: Critical thinking is associated with non-technical writing. However, it’s just as crucial for technical writers who wish to explore journalistic work. Critical thought will allow readers to discern between valuable information and fluff and create content that provides a solution instead of data that raises more questions.
Overall, it pays to be not just a talented writer with a knack for picking out the most critical details from a sea of data but also someone who can then transfer that knowledge to the audience.
Technical Writer Qualifications
The exact qualifications of a technical writer depend on the industry and company. However, most writers need to have a few basic credentials.
These are:
- Bachelor’s degree in English (or industry-specific faculty), with 2-3 years of experience for an intermediate writer and 4-5 years for senior writers
- Vocational diploma in technical writing or content development
- Undergraduate degree and extended technical writing internship
In addition to the above, to become a technical writer, you must have professional writing experience in either a technical or academic content development capacity.
Entry-level technical writers with a high-school diploma also get a job. However, they must attain higher education before progressing to senior positions.
Summary
Adopting technical writing as a career can be very rewarding for candidates interested in exploiting creative content development abilities in a technical capacity.
Faculties such as engineering, medicine, architecture, and business administration are conducive to technical writers willing to take the steps above to succeed in technical writing.
In conclusion, if you’re interested in a position as a technical writer, make sure to find out which technical content type suits your writing abilities and the job responsibilities of the position.
FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the technical writer occupation.
What writing skills are essential for a technical writer?
A technical writer needs strong writing skills, including clarity, precision, and the ability to simplify complex information. They must structure content logically, use consistent terminology, and tailor documentation for different audiences, ensuring users can easily understand scientific and technical products.
What types of technical writing jobs are available?
Technical writing jobs span various industries, including software, healthcare, manufacturing, and engineering. Professionals may work on user manuals, API documentation, white papers, and online help systems. Many roles also involve creating content for scientific and technical products, making expertise in specific fields valuable.
What career opportunities does the technical writer occupation offer?
The technical writer occupation provides diverse career paths, including roles in content development, documentation management, and instructional design. With experience, technical writers can advance to senior positions, specialize in niche industries, or transition into related fields like UX writing or content strategy.
What benefits does technical writing offer professionals?
Technical writing offers a stable career with opportunities for growth, competitive salaries, and the flexibility to work across industries. It allows professionals to leverage their expertise while improving communication between technical experts and end users.
What is the average salary of a technical writer?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a technical writer varies by industry, location, and experience level. In the United States, technical writers earn between $60,000 and $90,000 per year, with senior professionals and those in specialized fields, such as software or engineering, earning higher salaries.
If you are new to technical writing and are looking to break in, we recommend taking our Technical Writing Certification Course, where you will learn the fundamentals of being a technical writer, how to dominate technical writer interviews, and how to stand out as a technical writing candidate.
