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Contract writer vs medical writer

The differences between contract writers and medical writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a contract writer and a medical writer. Additionally, a medical writer has an average salary of $93,842, which is higher than the $91,260 average annual salary of a contract writer.

The top three skills for a contract writer include web content, SEO and press releases. The most important skills for a medical writer are medical writing, patients, and clinical research.

Contract writer vs medical writer overview

Contract WriterMedical Writer
Yearly salary$91,260$93,842
Hourly rate$43.88$45.12
Growth rate4%6%
Number of jobs23,67159,516
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4246
Years of experience22

Contract writer vs medical writer salary

Contract writers and medical writers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Contract WriterMedical Writer
Average salary$91,260$93,842
Salary rangeBetween $61,000 And $136,000Between $63,000 And $137,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Virginia
Best paying company-Biogen
Best paying industry--

Differences between contract writer and medical writer education

There are a few differences between a contract writer and a medical writer in terms of educational background:

Contract WriterMedical Writer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorEnglishBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of HoustonUniversity of Southern California

Contract writer vs medical writer demographics

Here are the differences between contract writers' and medical writers' demographics:

Contract WriterMedical Writer
Average age4246
Gender ratioMale, 38.5% Female, 61.5%Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 8.7% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%11%

Differences between contract writer and medical writer duties and responsibilities

Contract writer example responsibilities.

  • Manage the proposal lifecycle, including RFP analysis, regular communications, proposal development and production consistent with branding strategies.
  • Manage the proposal lifecycle, including RFP analysis, regular communications, proposal development and production consistent with branding strategies.
  • Interview subject matter experts and process source data to write biographies and profiles.
  • Post social media and hospital promotional/patient testimonial YouTube videos.

Medical writer example responsibilities.

  • Develop network of science contacts at NASA to inform stories and generate new leads.
  • Manage, and assist in the recruiting activities of, CRO resources preparing regulatory documents on behalf of APGD.
  • Create and maintain account profiles for contributors, including writing of biographies, gathering headshots, and creating and managing accounts.
  • Create manuscripts, abstracts, and PowerPoint slide decks for a prominent pharmaceutical client.
  • Prepare CSRs, IB updates, protocols, protocol amendments, and statistical analysis plans.
  • Draft scientific content for abstracts, posters, manuscripts, and slide presentations (CNS )
  • Show more

Contract writer vs medical writer skills

Common contract writer skills
  • Web Content, 15%
  • SEO, 12%
  • Press Releases, 12%
  • Blog Posts, 12%
  • Website Copy, 4%
  • Copywriting, 4%
Common medical writer skills
  • Medical Writing, 11%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Clinical Research, 6%
  • Clinical Study Reports, 6%
  • Literature Searches, 5%
  • FDA, 5%

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