Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between principal technical writers and senior technical 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 senior technical writer. Additionally, a senior technical writer has an average salary of $70,820, which is higher than the $66,896 average annual salary of a principal technical writer.
The top three skills for a principal technical writer include java, develop user and XML. The most important skills for a senior technical writer are technical documentation, subject matter experts, and API.
| Principal Technical Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $66,896 | $70,820 |
| Hourly rate | $32.16 | $34.05 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 118,883 | 80,897 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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.
A senior technical writer's role is to oversee the progress within a team or department, ensuring quality and timeliness. It is their responsibility to delegate tasks, set deadlines, carry out corrective measures on any issues, and implement the company's regulations and policies. There are also instances when they participate in producing written content, even editing and reviewing materials of the staff. As someone with more experience, a senior technical writer must encourage and lead fellow writers, shaping them into valuable assets.
Principal technical writers and senior technical writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Technical Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Average salary | $66,896 | $70,820 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $88,000 | Between $54,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a principal technical writer and a senior technical writer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Technical Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | University of Houston | University of Houston |
Here are the differences between principal technical writers' and senior technical writers' demographics:
| Principal Technical Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2% |
| 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, 6.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 8.7% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |