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Boston Career Explorer

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Technical Writers

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

Also called: Com Writer, Engineering Writer, Global Technical Writer, Grant Writer, Medical Writer, Narrative Writer

Median pay in Greater Boston
$111,750
$53.72/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,590
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−1.4%
130 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree
plus Short-term on-the-job training; Less than 5 years of related work experience

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$70,040$86,060$111,750$135,600$165,670

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology.
  • Maintain records and files of work and revisions.
  • Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel.
  • Analyze developments in specific field to determine need for revisions in previously published materials and development of new material.
  • Review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding.
  • Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure88 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 80
  • Language-model AIOE 88
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 95

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

Technical writing has higher AI exposure, and AI tools are already used a lot for it. Tools can help draft, standardize, and edit documents, so one writer may produce more. Massachusetts jobs are projected to dip 1.4% by 2034. Deciding what needs updating and keeping records of changes still depend on a writer's judgment.

Likely to change

  • Drafting first versions of manuals and instructions
  • Editing and standardizing wording and style

Still relies on people

  • Judging when published materials need revising
  • Reviewing others' work for clarity and scope

What federal projections say

“Productivity change - share decreases as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools grows, allowing technical writers to produce documentation more efficiently.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Project Management Specialists

    Organizing material, tracking revisions, and working to set standards carry over to planning projects. Pay is similar, and growth is projected at 2.7%.

    Pay difference
    +$3,240 median
    AI exposure
    Higher
    MA growth
    +2.7%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Software Developers

    Explaining complex products in writing carries over to analyzing user needs and writing software documentation. It pays more and is projected to grow 7.7%.

    Pay difference
    +$54,340 median
    AI exposure
    Higher
    MA growth
    +7.7%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Administrative Services Managers

    Reviewing reports for accuracy and keeping records in order carry over to managing office operations. It has lower AI exposure and 3.8% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$8,920 median
    AI exposure
    Higher
    MA growth
    +3.8%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

5 programs near Boston (plus 1 graduate)

Related occupations

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