Outlook for Technical Writing
In most professions, it is difficult to predict how the job will evolve in the future. Past data regarding salary and job placement is helpful, but by the time the data is collected and analyzed, it is likely that years have passed and the industry has changed. Most experts agree, however, that technical writing will only become bigger and more important as society embraces new technologies every day.
The best source for career information is the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov). According to BLS data, technical writing opportunities will grow 20% by 2016 to 59,000 jobs. In 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available, there were 49,000 technical writing jobs in the USA. The U.S. government predicts technical writers with knowledge of law, medicine, and economics will be in demand, as well as traditional writers with an IT background.
Salary.com is a good source to find information regarding technical writing salaries. In 2006, the median salary for technical writers was $58,050. The U.S. government gives a salary range of $35,520 to $91,720. Of course, salaries vary depending on location and the amount of experience the technical writer has. The states that paid the most for technical writing were California ($36/hr), Massachusetts ($36/hr), Washington ($35/hr), New Hampshire ($34/hr), and Nevada ($33/hr).