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The differences between principal technical writers and grant 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 principal technical writer and a grant writer. Additionally, a principal technical writer has an average salary of $66,896, which is higher than the $52,719 average annual salary of a grant writer.
The top three skills for a principal technical writer include java, develop user and XML. The most important skills for a grant writer are grants management, financial reports, and proposal development.
| Principal Technical Writer | Grant Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $66,896 | $52,719 |
| Hourly rate | $32.16 | $25.35 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 118,883 | 16,708 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Principal Technical Writer creates useful tutorials, videos, and product documentation in fast-paced environments. Besides writing highly technical content describing the product functionality, Principal Technical Writers also develop project programs, maintain specific project schedules and update the documentation manager about the documentation status. They put together and offer online help and enhance the first-user experience by developing tutorials. Moreover, a Principal Technical Writer delivers meaningful UI strings and useful error-free messages by working hand-in-hand with user experience team members.
Often working for a non-profit organization, a grant writer specializes in writing application letters for financial grants to foundations, government agencies, and companies. Their responsibilities revolve around maintaining records of data and documentation, finding grant opportunities, participating in devising strategies that benefit the company's growth, crafting correspondence, gathering requirements, and submitting and monitoring grant proposals. Furthermore, a grant writer must have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the organization they work for, including its history, vision, mission, policies, and regulations.
Principal technical writers and grant writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Technical Writer | Grant Writer | |
| Average salary | $66,896 | $52,719 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $88,000 | Between $38,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a principal technical writer and a grant writer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Technical Writer | Grant Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | English | Business |
| Most common college | University of Houston | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between principal technical writers' and grant writers' demographics:
| Principal Technical Writer | Grant Writer | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 8.8% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |