Freelance Medical Writer Salary
As a freelance medical writer, you set your own hours of work, decide what writing projects to accept or decline and handle your own Social Security and Medicare taxes. Unlike some freelance writing opportunities that require little education, being a freelance medical writer generally requires that you have at least a bachelor's degree, and many organizations require an advanced degree. Your income will depend on how much work you perform and the rates you negotiate with each organization.
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Tax Classification
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The organizations you work for as a freelance medical writer will classify you as an independent contractor. The Internal Revenue Service defines a contractual employee by whether the organization controls the employee's behavior, whether the employee exerts financial control over the writer and whether the writer sets his own hours and acts independently. You can perform work as a freelance medical writer while working full or part-time for another organization. If this is your situation, when you file your taxes, you will treat the freelance writer portion of your income as self-employment income and use the W-4 provided by your other employers as standard employment income.
Income
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A 2007 survey from the American Medical Writer's Association indicates that the average freelance medical writer's income before taxes is about $110,000. A freelance writer who handles both editing and writing functions for medical groups makes an average of $75,891, and a writer who also researches makes about $76,620. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies a freelance medical writer as a "technical writer," and indicates that the average technical writer makes about $61,620 each year, as of May 2008.
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Duties and Responsibilities
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Freelance medical writing requires excellent technical writing skills, solid communication techniques and the ability to adhere to deadlines without an employer directly monitoring your progress. The organization will contract with you to write a piece and set a deadline. As a freelancer, it is your responsibility to research, draft and write the required reports or papers on your own. If you have questions on the project details, you will communicate with the person who contracted your services. Some freelance medical writers handle press releases, write for medical websites, produce corporate newsletters or write for medical magazines.
Job Strategies
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The writing skills and level of education you have will impact the amount of money you make. Academic institutions may contract with you to assist employees in writing academic papers or preparing studies for presentations at conferences. If you have an advanced degree in a medical field such as a doctorate in pharmacy or other science, master's or doctorate in nursing or have your medical degree, you may find it easier to find work. Present your writing portfolio and resume to the marketing department of small organizations, and contact the department chair of academic institutions to inquire about freelance writing work. Offer to write a newsletter article, a short academic paper or engaging technical journal piece for a reduced fee to allow the organization to access your skills.
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References
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