How to hire a technical writer and editor

How to hire a technical writer and editor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step technical writer and editor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a technical writer and editor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new technical writer and editor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a technical writer and editor do?

Post a technical writer and editor job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the technical writer and editor you need to hire. Certain technical writer and editor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect technical writer and editor also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of technical writer and editors.

   Type of Technical Writer And Editor	Description	Hourly rate
   Technical Writer And Editor	Technical writers, also called technical communicators, prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. They also develop, gather, and disseminate technical information through an organization’s communications channels.	$24-39
   Publisher	A publisher manages the design, editing, and production process with the help of proofreaders, printers, and editors. Publishers make schedules for every stage of the process and work backward from the planned date for publication... Show more	$20-57
   Editor	An editor is the one responsible for polishing and refining a story, article, and any material for publication in newspapers, magazines, books, or websites. Editors have the power to either accept or reject a material as they need to ensure that every manuscript which will be offered for publishing is at the best version as it can be... Show more	$16-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Technical Documentation
   • PowerPoint
   • Technical Specifications
   • Subject Matter Experts
   • DOD
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Technical Publications
   • Proofreading
   • XML
   • User Manuals
   • Technical Manuals
   • Maintenance Procedures
   • Training Materials
   • Technical Data

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage content development and consistency utilizing exemplary editing and proofreading skills.
   • Identify and initiate wholesale computer upgrade to accommodate new CMS while allocating and managing staff resources devote to developing the software.
   • Develop self running media presentations and eLearning content.
   • Update Microsoft Visio diagrams displaying customer site computer hardware.
   • Experience in updating revisions to DoD technical and programmatic documentation.
   • Provide quick proofreading, production editing, and developmental editing.

   More technical writer and editor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your technical writer and editor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A technical writer and editor salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, technical writer and editors' average salary in indiana is 43% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level technical writer and editors earn 38% less than senior-level technical writer and editors.
   • Certifications. A technical writer and editor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a technical writer and editor's salary.

   Average technical writer and editor salary

   $65,088yearly

   $31.29 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level technical writer and editor salary

   $51,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average technical writer and editor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$85,089	$41
   2	California	$75,597	$36
   3	Arizona	$74,440	$36
   4	Maryland	$73,018	$35
   5	Washington	$69,024	$33
   6	Michigan	$67,223	$32
   7	Colorado	$65,214	$31
   8	Virginia	$64,650	$31
   9	Oregon	$64,495	$31
   10	Georgia	$62,722	$30
   11	New York	$62,593	$30
   12	Texas	$61,026	$29
   13	Missouri	$58,002	$28
   14	Utah	$57,197	$28
   15	Alabama	$53,804	$26
   16	Florida	$51,122	$25
   17	Oklahoma	$50,975	$25

   Average technical writer and editor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Pegasystems	$67,744	$32.57	13
   2	ARA	$66,288	$31.87
   3	Globus Medical	$65,535	$31.51	2
   4	Jacobs Engineering Group	$65,189	$31.34
   5	Lockheed Martin	$64,472	$31.00	56
   6	Torch Technologies	$64,436	$30.98	1
   7	Northrop Grumman	$64,347	$30.94	16
   8	General Dynamics	$64,224	$30.88	39
   9	Caliper Family of Companies	$63,599	$30.58
   10	Ball	$63,368	$30.47
   11	CAE	$62,916	$30.25	2
   12	Forest Manufacturing Co	$62,811	$30.20
   13	General Atomics	$62,504	$30.05	8
   14	Goldbelt Falcon	$62,425	$30.01
   15	Ukpeagvik IOoOupiat Corporation	$62,339	$29.97	6
   16	Alaka`ina Foundation Family Of Companies	$62,138	$29.87	1
   17	NANA	$61,601	$29.62	3
   18	Knowesis	$61,149	$29.40	4
   19	SAIC	$60,914	$29.29	26
   20	Peraton	$60,901	$29.28	28

4. Writing a technical writer and editor job description

   A technical writer and editor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a technical writer and editor job description:

   Technical writer and editor job description example

   Title:
   Technical Writer/Editor
   
   Join our space exploration team as we take the next giant leap making history by going back to the moon and beyond to deep-space destinations. Now is the best time to be part of our KBR team as we prepare to take astronauts back to the moon's surface to explore, to learn, and to prepare for long-term science and human exploration beyond the moon. This job is supporting the IMOC II contract at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). We are looking for a Technical Writer/Editor to support our customers in the Flight Operations Directorate (FOD) at Johnson Space Center (JSC).
   
   The successful candidate will provide technical writing support for various levels of Flight Operations Directorate (FOD) technical meetings and editorial efforts. A successful applicant must be able to capture, summarize, and write technical content minutes of importance in technical meetings covering various complex topics Support includes, but not limited to, providing technical minutes, action items, agendas, and logistics support. Coordinating various aspects of meetings and communications for the customer. The candidate must be able to write and capture detail in a clear and concise level of content and summary. Must be able to write real-time minutes while running logistics (PC, navigating presentations, TEAMS, and Skype, etc.)
   
   In addition, other responsibilities include providing publications editorial support to include coordinating and completing assigned editing tasks to technical documents. Ensure adherence to publication standards and specifications for technical and controlled documentation. Coordinate documentation efforts with graphics, technical services CADS, and drafting as required. Knowledge of NASA and applicable contract standards and guidelines is preferred, but not required. Perform editing/writing functions to ensure proper use of punctuation and grammar and consistent presentation of material in style, voice, and format. Must be flexible and able to manage multiple tasks and meet critical deadlines. Provide exceptional communications, coordination, and teamwork with peers, customers, and management teams.
   
   If you love space, exploration, and writing, this is the job for you!
   
   REQUIREMENTS:
   
   Baccalaureate degree with emphasis/major in Journalism, Communications, English or STEM-related field plus a minimum of 4 years of experience in related technical editing/writing required.
   
   Must be able to provide proven technical writing ability and provide writing samples.
   
   Experience in technical minute writing/writing on complex and technical topics is also preferred. Demonstrated knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation is required. Professional communication skills in dealing with technical customers of various levels is desired. MSOffice experience is a must. SharePoint knowledge is a plus. A high-level of professionalism is required. Familiarity with NASA/IMOC documentation standards is a plus.
   
   In compliance with the U.S. federal government's vaccine mandate, only candidates who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have a reasonable accommodation or approved medical exception will be considered for this position.
   
   KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find technical writer and editors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any technical writer and editors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level technical writer and editors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your technical writer and editor job on Zippia to find and recruit technical writer and editor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting technical writer and editors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new technical writer and editor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the technical writer and editor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a technical writer and editor?