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The differences between senior medical 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 senior medical writer and a senior technical writer. Additionally, a senior medical writer has an average salary of $99,453, which is higher than the $70,820 average annual salary of a senior technical writer.
The top three skills for a senior medical writer include medical writing, clinical data and clinical study reports. The most important skills for a senior technical writer are technical documentation, subject matter experts, and API.
| Senior Medical Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,453 | $70,820 |
| Hourly rate | $47.81 | $34.05 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 59,478 | 80,897 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Senior Medical Writer is responsible for writing comprehensive medical texts and composition for various audiences according to required themes and subjects. Senior Medical Writers maintain the accuracy and authenticity of all information by coordinating with medical professionals and other related parties to gather data. They also study recent trends and innovations within the medical industry and share findings with the clients for further study. A Senior Medical Writer must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in training junior writers and setting recommendations for high-quality publications.
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.
Senior medical writers and senior technical writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Medical Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Average salary | $99,453 | $70,820 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $157,000 | Between $54,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Biogen | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior medical writer and a senior technical writer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Medical Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Nursing | English |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Houston |
Here are the differences between senior medical writers' and senior technical writers' demographics:
| Senior Medical Writer | Senior Technical Writer | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.9% Female, 62.1% | 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, 72.1% 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% |