13 of the Best Types of Technical Writer Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Technical Writer jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Technical Writer Jobs

• Senior Technical Writer

  Salary range: $81,000 - $124,000

  The primary qualifications for becoming a senior technical writer typically include a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. To advance to a senior role, you need proven skills with technical documentation in your industry. Familiarity with one or more computer programming languages may be helpful in this field, particularly if you work with software documentation. A senior technical writer may work on a project from home or an office; when done from home, this job requires the ability to communicate with project engineers if they do not understand your documentation. As a senior technical writer, you need communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to explain complex concepts precisely.

• Entry Level Technical Writer

  Salary range: $60,000 - $98,000

  The qualifications that you need to start a career as an entry-level technical writer include writing skills, knowledge of the subject about which you write, and an understanding of the requirements of technical writing. Some technical writers have a bachelor’s degree in the field about which they write. You can choose to pursue a degree in engineering, chemistry, computer science, or another technical subject. Some colleges offer bachelor’s degrees in technical writing, but this path does not give you any information on specific industries. Most employers ask to see samples of writing that you performed during your studies if you have no previous job experience.

• Freelance Technical Writer

  Salary range: $60,000 - $98,000

  To become a freelance technical writer, you must be able to write clearly and concisely, and have some background knowledge of the industry. There are no formal education requirements for this position, though some have an associate or bachelor's degree in English, journalism, or communications. Others pursue technical writing jobs in the fields that they studied in college. For example, a technical writer with a biology degree may market their services to scientific journals and labs. Practice writing different kinds of industry papers to build a substantial portfolio. You may take a staff writer position at a company first to learn more about the industry in which you wish to work. Once you are confident with your writing abilities, market your services to organizations that utilize freelance technical writers.

• Technical Writer Internship

  Salary range: $60,000 - $98,000

  The qualifications you need to get a technical writer internship depend on the field in which you work. For all fields, you need to have excellent research, grammatical, editing, and proofreading skills and a background in the specific technical field. If you are applying for a student technical writing internship, you should be a current student at a college or university. You usually do not receive payment for these positions, but you can get course credit for participating. Other internships require you to be a recent college graduate. In these internships, you may have a chance of landing a full-time job with the company.

• Independent Contractor Technical Writer

  Salary range: $60,000 - $98,000

  You find Independent Contractors in many different industries, so the path to becoming one varies significantly. In general, you must have several years of experience in the field and have a track record of success in your industry. You also must pursue the kind of work that can be done on a consultant or contract basis. You may possess particular skills or expertise that a company needs temporarily, such as an IT Consultant, or provide a service that is required intermittently, like a Freelance Writer. Many Independent Contractors transition to becoming self-employed to have a more flexible schedule and the ability to choose their clients.

• Summer Technical Writer

  Salary range: $60,000 - $98,000

  Summer jobs are an integral part of American culture for students in their teens and beyond, but not all summer jobs are created equal. The difference between a great summer and an awful one can be the right job. According to Forbes, some good summer jobs for teens are camp counselor, golf caddy, nanny, food service, retail sales, and, of course, internships.

• Technical Writer Temporary

  Salary range: $60,000 - $98,000

  A Temporary job is an employment arrangement in which both parties, the employee and employer, agree in advance that the position will be filled for a set period. Temporary jobs often are based on employers’ seasonal or specific project needs. Occasionally, Temporary employees will be offered ongoing, full-time positions if their performance is excellent and a position is available. However, you should not assume this will be the case.

• Technical Writer Co Op

  Salary range: $60,000 - $98,000

  The qualifications you need for a Co-Op job depend on the application requirements at your school and the organization where you want to work. You must be an officially enrolled student at your college or university, and GPA and credit hour requirements are typical. Some companies prefer Co-Op students whose major aligns with the industry. You must have strong communication skills and a willingness to learn and practice a variety of new tasks and job duties. Your responsibilities are to apply your learning to your Co-Op work experience and be a punctual and motivated employee.

• Virtual Technical Writer

  Salary range: $60,000 - $98,000

  A virtual job refers to a job that can be performed outside of an employer’s office. Also known as remote, work from home, or telecommuting jobs, these positions have become increasingly common because of technology like telephones, internet, email, and video conference calls, which help to facilitate employer-employee communication.

• Technical Writer Trainee

  Salary range: $60,000 - $98,000

  The requirements to get a trainee job vary by industry. In some, such as architecture or accounting, you must graduate from an accredited college program before you can begin work. Other industries, such as retail, manufacturing, or telemarketing, may require only a high school diploma or a GED certificate to begin a training program. No matter what profession you are interested in, you should have strong verbal and written communication and an interest in continuing the career.

• Manager Technical Writer

  Salary range: $60,000 - $98,000

  Managers supervise a team of people; they establish goals, assign tasks, and measure progress. The specific responsibilities of someone in a management position will vary based on the company and industry they work in, but their primary responsibilities remain largely the same. Managers monitor the accomplishments of their staff, focusing on the overall goals of the department. They work with Human Resources to determine and address staffing needs, coordinate and delegate responsibilities, check employee performance, and provide additional training and direction when necessary.

• Full Time Technical Writer

  Salary range: $60,000 - $98,000

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Junior Technical Writer

  Salary range: $47,500 - $64,000

  Junior Technical Writer is a common job search query. Most salaries for Junior Technical Writer jobs pay between $47,500 (25th percentile) and $64,000 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Junior Technical Writer job searches, hiring now on ZipRecruiter.