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Overview

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What is a program writer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Quoted expert
Evan Schulte
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a program writer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $37.57 an hour? That's $78,147 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 5,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a program writer?

Evan Schulte

Assistant Professor, English as a Second Language, Colorado Mountain College

Graduating with a degree in English and Literature gives the graduate an excellent opportunity to teach online. I would recommend getting TEFL or TESOL certified. It is a great chance to gain teaching experience, and there is always the option to teach abroad when the pandemic lets up.
ScoreProgram WriterUS Average
Salary
6.1

Avg. Salary $78,147

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
-

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.35%

Asian 4.91%

Black or African American 5.91%

Hispanic or Latino 7.59%

Unknown 5.58%

White 75.65%

Gender

female 42.25%

male 57.75%

Age - 41
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 - 41
Complexity level
9.3

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Program writer career paths

Key steps to become a program writer

  1. Explore program writer education requirements

    Most common program writer degrees

    Bachelor's

    71.9 %

    Master's

    17.4 %

    Associate

    9.1 %

  2. Start to develop specific program writer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Technical Documentation29.13%
    Code Samples26.59%
    API20.07%
    Developer Documentation6.98%
    SDK5.25%
    Show more

  3. Complete relevant program writer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New program 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 program writer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real program writer resumes.

  4. Research program writer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and implement MSN adCenter API SDK project.
    • Manage projects diligently under aggressive deadlines while maintaining editorial integrity and ensuring stories have entertainment and/or educational value.
    • Contribute to API design review, and security review meetings with developers and PMs.
    • Serve as lead administrator for the team's SharePoint site.

  5. Apply for program writer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a program writer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first program writer job

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Average program writer salary

The average program writer salary in the United States is $78,147 per year or $38 per hour. Program writer salaries range between $50,000 and $121,000 per year.

Average program writer salary
$78,147 Yearly
$37.57 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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