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The differences between scientific 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 scientific writer and a senior technical writer. Additionally, a scientific writer has an average salary of $99,550, which is higher than the $70,820 average annual salary of a senior technical writer.
The top three skills for a scientific writer include IND, NDA and abstracts. The most important skills for a senior technical writer are technical documentation, subject matter experts, and API.
| Scientific Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,550 | $70,820 |
| Hourly rate | $47.86 | $34.05 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 15,960 | 80,897 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Scientific writers are professionals who are responsible for conducting research and writing articles that are related to scientific topics for many different kinds of publications and scientific journals. These writers are required to conduct interviews with scientists and other important people to ensure accurate information about the essays they are writing. They must adapt and comply with in-house style guides as well as perform copy-editing and proofreading duties. Scientific writers must also build up a network of contacts with other professionals in the industry such as press officers, PR executives, and researchers.
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.
Scientific writers and senior technical writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Scientific Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Average salary | $99,550 | $70,820 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $150,000 | Between $54,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, VA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | California |
| Best paying company | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Technology |
There are a few differences between a scientific writer and a senior technical writer in terms of educational background:
| Scientific Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Biology | English |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of Houston |
Here are the differences between scientific writers' and senior technical writers' demographics:
| Scientific Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% | Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 8.6% White, 72.0% 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% |