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The differences between specifications writers and content 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 specifications writer and a content writer. Additionally, a specifications writer has an average salary of $72,326, which is higher than the $58,918 average annual salary of a content writer.
The top three skills for a specifications writer include technical specifications, data sheets and leed. The most important skills for a content writer are digital marketing, wordpress, and web content.
| Specifications Writer | Content Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $72,326 | $58,918 |
| Hourly rate | $34.77 | $28.33 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 15,596 | 19,621 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A specifications writer specializes in developing and producing written materials that focus on technical descriptions of products, materials, and procedures. Their responsibilities include understanding and interpreting plans and processes, coordinating with engineers and other experts, creating sketches and diagrams, and developing strategies to optimize operations. They must also work together with editors, performing revisions as needed. Furthermore, as a specifications writer, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
The job of content writers is to create the best possible written or visual content ranging from blog posts to press releases. They produce the content for various types of websites, including social networks, news aggregators, and e-commerce sites. The job of content writers is not limited to writing, but also ensuring that the content connects or is relevant to the website pages. They are expected to set the tone of the website and revise the content upon customers' or clients' requests. They are also responsible for assisting in the creation of style guides.
Specifications writers and content writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Specifications Writer | Content Writer | |
| Average salary | $72,326 | $58,918 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $105,000 | Between $40,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Cisco |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a specifications writer and a content writer in terms of educational background:
| Specifications Writer | Content Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Business | English |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between specifications writers' and content writers' demographics:
| Specifications Writer | Content Writer | |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.8% Female, 50.2% | Male, 39.8% Female, 60.2% |
| 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, 6.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 16% |