Job Market & Salary Information
According the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Nebraska Workforce Development Website (2005), the field of Technical Communication is steadily growing. The Occupational Handbook projects that by 2014 the number of technical writers nationally will grow by over 23%, and that 2,620 technical writer jobs will open annually in the United States. Additionally, the Nebraska Workforce Development website predicts a growth rate for technical writers in Nebraska of 15% for the same decade.
Although the title, “technical writer” is still used by these resources and by some industries, we prefer the title, “technical communicator” because it better describes the diverse skill set and knowledge base now very much a part of this growing and demanding field. For more information about this terminology shift, you might enjoy reading “The Case for ‘Technical Communicator’” by Maurice Martin, STC, and Richard O'Sullivan.
The Occupational Handbook attributes this growth to the continuing expansion of scientific, technological, and legal developments and discoveries. The Occupational Handbook says that more technical communicators are needed to analyze and interpret the resulting new information in a variety of written and online products in a way that makes it easy for people to use and understand it. As society and the economy respond to these new developments and demand better communication products and processes, this demand will continue to increase for workers who can competently communicate about this technology.
Salary conditions are equally good for technical communicators both in the Omaha area and nationally. Several sources including the Occupational Handbook, Nebraska Workforce Development website, Salary.com and the Society for Technical Communication’s 2005 Salary Survey report salaries between $40,000 and $43,000 for entry-level technical communicators and more than $80,000 for more experienced communicators. The table below shows the average salary ranges by area and experience level:
Average Annual Salary Range by Experience Level
| Entry Level | All Levels | |
| Omaha Area | $41,000-$43,000 | $48,000-$56,000 |
| United States | $40,730-$43,000 | $53,000-$61,730 |
