Technical writers distill and explain specialized information for the rest of us

March 27, 2009

Technical writers distill and explain specialized information for the rest of us

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Pay: The 1,440 salaried technical writers in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area earned a median wage of $75,880 in 2007. But thousands of others work primarily as freelance writers and their earnings are not included.

The job: Technical writers put technical information into easily understandable language. They prepare product documentation, such as operating and maintenance manuals, catalogs, assembly instructions and project proposals. They are primarily found in the information-technology industry.

Training: Increasingly, technical writing requires a college degree in, or some knowledge about, a specialized field — for example, engineering, business or one of the sciences. A background in Web design, computer graphics or another technology field is increasingly practical.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.stats.bls.gov/oco