Is technical writing a career by itself? can I build a career by writing?

Introduction

Over the past 10 years or even beyond, technology has grown, and education has become a basic necessity for everyone. We all need to learn to build ourselves in our areas of interest.

More is written down for us to consume, some of this information could be hard to understand and others can be easy.

More often you’ll find yourself reaching out to “google” the very basic ones or maybe information that you haven’t understood well right? well, this creates the need for a writer(technical writer ) to break down the information more easily and understandably.

In this guide, you will learn why technical writing is growing more in this evolving ever-changing world. So buckle up!

What is Technical writing?

First things first, let us understand what the term technical writing is.
Technical writing is simply simplifying complex information and specialized content in a more easy way for the intended audience.

You can check a more concise and comprehensive guide about what technical writing is and how you can get started with it here.

Technical Writing Outlook

According to the U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, it is estimated that the employment of technical writers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

As more openings are opened each year there is an increase of jobs for technical writers to either replace those who transfer to start a new career or maybe exiting the labor force such as retiring.

This demonstrates how much evolving technical writing can become in the coming years.

Wages

Ever wondered how much technical writers are paid? if you look at the statistics from Glassdoor we can see that the average salary of a technical writer as of 2023 is $76,111 a year. This is quite a good promising sum of money that would attract people to build into writing.

A must “degree” for technical writing!

While a degree is not strictly necessary to become a writer, having one can provide several advantages. A degree signifies proficiency in the subject matter and can enhance credibility in the field.
It’s important to recognize one’s strengths and expertise, and while a degree may not be mandatory, it can certainly be beneficial for those interested in technical writing.

However, if you wish to pursue a degree to enable you succeed in technical writing, you can consider pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Technical Communication.
For more detailed information, you might find it helpful to refer to a comprehensive guide on technical writing.

How do I get started with technical writing?

It is easier these days to start a career in many of the fields, one of them being Technical writing, resources are all over the internet. All you need is to do your research, look for the best resource of learning, a BootCamp, or enroll in a course. You have to be consistent to start small, don’t rush, and be confused about the internet resources as sometimes it can be challenging to stay on track.

You can check this article that entails all about Technical writing and how one can get started as a Technical writer, the resources, and best practices to write.
Feel free to check it, Technical Writing 101: Ultimate Guide.

I leave this advice from a YouTube channel below.

The job market?

Getting a job as a writer is becoming more competitive these days, although we have a large pool of people hiring for writers, there is still a chance to get a job. Here are some of the sites you can check for gigs, and hiring for writers:
– Upwork
– Compose.ly
– WeWorkRemotely
In addition to the mentioned sites above, there are also other millions of sites all over the net, not to mention becoming self-employed at Upwork and freelance.

Staying up-to-date

The rate at which the current world is evolving amazes us, technology is moving so fast and so staying up to date in delivering updated information and the correct writing, you need to stay alive. You can check this guide on Hashnode on why staying up-to-date matters and why it matters.

Wrap Up

The demand for technical writers is indeed on the rise and is likely to continue growing in the future. As technology becomes increasingly complex and integrated into our daily lives, the need for clear, concise documentation and explanations becomes paramount.

Last but not least, businesses continue to focus on improving user experience and customer satisfaction, and the need for well-written technical guides, manuals, and other documentation will become even more crucial.