Technical Author Job Description
Technical authors, also known as technical writers, focus their technical communication expertise to benefit diverse audiences. They specialize in automotive, aviation, biotechnology, computer, electronic, medical, scientific, software development or technology industries. Technical authors are self-employed freelance professionals or they work for governmental agencies, public and private companies. Attention to detail, understanding of target audiences, technical aptitude and writing skill are essential qualities for this writing profession.
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Duties
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They author a variety of technical documents. Technical authors prepare assembly instructions, books, developer guides, engineering specifications, marketing materials, medical journals, online help files, scientific articles, technical documents, users' manuals and website content.
Technical authors interview experts such as computer programmers, engineers, physicians and scientists. They mentor and train less-experienced technical writers.
Education
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A college degree is a minimum requirement. Technical authors must have a bachelor's degree with a concentration in communications, English, journalism, physical sciences or a technical discipline. Master's degrees are helpful for career advancement into management roles.
Courses in graphic design, engineering, hypertext markup language (HTML), online help authoring, journalism, physical sciences, public speaking, software quality assurance, technical writing and website development are beneficial. Reading proficiency in at least one foreign language is helpful.
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Certification
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The CTWS credential is beneficial. The Certified Technical Writing Specialist (CTWS) organization is an important credentialing body for technical authors. At its website, two key benefits of the CTWS certification credential are emphasized: "CTWS certification shows you meet an objective, third-party international standard of excellence... CTWS certification provides evidence to the public and employers of the quality of your technical writing abilities."
Key Traits
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Translating the thoughts of others is a prime ability. Successful technical authors must communicate clearly and concisely. They must have the ability to translate complicated topics into easily-understood language for targeted or diverse audiences. Technical authors need excellent interviewing and listening skills to obtain information from subject-matter experts.
Anticipated Salaries
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The mean yearly wage was $64,210 as of 2008. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, technical writers earned a mean hourly wage of $30.87 and a mean annual salary of $64,210, as of May 2008. Technical writers earned annual salaries ranging from $36,500 for the lowest 10 percent of earners to $97,460 for the highest 10 percent, according to BLS.
Prospects
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The future is very promising for technical writers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth of 18 percent for technical writers between 2008 and 2018. This figure represents a faster-than-average rate of growth compared to all other occupations. Increased demand to document scientific, technical and web-based content and users' guides contributes to the favorable growth projections, according to BLS.
Expert Insight
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The STC lobbied BLS to create a technical writing job category. The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is a leading voice for technical authors. At the STC website, a recent collaboration with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is detailed: "STC works with the Bureau of Labor Statistics to update the definition of technical communicator. This directly benefits STC members because corporate Human Resource departments use the BLS data to determine salaries."
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References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010 - 2011 Edition: Technical Writers
- Certified Technical Writing Specialist: Benefits of CTWS Certification to Professional Technical Writers
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2008: Technical Writers
- Society for Technical Communication: The 'New STC' Membership Includes All of These Benefits
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