Technical Writers
Description OES Code: 34005
Write or edit technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, and operating and maintenance instructions. May oversee preparation of illustrations, photographs, diagrams, and charts; and assist in layout work.

Wages, California
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $18.58
25th Percentile $22.28
50th Percentile $26.60
75th Percentile $33.64

Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey

Hours & Benefits
The normal workweek is 40 hours, however, this is often exceeded to meet publication deadlines. Some companies pay time and one-half for overtime, while others offer compensatory time off. Self-employed Technical Writers must carefully estimate the number of hours needed to complete a project when they contract for a project.

Benefits available in some companies include vacation, holidays, flexible hours, sick leave, bonuses, profit sharing, health and life insurance, and retirement plans. Self-employed Technical Writers must pay for their own insurance.

Employment Trends, California
Employment 1998 7,300
Projected Employment 2008 9,800
Percent Change 1998-2008 34.2%
Separations 1998-2008 2,200

Employment Trends by California County

Working Conditions
Technical Writers usually work at a desk in an office. During planning and production of publications, Writers may be required to travel to another location to discuss a project with others. Technical Writers use personal computers and word processing or desktop publishing software for text, graphic, and multimedia production. Workers often have deadlines to meet. Technical Writers who work under contract or freelance may work from their home or at the employer’s site. Writers may work alone or together under the supervision of a publication chief or editor, a product or procedure specialist, or a marketing manager.

Getting the Job & Other Information
Technical Writers should prepare a portfolio of technical writing samples. These samples may include projects done as a student or a volunteer as well as professional work. Professional association meetings can be a good place to make contacts and get advice from those experienced in the field. Many associations such as the Society for Technical Communication listed at the end of this guide also maintain job listings on their Internet sites.

For a list of current job listing, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Education and Training
Some firms will only hire experienced Writers who specialize in one field of technology. Many employers prefer applicants with a four-year college degree in communications, engineering, journalism, or those possessing a degree or certificate in technical writing. Some employers require a strong background of technical knowledge and experience, combined with writing skills.

Individuals interested in becoming Technical Writers should take courses in communication, journalism (especially interviewing skills), English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, mechanical drawing, graphic arts, and computer-related subjects. Technical Writers should also acquire a solid background in the industry that interests them as a specialty. Completion of a degree or certificate program in technical writing is very helpful and available through community colleges and university continuing education programs. Beginners often assist experienced Technical Writers and may conduct library research, prepare rough drafts of reports, or perform basic editing tasks. In defense-related organizations, U.S. citizenship may be required because of the classified nature of some projects.

Skills & Other Requirements
Obtain and present specialized information within strict accuracy and format requirements; Concentrate for long periods of time and strong organizational skills; Communicating effectively with others in writing as indicated by the needs of the audience; Active Listening - Listening to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate; Speaking - Talking to others to effectively convey information; Information Gathering - Knowing how to find information and identifying essential information; Information Organization - Finding ways to structure or classify multiple pieces of information; Synthesis/Reorganization - Reorganizing information to get a better approach to problems or tasks; Active Learning - Working with new material or information to grasp its implications; Product Inspection - Inspecting and evaluating the quality of products; Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

References
California Occupational Guide #138

Related Occupations: Newspaper Reporters, #113
Copywriters, #163

Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)