UX Writer vs Technical Writer: What’s the Difference?
A UX writer focuses on creating concise, user-friendly content within digital products, ensuring clarity in navigation and interactions. A technical writer, on the other hand, specializes in documentation and reference materials, providing detailed instructions, manuals, and guides for users or developers. While both roles require strong writing skills, UX writing elements emphasize microcopy and interface language, whereas technical writing serves to explain complex information in a structured manner.
Here, we describe what technical writing and UX writing are and their evolution, along with exploring the connection and difference between both fields. You’ll discover what qualifications and skills both writers need to excel and how much they make.
Difference Between a UX Writer and a Technical Writer
Image Credit: Keith Mahoney
What makes a UX writer different from a tech writer? Technical writing focuses on working with text-heavy documentation like online help files, user guides, instruction manuals, etc., rather than user journeys in digital interfaces. On the other hand, UX writing helps formulate error messages, copy for form fields, and instructions you find on a site or in an application. As such, both roles need different mindsets. In this post, we cover every possible difference between both the roles:
What Is The Role of a UX Writer?
A user experience (UX) writer plans and creates user-facing and user-guiding microcopy throughout the interface of digital products (websites, apps, etc.), including call-to-action, onboarding flows, and menu taxonomy. A UX writer must find the words for menus, error messages, screen messages, definitions, buttons, labels, form fields, chatbots, and instructions to guide users through a product.
They think like customers and end-users and write UX copy for users, including people of different backgrounds, abilities, ages, and gender identities, that is intuitive, easy to understand, and according to the goals of the product. Although there is some overlap with other disciplines like content strategy and UX design, UX writers (Facebook and Airbnb call them content strategists) focus on writing content for users of digital products.
UX writing aims to create functional text in simple language to guide users through varied digital experiences found on an app or a website. They are product-oriented and write copy to enhance UX through UX design. In short, they simplify the method of using any software product with simpler words.
Some of the typical duties and responsibilities of a UX writer are as follows:
- Carrying out competitive analyses of other websites and applications operating in the same space
- Working side by side with the UX design team on different issues, such as navigation, page routing, product page design, etc. to find the best ways to write a useful copy
- Preparing mockups for the design and development teams
- Creating microcopy within digital products and on web experiences and flows
- Writing and maintaining guidelines and style guides that include brand voice
- Partaking in creating a long-term strategy for content development
- Understanding major product strategy metrics and how to use it content strategy
- Tracking usability objectives and preparing reports for senior management
- Performing tests on all types of pages on the website and generating a report that showcases the findings
What Is The Role of a Technical Writer?
A technical writer is a writing professional responsible for converting complex technical information into easy-to-read documentation. Tech writers produce high-quality documentation that meets applicable standards and helps end-users use different applications and products. They work on requirements like content strategy or exploring new products to ensure all important information is available for the users.
Technical writers work with internal teams to understand the product’s requirements, such as how to implement it through the UI text/online help or develop guides and tutorials to enable beginners to navigate the application. In addition to writing accurate and informative instructional content like guides, manuals, tutorials, quick reference guides, white papers, and memos, technical writers also play a vital part in the documentation development cycle.
In the main, they break down complex technical products into easy-to-understand documentation that helps an end-user understand how to use products and services. Tech writers use their excellent research and exploration skills to conduct extensive research and create documentation that communicates information in clear, useful terms.
The duties and responsibilities of a tech writer are:
- Researching, writing, editing, and revising content that is both engaging and accessible to user personas with both technical and non-technical backgrounds
- Designing and establishing style guidelines for text to meet business requirements
- Creating technical documentation in the form of instruction manuals, integration guides, API developer guides, configuration instructions, in-platform instructions, and system operations
- Producing client resources and educational materials like demonstrations, tutorials, videos, training materials, guided tours, technical overviews, and FAQs
- Writing content in compliance with the company’s established standards and guidelines
- Working with internal teams and other stakeholders for a detailed understanding of the product and documentation requirements
- Researching, creating, and maintaining information architecture templates that uphold business and legal standards and enable easy data migration
- Providing writing and editing support to other team members for consistency and updating content with current information
- Collaborating with development and support leads for determining documentation repositories and the ideal solution for data compilation and centralized storage
UX Writing and Technical Writing Overlap
While UX writing and technical writing serve distinct purposes, their responsibilities often intersect, particularly in product development and user communication. Both roles prioritize clarity, accessibility, and usability, ensuring users can navigate products and understand complex information.
One key area of overlap is onboarding and instructional content. UX writers craft microcopy within interfaces, guiding users through processes, while technical writers develop detailed documentation and reference materials that provide deeper explanations. They create a seamless experience where users receive intuitive prompts and comprehensive support.
Collaboration between UX and technical writers is especially important in documentation-driven environments like SaaS platforms or enterprise software. Technical writing centers often work alongside UX teams to maintain consistency in language, terminology, and instructional clarity across all user touchpoints. Additionally, both disciplines rely on user feedback to refine their content, ensuring the information remains relevant, effective, and user-friendly.
Ultimately, while their focus areas differ, UX and technical writers share the goal of enhancing user understanding and engagement, making their work complementary in delivering a cohesive user experience.
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Becoming a UX Writer vs Technical Writer
After finding a lot of overlap between UX writing and tech writing, it is time to learn about their differences.
Career Path for UX Writer and Technical Writer
UX writing is an evolving field with a successful career path. The evolution in user experience-based skills gives rise to new jobs in this field. UX writing has many positions; the career trajectory ranges from a UX writer to UX researchers and senior UX professionals. Fresh graduates can work in a UX writing position, and on gaining experience, they can work as a senior UX writer or a manager. A UX writer can also become a product manager, overseeing and guiding the complete development process of a product and forming a strategy with goals and functionality of the product.
Some tech writers begin their careers as specialists or research assistants in any technical field. In due course, they develop technical communication skills and take on significant duties and responsibilities of technical writing. Novice technical writers may work on projects right away in small firms. In contrast, those working in larger organizations with standard procedures may observe professional tech writers and interact with professionals before taking on projects. In some cases, technical writers can also join the UX writing field.
Skills
As you might guess, both tech and UX writers should possess knowledge of at least the basics and mechanics of writing and editing. Carrying out user research, analyzing data, and making complex information clear and easy to understand are some of the skills both roles share. However, specific skills are pretty role-specific.
UX Writer Skills
UX writers are copywriters with a knack for writing concise copy that guides a user, mapping out a streamlined user journey across the product. Their knowledge of UX and interaction design principles makes them different from copywriters. UX writers are known for having the following skills:
- Excellent copywriting skills and ability to pay attention to detail
- Exceptional communication and collaboration skills
- Background in copywriting, communications, design, or similar
- Resourceful and strategic mindset
- Great passion for storytelling
- Ability to find the optimal and most concise manner for communicating an idea in a clear manner
- Familiarity with the UX design process and how the design and microcopy support each other
Technical Writer Skills
Tech writers must be familiar with topic-based writing and organize content aligned with the business goals. They have exceptional skills in choosing the appropriate medium for the target audience. Here are some basic skills and qualifications a tech writer has:
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Familiarity with technical and standard software
- Ability to pay attention to details
- Multitasking
- Ability to prioritize and perform tasks in an expeditious environment
- Ability to scan technical content for consistency and accuracy
- Excellent insightful and dynamic thinking skills
- Readiness to accept new challenges and share new ideas
Educational Background & Qualifications
A user experience writer needs to have a bachelor’s degree. Employers prefer majors like programming, engineering, computer design, or any related field. However, some UX writers also come from a general copywriting background. Also, a psychology or journalism degree can be a good starting point for completing online courses and becoming familiar with UX and user-centered writing. Considering the competitive market, some entry-level roles also demand one to three years of experience in UX writing.
In general, hiring managers prefer a candidate with a bachelor’s degree in technical writing. While some tech writers enter the occupation with degrees applicable to a technical specialty, many have a degree in English, journalism, communications, or any related field. A high school diploma is a must. Many technical writing jobs demand a degree and knowledge in a specialized field, such as computer science or engineering. In addition, experience in a technical area like web design can increase your job prospects and supplement your education.
UX Writer Salary vs Technical Writer Salary
In most companies, technical writing is a full-time need; however, some organizations may employ a tech writer in part-time positions. Also, some companies prefer hiring freelance technical writers. In general, the average income of a tech writer differs depending on the company’s size and industry. The salary also varies based on years of experience and qualifications.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary of a tech writer is around $80,050 in the United States. A tech writer’s highest average annual wage is in the IT industry, followed by management and employment services. One of the major job search engines used by millions of people in the United States alone, Indeed, mentions that the average salary for a tech writer is around $65,361. In addition, technical writers can get about $2,000 in cash bonuses through extra cash compensation over a year.
Glassdoor, a popular site for salary estimates and reviews, mentions that the national average base salary range is between $69,000 and $117,000. PayScale is another dedicated site that provides salary estimates and compensation values. The median average wage of a technical writer in the US is $60,529, according to PayScale. The site also shows that a dedicated tech writer can earn between $42,000 and $87,000 in California, New York, Seattle, Houston, and Massachusetts.
Since user experience writing is somewhat new, there is limited information available about the income of a UX writer. Glassdoor compiled a list of salaries for UX writers in the United States, including those of major companies like Dell, DocuSign, and Facebook, with salaries ranging between $50,000 and $100,000. According to a recent survey of 440 UX writers in 25 countries, entry-level user experience writers in the US make an average of $75,000 annually. On the other hand, seasoned UX writers earn an average of $125,000 a year.
Another survey among 208 UX writers in the US and worldwide found that the average salary was $126,000. All the participants had different types of experience, with 4% having a few months of experience, 21% having between one to three years of experience, 44% with three to nine years of experience, and 31% with over ten years of experience.
The majority of user experience writers work in California. According to Neuvoo, a UX writer in California can earn up to $117,000 annually. UX writers exist in many other states, including New York, Texas, Washington, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Illinois. Those with over ten years of experience attract annual salaries of about $200,000.
Closing Thoughts
Technical and UX writing is similar in many ways; however, the primary difference is that a tech writer looks into the product text, features, and what it does. In contrast, UX writers have their way of writing concerned with labels, tooltips, properties, in-app text, and onboarding flow charts. The scope and evolution of the UX writer are through having a design background, which helps the technical writers develop human-centric copies. All in all, both roles are crucial to an excellent product experience. Keep your users in mind in everything you do to help them figure out how to use your product successfully.
FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about UX writers vs. technical writers.
Where do UX writers and technical writers typically work?
UX writers often work closely with product designers and developers to enhance user experience within apps, websites, and software. They are usually found in design teams or product-focused companies. Technical writers, however, are commonly based in technical writing centers or documentation teams, where they create structured content such as knowledge bases, user manuals, and API documentation.
How does user feedback impact UX writing and technical writing?
User feedback is essential for both UX and technical writing, but it plays a different role in each discipline. In UX writing, feedback helps refine microcopy and in-app messaging to improve usability and engagement. Technical writing informs updates to documentation and reference materials, ensuring that instructions remain accurate, relevant, and easy to understand. Both fields rely on iterative improvements based on user needs.
How do UX writers and technical writers collaborate?
While UX writers and technical writers have distinct responsibilities, their work often overlaps. UX writers may contribute to onboarding instructions and interface guidance, while technical writers create in-depth documentation that complements these elements. Effective collaboration ensures a seamless experience where users can rely on intuitive design and comprehensive documentation when needed.
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