STC Presents Government Data on the Job Market for Technical Writers
STC’s 2008 Salary Database— What are the fastest growing industries for technical writers? Which ones are posting the sharpest declines? Where are salaries going up the most? How much should you expect to make if you apply for a job in another city? The answer to these and other questions asked by job seekers and project planners can be found in STC’s 2008 Salary Database report. With over 90 pages of detailed regional and industry specific statistics on the number of jobs and salaries for technical writers, the report covers 160 municipalities and 21 non-metropolitan areas in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
A Quick Look at the Numbers
| Gains | Loses | |
|---|---|---|
| States with most new jobs: | New Jersey, 300 Michigan, 240 |
Seven of the top ten states with the most writers reported declines in 2008; 18 states overall reported declines. |
| New jobs by Combined Statistical Area: | NYC, 220 Miami, 110 |
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Seattle, Phoenix |
| Percentage increase/decrease in salary: | Portland, OR: +16% | Chicago -6.9% |
| New jobs by sector: | Industrial products, such as machinery equipment, chemical manufacturers, transportation equipment | Consumer products: especially electronic and electrical appliance manufacturers |
Median salary for technical writers across all industries in 2008 was $61,620. Persons in the 90th percentile received $97,460, which was a median increase of 2 percent. California still ranks as the state with the highest salaries—median: $75,680, 90th percentile: $109,740; however, Peabody, MA was the Combined Statistical Area (CSA) with the highest average annual wage of $110,900.
New this year: State and Municipality Maps
In addition to all of the tables and detailed data provided for the past three years, STC has added graphical interpretations of the geographic information—in the form of several maps that plot changes in technical writer employment, hourly wages, and annual salaries for states and major metropolitan areas. These maps provide the user with simple snapshots of the major shifts in technical writer jobs and pay across the United States and show clearly which markets best weathered the economic storm in 2008 and those that suffered declines. With these maps, users of the service are able to quickly determine how their market performed relative to the regional winners and losers, which states and major metropolitan areas are hiring, and the locations where salaries are either holding up or falling off.