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The differences between technical publications writers and research 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 technical publications writer and a research writer. Additionally, a technical publications writer has an average salary of $68,526, which is higher than the $50,741 average annual salary of a research writer.
The top three skills for a technical publications writer include technical publications, technical manuals and technical support. The most important skills for a research writer are research topics, press releases, and editorials.
| Technical Publications Writer | Research Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $68,526 | $50,741 |
| Hourly rate | $32.95 | $24.39 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 75,832 | 60,595 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Technical publications writers and research writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Publications Writer | Research Writer | |
| Average salary | $68,526 | $50,741 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $88,000 | Between $32,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Alameda, CA | Brookline, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Yahoo | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a technical publications writer and a research writer in terms of educational background:
| Technical Publications Writer | Research Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between technical publications writers' and research writers' demographics:
| Technical Publications Writer | Research Writer | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.3% Female, 54.7% | Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 7.7% White, 71.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 8.6% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |