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Freelance medical writer vs contract writer

The differences between freelance medical writers and contract 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 freelance medical writer and a contract writer. Additionally, a freelance medical writer has an average salary of $96,709, which is higher than the $91,260 average annual salary of a contract writer.

The top three skills for a freelance medical writer include literature reviews, medical communications and medical writing. The most important skills for a contract writer are web content, SEO, and press releases.

Freelance medical writer vs contract writer overview

Freelance Medical WriterContract Writer
Yearly salary$96,709$91,260
Hourly rate$46.49$43.88
Growth rate6%4%
Number of jobs59,67223,671
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4642
Years of experience22

Freelance medical writer vs contract writer salary

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

Freelance Medical WriterContract Writer
Average salary$96,709$91,260
Salary rangeBetween $65,000 And $142,000Between $61,000 And $136,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between freelance medical writer and contract writer education

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

Freelance Medical WriterContract Writer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBiologyEnglish
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Houston

Freelance medical writer vs contract writer demographics

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

Freelance Medical WriterContract Writer
Average age4642
Gender ratioMale, 28.5% Female, 71.5%Male, 38.5% Female, 61.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 8.8% White, 71.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage11%16%

Differences between freelance medical writer and contract writer duties and responsibilities

Freelance medical writer example 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).

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.

Freelance medical writer vs contract writer skills

Common freelance medical writer skills
  • Literature Reviews, 17%
  • Medical Communications, 8%
  • Medical Writing, 7%
  • Proofread, 7%
  • Literature Searches, 6%
  • Scientific Content, 5%
Common contract writer skills
  • Web Content, 15%
  • SEO, 12%
  • Press Releases, 12%
  • Blog Posts, 12%
  • Website Copy, 4%
  • Copywriting, 4%

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