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Job outlook for scientific writers in the United States
Are scientific writer jobs in demand?
Scientific writer job and salary trends over time
Scientific writer jobs over time
Scientific writer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 575 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 590 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 613 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 608 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 603 | 0.00% |
Average scientific writer salary over time
Scientific writer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $99,550 | $47.86 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $97,149 | $46.71 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $95,816 | $46.07 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $94,589 | $45.48 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $93,149 | $44.78 | --0.6% |
Scientific writer jobs by state
Most common states for scientific writers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 194 | 28% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 373 | 5% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 317 | 5% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 29 | 5% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 345 | 4% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 165 | 4% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 34 | 4% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 27 | 4% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 26 | 4% |
| 10 | New York | 19,849,399 | 572 | 3% |
| 11 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 323 | 3% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 225 | 3% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 142 | 3% |
| 14 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 98 | 3% |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 36 | 3% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 28 | 3% |
| 17 | California | 39,536,653 | 987 | 2% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 222 | 2% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 110 | 2% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 76 | 2% |
Most common cities for scientific writers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge | 4 | 4% | $104,690 |
| 2 | Andover | 1 | 3% | $104,277 |
| 3 | Pacifica | 1 | 3% | $113,682 |
| 4 | San Pablo | 1 | 3% | $113,712 |
| 5 | Woburn | 1 | 3% | $104,532 |
| 6 | Camarillo | 1 | 1% | $110,190 |
| 7 | Roanoke | 1 | 1% | $114,247 |
| 8 | Rockville | 1 | 1% | $93,349 |
| 9 | Silver Spring | 1 | 1% | $93,405 |
| 10 | South San Francisco | 1 | 1% | $113,626 |
| 11 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $89,191 |
| 12 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $137,584 |
| 13 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $88,414 |
| 14 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $87,686 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $81,111 |
| 16 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $107,758 |
Scientific Writer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of scientific writer experts
Tusculum University
Colorado Mesa University
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
University of New Mexico
Case Western Reserve University
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Ohio Northern University
University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
California State University San Bernardino
Mercer University
American Society of Magazine Editors
California University of Pennsylvania
University of Minnesota
Bucknell University
Independence Community College
Tribal College Journal
Vicky Johnson Bós
Associate Professor of EnglishTusculum University
English Language And Literature
What Scientific Writer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Vicky Johnson Bós: Students should be very familiar with using AI in responsible, informed ways to further their writing and research. Having people-skills will never go unused. Good writing and technological skills will become even more in demand with the growth of new, unexplored job markets.
What will help Scientific 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.
Dr. Tiffany Kinney PhD
Associate Professor of EnglishColorado Mesa University
English Language And Literature
What Scientific Writer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Tiffany Kinney PhD: In terms of general advice, students just entering the career field after graduating should apply far and wide. In other words, I would suggest that students not limit themselves because they might be surprised where they can land a job. With that said, they should still tailor their application materials for the job that they want, instead of just sending out the same materials again/again.
Natalie Becerra
Career Development SpecialistUniversity of Nebraska - Lincoln
Journalism
What Scientific Writer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Natalie Becerra: I think some very important skills that will be important to have are resourcefulness and research skills. Especially in the journalism and media industries everything is very trend driven. That means people need to have better research-backed strategies if they want to see long-term, sustainable success. It will be hard to just rely on clickbait and bandwagoning forever, so people should sharpen their research skills and foster a sense of curiosity and resourcefulness to dig deeper and find information for themselves.
Kate Cunningham
Multimedia communication instructorUniversity of New Mexico
Department of Communication and Journalism
What skills will help Scientific Writers earn the most?
Kate Cunningham: In some cases, more specialized skills like website development or data science can be useful toward earning more. Some newsrooms offer bilingual bonuses for staff with fluency in other languages.
Leadership ability and positions in management also could lead to higher salaries within the field.
What's a good job out of college for Scientific Writers?
Ashley Nemes-Baran Ph.D.: With a Bachelor's degree in a field of science (biology, chemistry, neuroscience, etc.) graduates can work in academia or industry, and these jobs may be more or less prevalent based on location. Below are a list of different jobs that someone with a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience or a related field can pursue:
Research and Education
-Research Technician: A recent graduate can work in a research laboratory as a research technician and decide to further their education with graduate school, or rise through the ranks and eventually become a laboratory manager.
-Instructor or Lecturer: With some experience, a recent graduate can teach science at a college or university, or even in a K-12 school (different states have requirements for teaching certifications).
-Data Analyst: Recent graduates can analyze data for various companies such as insurance, biotech, advertising, etc.
Health and Medicine.
-Social Worker, Case Manager, Therapist: With some additional training, recent graduates can become therapists or work in behavioral health.
-MRI Technician, Histopathologist: Some positions may require further certifications.
-Biostatistician: Recent graduates can work with healthcare providers to statistically analyze patient data
Writing and Publishing.
-Scientific Writer: There are now many companies hiring scientists to work as scientific writers, which can include helping to publish research, write up studies for the general public or work with pharmaceutical companies.
-Editor, Publisher, Graphic Artist, Medical Illustrator: Graduates can contribute to scientific journals and art departments within educational institutions.
-Science Educator: With background knowledge of science, graduates can write blogs or provide presentations to offer the community scientific information or act as a scientific consultant for companies without the background.
Business and Law.
-Grants Specialist: Graduates can work with private companies or foundations to aid in writing and submitting grants.
-Medical Science Liaison, Spokesperson or Sales Representative: Pharmaceutical companies need people who have a background in science to help explain and promote their product to consumers who may not have a background in science.
Kevin Pulz
Academic Department Chair/Senior Producer-Director, Milwaukee PBSMilwaukee Area Technical College
Television and Video Production/eProduction- Milwaukee PBS
What's a good job out of college for Scientific Writers?
Kevin Pulz: Broadcasting is still, strangely, considered a glamor field in so many ways. Little do people realize that cable wrapping and happily executed grunt work are essential talents that often separate the job recipient from the 5 interviewees and 95 applicants for a gig that pays less than fast-food work, even with a college degree.
So a good job out of college is ANY job in the field. Being 'in' and demonstrating one's ability in a professional environment remains key to opportunity in the future.
That said, it's clear that an area of media that's ripe for growth is multiplatform content delivery. It's in the wheelhouse of recent graduates based upon age and media consumption habits and, with traditional broadcast audiences growing older, an aspect of content creation that promises to grow even more legs as distribution methodologies develop and mature.
What's a day at work look like for a Scientific Writer?
Shane Tilton Ph.D.: This line of evidence is pointing to one central truth. Those that practiced multimedia journalism techniques before the pandemic will find success now. Also, organizations are looking for those graduates that can be a "one-stop-shop" for producing stories from home. I don't believe that trend will change. This trend also addresses the third question. Graduates are leaving colleges better prepared to use computer-mediated communication tools to complete their jobs' essential tasks. They understand how to be engaging and communicate effectively via their more contemporary communication tools.
What experience really stands out on Scientific Writer resumes?
Patricia Hastings: The experience I think everyone needs is video, for those who aren't going into that area. Everyone uses video. Having an understanding of how to make your message or story translate to video is important and it's not that easy to do. That, and the ability to enterprise story ideas. Actually taking an idea and turning into a story for online, or broadcast or print is key. You can't tell the story the same way for each one, and so to analyze and then make a good story is important.
Dr. Anthony Cuda Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Associate HeadUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro
Department of English
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Scientific Writer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Anthony Cuda Ph.D.: Obviously work that can be done remotely is at a premium, and writers in particular will benefit from this. Freelance writers have long worked remotely and on their own schedule. The shift now will involve science writers, technical writers, corporate communications professionals-anyone who knows how to put sentences together with clarity, elegance, and professionalism. So the ability to write well-the way that English majors are trained to-is key to capitalizing on the trends.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Scientific Writers to find work opportunities?
Guy D. Hepp: Again, I think a student needs to think about what they want to do within the broad field of anthropology. Take a variety of courses and see if you can settle on the subdiscipline or topic that interests you most. Are you passionate about museums and curation? Do you want to work with a company that helps to preserve cultural heritage as development continues? Do you want to work to help make government policies more culturally inclusive, both in the United States and abroad? Anthropology might be perfect for you. I would suggest that students interested in archaeology take a field school, and then, begin working in cultural resources management (CRM) to see how they enjoy it. If museums are what interest you, consider not only courses in museum studies (offered in some anthropology departments or in programs otherwise affiliated with anthropology) but also pursue internships and volunteer opportunities. There are jobs out there. It might help you to get started if you volunteer for the type of career you want.
Dr. Joshua Rodefer Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology and NeuroscienceMercer University
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
What type of skills will young Scientific Writers need?
Dr. Joshua Rodefer Ph.D.: I think it's safe to say a strong foundation in the basics is critically essential. Of course, a broad background in neuroscience coursework is necessary. However, quantitative skills should be near the top of anyone's list, but what that means has been changing. Traditionally it's been essential to have graduates who are comfortable with understanding, using, and interpreting statistical information.
But more recently, exposure to coursework in data science, data analytics, computer programming has become special skills. Critical in this endeavor is developing healthy skepticism regarding all data, what it means, and what it doesn't mean. Sometimes individuals talk about this as critical thinking or scientific literacy, which are essential for all graduates to be better-informed citizens.
It is also vital that individuals work to become good communicators (broadly defined). Although it is rarely discussed and focused upon in mass media portrayals of scientists, writing is essential as each scientist's career depends upon their ability to communicate research results, convince employers that your work is necessary, and persuade government and funding agencies that they should sponsor your research activities.
How do you envision technology impacting Scientific Writers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Joshua Rodefer Ph.D.: Computational skills and experiences likely will be essential. Robotic automation transformed the manufacturing industry, and I would expect a growing reliance on computer programming, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) in neuroscience. Modern science generates data in orders of magnitude greater than what was typical in past decades. These experiences and skills will facilitate complex data analysis and decision-making in fields related to neuroscience.
What general advice would you give to a Scientific Writer?
Sidney Holt: The biggest challenge facing editorial hopefuls is uncertainty. Magazines and websites were already experiencing unprecedented challenges as the consumption of media changed and publishers shifted from advertising-supported to reader-supported business models. The pandemic only accelerated those trends. For new graduates, that means fewer opportunities to work for established brands (and where those opportunities do exist, it means working remotely, at least for the foreseeable future, which in turn means fewer opportunities to enjoy the kind of one-on-one training that furthered the careers of previous generations of writers and editors).
That's the downside. The upside is that the skills and energy young journalists can bring to a media organization are especially valuable during a period of extraordinary change. But you have to be prepared to be resilient. Not only is "the gold watch after 50 years" gone; you have expect you won't be in any job very long, at least in the early years of your career.
What type of skills will young Scientific 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 general advice would you give to a Scientific 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.
What Scientific Writer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Thomas Reynolds: Technical writing and communication can span many fields. However, there are specific fields that are especially open to technical communication, such as information technology and computer software (technical documentation, for example), as well as medical and health fields. Many of our graduates work for companies that involve computer technology, such as software companies and content management for web consulting firms. In addition, many of our graduates work in biomedical companies that require technical and global documentation of medical devices.
I can't say that I know of a sure bet, but places that deal with medical technology, healthcare, and related fields are probably going to need people well-trained to communicate specialized knowledge to a variety of audiences and in a variety of ways. Telemedicine seems to have gained a more permanent stronghold in the healthcare system, and I imagine that the various communication channels involved in this new way of practicing medicine will open opportunities for well-trained graduates, such as ours who are willing to be pioneers in this area.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Scientific Writers?
Thomas Reynolds: Technology is constantly changing, and the pandemic has put a wrinkle on innovations that will have an impact on the field of TWC. Yet technical writing and communication have always involved changing technologies -- it is one of the hallmarks of the field. In addition, remote work is common in technical communication, and many scholars have written about the phenomenon, including global virtual teams and distributed workplaces. In any case, technical writers and communicators learn to think about the intersection of technology with the audience.
I think that traditional notions of communicationm such as establishing a friendly, businesslike ethos and considering the very real material circumstances of audiences, will remain uppermost as graduates adapt to the technological changes. Part of this work will also involve recognizing and working to improve social injustices that employers are increasingly in need of addressing. New technologies that emerge will also be part of the landscape for graduates, and they will be eager to learn these new tools.
Sarah Bell
Senior Associate Director, CounselingBucknell University
Center for Career Advancement
How do you envision technology impacting Scientific 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.
Bridget Carson
Associate Professor of Developmental EnglishIndependence Community College
History
What general advice would you give to a Scientific Writer?
Bridget Carson: Show up. Listen and keep learning. Be a part of the broader community.
I know these seem simple, but they require time. It isn't just about the hours on the clock, although they are that for which you are paid. Go to the meet and greet. Chip into the water cooler fund. Join a softball league, a book club, or a game night. When somebody invites you to a company picnic - go. Join the volunteer opportunities in which the organization participates. Relationships need nurturing so that you can have empathy and resilience during difficult discussions within an organization or when it needs to pull together and get through something.
Our shiny new degrees are just the beginning of what we know. You'll be stepping into situations where people will need your fresh perspective, and you will need their experience. Keep reading, not just things in your content area. This isn't just a "respect your elders" or "know your place" statement. They don't know everything, and neither do you, but they've been there longer.
Be a visible part of the broader community. This is especially important if you choose to work in the Public Sector where people want to see their tax dollars pay people who are invested in their community. Go to the concerts in the park, the local community theater, the parades. Join some organization and chip in. Work the polls, join the park committee, be active in a philanthropic or faith community, show up for events celebrating local history. Support local businesses where you find them in alignment with your values.
Don't do any of this for the show. People can spot a fake-Esse quad videre: to be rather than to seem.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Scientific Writers in the next 3-5 years?
Bradley Shreve: If you plan to teach, focus on becoming familiar with, and understanding how to use, different learning management systems. You should also know where to find various digital historical sources, whether in online archives or on the web. It is also crucial to be adept at using a variety of apps and social media platforms.