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The differences between senior technical writers and technical editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior technical writer, becoming a technical editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior technical writer has an average salary of $70,820, which is higher than the $61,717 average annual salary of a technical editor.
The top three skills for a senior technical writer include technical documentation, subject matter experts and API. The most important skills for a technical editor are powerpoint, english language, and proofreading.
| Senior Technical Writer | Technical Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $70,820 | $61,717 |
| Hourly rate | $34.05 | $29.67 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 80,897 | 78,423 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
A technical editor is someone who proofreads, revises, and edits technical documents. He/She or she checks for grammar, punctuation, and style to ensure that the technical content meets company standards. Some of the qualifications to become a technical editor include knowledge of technical concepts, prior experience in print or online publishing, a keen eye for details, and strong verbal and written communication skills. Someone having a bachelor's degree in English or journalism could qualify for the position.
Senior technical writers and technical editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Technical Writer | Technical Editor | |
| Average salary | $70,820 | $61,717 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $92,000 | Between $47,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | PayPal | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior technical writer and a technical editor in terms of educational background:
| Senior Technical Writer | Technical Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | University of Houston | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between senior technical writers' and technical editors' demographics:
| Senior Technical Writer | Technical Editor | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2% | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |