How to Become a Technical Writer

Table of Contents

• What is a Technical Writer?
• What does a Technical Writer do?
• Technical Writer vs UX Writer: What’s the Difference?
• Typical Salaries for Technical Writers
• 6 Industries That Hire Technical Writers
• 8 Top Traits of a Successful Technical Writer
• How to Become a Technical Writer

When we think of someone being a “writer,” we might imagine a storyteller, weaving creative tales that entertain and enlighten. The idea of a “technical writer,” then, might leave some scratching their heads, but in reality, it’s not too far off from the idea of an inventive scribe. Technical writers are valuable assets to the tech field, as they take complicated technical concepts and ideas, and make them more concise and understandable for a wider audience. With the increase of tech and STEM-based products, the demand for technical writers is increasing. Learn how you can become a technical writer through a bootcamp, no matter your current level of tech expertise. 

What is a Technical Writer?

A technical writer uses their writing skills to break down complex information into user-friendly documents that are easily understood by their identified target audience. Technical writers practice their craft in all aspects of the tech world, including system documentation, knowledge base libraries, troubleshooting guides, and tech specs. They bridge the gap between complex operations and the end user (or others within the team) ensuring clear, concise communication and facilitating the exchange of concepts and ideas.

What does a Technical Writer do?

A technical writer’s primary concern is writing user-friendly documentation, such as:

• Writing instruction manuals

• Performing research

• Drafting technical documentation such as how-to, integration, and systems operations guides

• Drafting product specifications

• Drafting medical guides 

The specific duties of a technical writer will depend on their areas of expertise and may include:

• API documentation writers create documents for Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which help developers understand how they can incorporate APIs into their work.

• User guide/manual writers, who analyze the components of a product and then interpret the parts and how they work so that the end-user can use them.

• Hardware and software documentation writers, who write about different components, hardware, systems, or software applications. They may produce user manuals, help guides, tech specs, and release notes.

• Network documentation writers create documents that assist the IT team by helping them determine and maintain the infrastructure of a particular network.

No matter the area of specialization, all technical writers share some tasks and responsibilities, such as:

• Breaking down technical information into easily-understood material.

• Effective communication with clients, colleagues, and consumers to figure out their technical documentation needs. 

• Subject and product research.

• Standardizing information and content across different platforms. 

• Revising or improving content based on user feedback.

• Proofreading, editing, and formatting documents, manuals, and guides.

Technical writers will also collaborate with other stakeholders, such as software developers, quality assurance (QA) testers, and clients to ensure that the project parameters are being communicated in a clear, concise manner. 

Technical Writer vs UX Writer: What’s the Difference?

How is technical writing different from UX writing? Technical writing is similar to UX/UI design in that they both create materials to help the end-user understand and effectively utilize a product. Both involve writing, interacting with the audience, and incorporating feedback with the end goal of solving user issues. However, there are differences between the two roles. UX writers are most concerned with the overall user experience, whereas technical writers focus on explaining systems, ideas, and processes. 

The audience (as in, who the writer is addressing) is also different when it comes to UX writers and technical writers. UX/UI designers have a goal of a “good first impression” of the user experience, which means helping users start using the app quickly and easily. The technical writer’s audience, on the other hand, focuses on fellow tech professionals who are charged with executing specific functions. 

Typical Salaries for Technical Writers

The job outlook and salary for technical writers are good, with the increase of technical and digital products and services growing every year. The overall employment of technical writers is expected to increase by 4 percent over the next decade, which is about the same average of all occupations, with 4,100 openings available each year. In May 2023, the median annual wage for all technical writers was $80,050. 

However, there are differences in earnings between in-house technical writers and freelancers, including hourly wage, benefits, and consistency of work available. In general, in-house tech writers earn $50,000 to $70,000 a year, based on location, experience, and education. Freelancers, on the other hand, may work on either an hourly or project-by-project basis instead of an hourly/yearly salary. In 2024, the average hourly wage for a freelance technical writer was $38.94 per hour. 

6 Industries That Hire Technical Writers

Technical writers work across a variety of industries — basically, any field that relies on complex documentation of services, processes, or products! This means that no matter your interest, you’re most likely to be able to find a technical writing position in that field. 

Some of the industries that hire tech writers include:

1. Tech companies that specialize in software, hardware, cyber security, social media, networking, digital marketing, etc. have the highest demand for technical writers to create things like user manuals for software and technology products.

2. The government, where you might work as a policy analyst or any position that requires the writer to interpret complex ideas and concepts.

3. Business or finance, where a technical writer might create financial documents, proposals, or contracts.

4. Engineering firms, who need technical writers to create schematics, diagrams, or user manuals.

5. Manufacturing and automobile industries, where tech writers create operation manuals, parts catalogs, product descriptions, and marketing materials. 

6. Healthcare companies require tech writers who can translate research projects, or create equipment instruction manuals and regulatory documents.

No matter the field you choose, you must continually stay up-to-date in your skills as the industry evolves. This means taking courses, getting certifications, or attending technical skills bootcamps to expand your skill set to stay competitive in the field. 

8 Top Traits of a Successful Technical Writer

A successful technical writer is a “jack of all trades,” having skills and talents in many areas. Some of the traits that make for a great technical writer include:

1. Strong writing skills. This may sound obvious, but a tech writer needs to have a way with words that allow them to break down complex information into understandable, concise material.

2. Industry knowledge. The technical writer knows their business inside and out, and they perform extensive research to fill in any knowledge gaps.

3. Love of learning and a sense of curiosity. Successful technical writers are always asking “Why?” They also have an innate desire to expand their knowledge base and improve their writing skills.

4. Being a good listener. The whole goal of technical writing is to communicate, so tech writers must be willing to listen to the end user’s needs, understand challenges, and communicate the needed information concisely and effectively.

5. Working well as part of a team. True, technical writing involves a lot of independent work, but they still have to be able to collaborate in a team environment, working with product specialists, engineers, IT techs, and other stakeholders to compile the needed data and put together the proper documentation.

6. Being accurate and detail-oriented. They plan and outline their work ahead of time so that no important detail is overlooked and the needed information is easy to find and understand. A good tech writer also proofreads, edits, and researches their material.

7. Having a customer-focused attitude, and understanding their expectations, wants, and needs. A tech writer’s goal is to make the information clear and easy for the user to understand, and they must be willing to incorporate feedback to improve the end product.

8. Being organized. Successful technical writers deal with a large volume of information that needs to be distilled into a usable form. Steps must be in the right order, and all unneeded information must be eliminated.

How to Become a Technical Writer

Attending a bootcamp can give you the technical skills you’ll need to become a technical writer, allowing you to learn relevant things like coding, cybersecurity, UX design, data science, and digital marketing. A college degree in IT, English, computer science, journalism, or scientific writing can be very helpful, and you should consider obtaining specialized certifications and joining professional networking groups to help you stand out from the crowd. If you’re just starting out, you’ll need a portfolio of work samples to demonstrate your technical expertise and writing skills, and it’s important to stay current on industry news and trends. 

If you’re coming from a coding background, you absolutely can transition into a technical writer position, as it gives you the expertise you need to communicate with tech professionals. However, even with a coding background, you’ll still need to place developing your writing skills as your top priority. 

Although the path to becoming a technical writer is unique to each person, in general, it might take two to three years to develop both the tech and writing skills needed to land a job. You can gain experience through volunteer work, internships, or working with open-source projects. Whether you have a college degree or not, enrolling in a bootcamp may help you round out your technical skills, and enhance your hireably so you can land a fulfilling, rewarding career as a technical writer.