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What is a senior technical writer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Allison Harl Ph.D.,
Shane Tilton Ph.D.
introduction image

A senior technical writer creates technical documentation like user manuals, product specifications, and training materials. They work closely with subject matter experts to collect information and translate technical concepts into comprehensive language for non-technical audiences. Senior technical writers may also develop and maintain style guides, templates, and other documentation. Effective written communication skills and attention to detail are essential for success in this role.

What general advice would you give to a Senior Technical Writer?

Allison Harl Ph.D.Allison Harl Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Associate Professor of English English Program Coordinator, Ferrum College

Develop as many multimedia skills as possible. Writing in the 21st century is about visual rhetoric as well as just words on a page.
ScoreSenior Technical WriterUS Average
Salary
5.5

Avg. Salary $70,820

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
4.8

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.35%

Asian 8.72%

Black or African American 6.63%

Hispanic or Latino 7.81%

Unknown 4.98%

White 71.52%

Gender

female 48.17%

male 51.83%

Age - 45
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 - 45
Stress Level
4.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.2

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Senior Technical Writer?

Pros

  • Opportunities to work remotely with flexible hours

  • Competitive salary, benefits, and job stability due to demand for technical writers

  • Opportunities for advancement

  • Opportunities to learn new technologies and skills

  • Fulfilling work that contributes to the success of companies and customers

Cons

  • Strict deadlines and pressure to deliver quality work

  • Constantly changing technology and software

  • Frequent revisions and editing required

  • Physical discomfort from long hours of sitting and typing

  • Work on multiple projects at once can be overwhelming.

Senior Technical Writer career paths

Key steps to become a senior technical writer

  1. Explore senior technical writer education requirements

    Most common senior technical writer degrees

    Bachelor's

    72.5 %

    Master's

    13.4 %

    Associate

    9.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior technical writer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Technical Documentation7.33%
    Subject Matter Experts5.62%
    API4.33%
    Java4.05%
    PowerPoint3.90%
  3. Complete relevant senior technical writer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior technical 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 senior technical writer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior technical writer resumes.
  4. Gain additional senior technical writer certifications

    Senior technical writer certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific senior technical writer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for senior technical writers include Certified Technical Professional (CTP) and Certified Professional Technical Communicator - Expert (CPTC).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research senior technical writer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and participate in logistics programs, and commercial and DOD technical manual complements.
    • Manage team activities for internal and client documentation development that supports the SDLC methodology.
    • Lead team to deliver the first simultaneous release of the product stack across UNIX platforms.
    • Manage multiple SharePoint sites for active documentation projects and resulting archives to meet customer version control and compliance requirements.
  6. Get senior technical writer experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a senior technical writer. The most common roles before becoming a senior technical writer include technical writer, technical writer and editor team lead and document specialist.
  7. Prepare your senior technical writer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior technical writer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior technical writer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Senior Technical Writer Resume templates

    Build a professional Senior Technical Writer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Senior Technical Writer resume.
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    Senior Technical Writer Resume
  8. Apply for senior technical writer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior technical 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 Senior Technical Writer Job

Zippi

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Average senior technical writer salary

The average Senior Technical Writer salary in the United States is $70,820 per year or $34 per hour. Senior technical writer salaries range between $54,000 and $92,000 per year.

Average Senior Technical Writer Salary
$70,820 Yearly
$34.05 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do senior technical writers rate their job?

4/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Senior Technical Writer reviews

profile
4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2020
Pros

Diversified projects and project responsibilities.

Cons

Needing to continually explain to supposedly more educated persons the basic writing and grammar mistakes when proofreading.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Communication and completion. I like doing a complicated job and then finishing on time and within budget. Getting done and filing away, ready for the next project is the best.

Cons

Being forgotten in the rush. Complicated projects are an easy place to get left behind. I have to keep my name and voice in front of people or I get left out.


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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.

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