Technical author
Career outlook for technical author
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£20,000
£20,000
Experienced
£50,000
£50,000
Currently employed in Scotland
7,600
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You would use your specialist knowledge to make guides for users of products and systems.
You could work on projects such as instruction manuals, business guidelines, online help pages and more.
You would:
- Write new documents
- Update old documents
- Collect information
- Present complex information in the simplest way
- Commission photographs or illustrations
- Produce digital media, such as blogs and podcasts
- Carry out user testing
- Work closely with technical, marketing, printing and design staff
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
UK employment status
Full-time
36%
Part-time
11%
Self employed
53%
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Find a jobTop skills
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- Cooperating
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Creative
- Observation
- Researching
- Attention to detail
- Developing a plan
- Time management
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Qualifications
There are no set qualifications for this role, but you would need to show you can interpret and communicate complex information clearly.
Many technical authors have a degree (SCQF 9/10) in a subject relevant to the products and systems they write about. These could include:
- Science
- Computer science
- Engineering
Other technical authors come from a communications or journalism background.
To enter a degree (SCQF level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of three Highers or a relevant HNC/HND.
Useful subjects
- English
- Science
- IT-related subjects
Helpful to have
You may want to join the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators (ISTC).