How to become a freelance nurse writer

Becoming a freelance nurse writer requires the skills of both a nurse and a writer. Freelance nurse writers create content for various platforms that feature a nursing perspective. Anyone desiring to become a nurse writer must first earn a nursing degree. An associate's degree will allow you to pursue nursing certification, while a bachelor's degree broadens the various career opportunities. Nearly all nurse writers have practical nursing experience, so the degree that you choose can limit or expand the areas of nursing in which you eventually become experienced.

How To Become A Freelance Medical Writer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a freelance medical writer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Cathy Irwin Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a freelance medical writer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $46.49 an hour? That's $96,709 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 3,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a freelance medical writer?

Cathy Irwin Ph.D.

Professor of English, University of La Verne

Because of the pandemic, entering the workforce has been hard for many. At the same time, many employers have moved online and are meeting with clients and customers through Zoom and other online platforms. As a result, employers now, more than ever, need employees who have excellent communication skills.

English majors from La Verne graduate with excellent writing and critical thinking skills. As a result, they do have opportunities after they graduate. Many of them are hired in jobs because of their writing and editing skills. A large percentage of students decide to go to graduate school. They want to serve their communities, so they become teachers, librarians, lawyers, and officers in non-profits or the city sector.

The medical field is also starting to welcome students from the humanities because they are looking for well-rounded, articulate, and compassionate people. If students with a humanities degree want to go into the health or medical sector, they can apply to one-year post-baccalaureate programs that lead to medical school.

ScoreFreelance Medical WriterUS Average

Salary

7.5

Avg. Salary $96,709

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.8

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.35%

Asian 8.81%

Black or African American 6.75%

Hispanic or Latino 7.93%

Unknown 5.00%

White 71.17%

Gender

female 71.48%

male 28.52%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

4.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a freelance medical writer

Explore freelance medical writer education requirements

Most common freelance medical writer degrees

Bachelor's

56.8 %

Doctorate

19.3 %

Master's

15.2 %

Start to develop specific freelance medical writer skills

Skills	Percentages
Literature Reviews	16.60%
Medical Communications	8.24%
Medical Writing	6.93%
Proofread	6.90%
Literature Searches	6.12%

Complete relevant freelance medical writer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New freelance medical writers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a freelance medical writer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real freelance medical writer resumes.

Research freelance medical writer duties and responsibilities

Manage, and assist in the recruiting activities of, CRO resources preparing regulatory documents on behalf of APGD.
Create content relate to recent FDA approvals and current medical research.
Organize and consolidate information into standard report formats, preparing and proofreading correspondence and documents in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
Fda-Regulate environment (CFR regulations).

Prepare your freelance medical writer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your freelance medical writer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a freelance medical writer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable freelance medical writer resume templates

Build a professional freelance medical writer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your freelance medical writer resume.