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Job outlook for medical writers in the United States
Are medical writer jobs in demand?
Medical writer job and salary trends over time
Medical writer jobs over time
Medical writer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 912 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 937 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 973 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 965 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 957 | 0.00% |
Average medical writer salary over time
Medical writer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $93,842 | $45.12 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $91,579 | $44.03 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $90,322 | $43.42 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $89,166 | $42.87 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $87,808 | $42.22 | --0.6% |
Medical writer jobs by state
Most common states for medical writers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 336 | 48% |
| 2 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 418 | 22% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 122 | 21% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,031 | 18% |
| 5 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 533 | 18% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 168 | 17% |
| 7 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 339 | 16% |
| 8 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 277 | 16% |
| 9 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,862 | 15% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,428 | 14% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,222 | 14% |
| 12 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 877 | 14% |
| 13 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 376 | 13% |
| 14 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 533 | 12% |
| 15 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 215 | 12% |
| 16 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,239 | 11% |
| 17 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 329 | 11% |
| 18 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 498 | 10% |
| 19 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 231 | 8% |
| 20 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 393 | 6% |
Most common cities for medical writers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 6 | 22% | $69,487 |
| 2 | Dover | 7 | 19% | $83,342 |
| 3 | Annapolis | 7 | 18% | $94,806 |
| 4 | Juneau | 6 | 18% | $85,307 |
| 5 | Hartford | 7 | 6% | $94,098 |
| 6 | Lansing | 7 | 6% | $89,926 |
| 7 | Springfield | 7 | 6% | $80,371 |
| 8 | Topeka | 7 | 6% | $72,227 |
| 9 | Baton Rouge | 8 | 4% | $82,268 |
| 10 | Little Rock | 7 | 4% | $71,396 |
| 11 | Tallahassee | 7 | 4% | $84,392 |
| 12 | Des Moines | 6 | 3% | $66,106 |
| 13 | Boston | 11 | 2% | $96,975 |
| 14 | Urban Honolulu | 7 | 2% | $80,438 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 7 | 1% | $65,253 |
| 16 | Sacramento | 7 | 1% | $109,455 |
| 17 | Atlanta | 6 | 1% | $78,602 |
| 18 | New York | 8 | 0% | $86,552 |
Medical Writer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of medical writer experts
Tusculum University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Rhode Island
California University of Pennsylvania
DePaul University
University of Minnesota
Bucknell University
University of California
Vicky Johnson Bós
Associate Professor of EnglishTusculum University
English Language And Literature
What will help Medical Writers increase their earning potential?
Vicky Johnson Bós: Have practical experience in that field through a summer job, internship, or access to expertise. Getting a Master's Degree or even a PhD can greatly influence salary potential. Be aware that you may have to take a 'starting' job at less of a good salary to get practical experience to make the leap to a better paying job.
What general advice would you give to a Medical Writer?
Vicky Johnson Bós: In order for a new college graduate to be successful in a career, they should have done/should do the following:
* Take advantage of an internship for practical experience
* Seriously consider a Master's Degree
* Have a portfolio of personal work to show during interviews
* Collect business cards of people in your future job market and network!
* Have a polished, professional resume`
Randall Auxier
Professor of Philosophy and Communication StudiesSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Rhetoric And Composition/Writing Studies
What will help Medical Writers increase their earning potential?
Randall Auxier: At first it isn't going to be any fun. Writing is something every office needs --and being the person in the workplace who can do that provides a secure niche. You need not start in a job that has writing as one of its main requirements; rather, you take what you can get and then work your way into the writing role --any time something needs to be written, volunteer to do it. Soon you'll have more than you can handle. At this point, look for ways to get your writing seen as yours, newsletter, liaison with the communications office for your workplace, etc. Being known by your co-workers as a writer can lead all kinds of places, although not usually toward management. It's opportunity to write increasingly important things that counts as upward movement.
What's a good job out of college for Medical Writers?
John Pantalone: At this point, at the risk of being sarcastic, any job is a good job. The real answer is that it depends on the field you plan to go into and what you consider a good job. A livable wage with reasonable benefits is part of the equation; the other part is whether you genuinely enjoy the work.
What type of skills will young Medical Writers need?
Dr. Christina Fisanick: College graduates in 2021 and beyond, need all of the skills that English programs have to offer: critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, and flexibility. New hires need to be able to adapt to workplace changes quickly and with aplomb, which requires critical thinking and problem solving and the ability to communicate those solutions to a diverse audience clearly and effectively. Those skills are refined and practiced regularly in English programs.
What type of skills will young Medical Writers need?
Ted Anton: They will need to know how to understand and communicate complex information, often contradictory, in a catchy and understandable way. They will have to read professional data online, in business, medicine, health, you name it and then create a sales or summary pitch for investors. So, reading, writing, communication skills will continue to be important. Math, of course, is a big plus, but up to the advanced algebra level... Statistical skills will be helpful. Overall, employers are seeking curious, adventurous, bold, and creative thinkers and communicators for an ever-changing world.
What general advice would you give to a Medical Writer?
Thomas Reynolds: I think there will be a lasting impact of this pandemic on graduates. The nature of the field is that others in the industry (scientists, engineers, for ex.) often take on tech writing and communication tasks in tight economic conditions, or even just as a matter of a particular culture in a particular business. However, the field of technical communication has been predicted to have a strong future (see Bureau of Labor Statistics, which predicts growth in jobs in this field).
Technical writing and communication require that students are comfortable with technology and communication and that they adapt to changing situations. I think there are also opportunities for savvy graduates who can offer certain skills and experiences that are unique to the changing situation. This field has a long history of resilience for its graduates seeking jobs in tough circumstances.
Sarah Bell
Senior Associate Director, CounselingBucknell University
Center for Career Advancement
How do you envision technology impacting Medical Writers in the next 5 years?
Sarah Bell: As mentioned in #2, English majors go into many fields, and technology is affecting most of them now. We will likely always need creators, editors, and researchers of content, which will certainly make English majors useful in a variety of fields, due to (or in spite of) the technology advances. Experience in learning and utilizing a variety of software, platforms, and social media tools will only enhance their ability to complete their work in an effective and efficient manner in a variety of work settings.
Catherine Nesci
Professor of French & Comparative Literature; Affiliate in Feminist StudiesUniversity of California
Department of French and Italian
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Medical Writers?
Catherine Nesci: I expect that the lack of resources (no interlibrary loans, no travel to conferences, no meeting with peers, fewer job opportunities) will have an enduring impact on graduate students.