Job Descriptions & Salary Information

Information presented on this page is only a representation of median incomes according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupation Outlook Handbook and Salary Expert, Spring 2003

The Society for Technical Communication also provides salary information, organized by state, in its journal.

Technical Writer
Develops scientific or technical materials, such as scientific and medical reports, equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions, parts lists, assembly instructions, catalogs, sales promotion materials, and project proposals. May also assist in layout work such as preparation of illustrations, photographs, diagrams, and charts.

Median Salary in Kentucky $47,030
Median Salary in Nation $51,650

Editor
Selects and prepares material for publication or broadcast and reviews and prepares a writer's work for publication. In the publishing industry, an editor's primary duties are to plan the contents of books, technical journals, trade magazines, and other general interest publications. Editors decide what material will appeal to readers, review and edit drafts of books and articles, offer comments to improve the work, and suggest possible titles.

Median Salary in Kentucky $33,368
Median Salary in Nation $40,500

Newsletter Writer
Produces information for distribution to association members, corporate employees, organizational clients, or the public.

Median Salary in Kentucky $34,280
Median Salary in Nation $37,800

Freelance Writer
Sells his or her work to publishers, publication enterprises, manufacturing firms, public relations departments, or advertising agencies. May be contracted or hired by the job to complete specific assignments such as writing about a new product or technique.

Median Salary in Kentucky $38,110
Median Salary in Nation $48,120

Production Assistant/Publication Assistant/Proofreader
Holds entry-level jobs. Reviews copy for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling, and check copy for readability, style, and agreement with editorial policy. Suggests revisions, such as changing words or rearranging sentences to improve clarity or accuracy.

Median Salary in Kentucky $19,280
Median Salary in Nation $25,810

Web Master
Plans, develops, edits, documents, and maintains flow of content in web documents.

Median Salary in Kentucky $45,515
Median Salary in Nation $58,793

Science and/or Medical Writer Prepares a range of formal documents presenting detailed information on the physical or medical sciences. Imparts research findings for scientific or medical professions, organizes information for advertising or public relations needs, and interprets data and other information for a general readership.

Salary varies according to background.

For more information about science writing at EKU, click here.

Created by the Spring 2003 ENG 400 class: Carlos A. Gandara, Iris Goodpaster, Amy Goodwin, Erica Hoagland, James Luke Honaker, William Hudson, Professor Meg Matheny, Kimberly J. Richardson, Joshua Scott, and Erica Thinesen, under the direction of the Technical Writing Committee.

Page maintained by Barbara Szubinska.