What Can You Do With a Technical Communication Degree in 2025?

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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What can you do with a technical communication degree?

A technical communication degree prepares you to be the essential link between complex technology and the people who depend on it. It goes far beyond just writing; it trains you to be a strategist who makes information accessible, usable, and clear.

With this degree, you can design user-friendly instruction manuals for new software, create concise API documentation for developers, or develop comprehensive training materials for sophisticated medical equipment. You could also shape the user experience (UX) by writing the helpful text that guides people through an application, or you could manage the entire content strategy for a large corporation.

Ultimately, these skills qualify you to work in any industry—from tech and manufacturing to healthcare and finance—that needs to make its products or processes understandable. You become the organization's expert in clarity, ensuring that information empowers users rather than confusing them.

What jobs can you get with a technical communication degree?

While Technical Writer is the most direct job title, a technical communication degree opens the door to a wide variety of roles that blend writing, technology, and design. You will be qualified for positions that require a specialist in making information clear and effective.  For those still exploring related paths, pursuing the best communication and media studies degree online can also provide a strong foundation for careers in writing and media-focused fields.

In 2024, among technical communicators 40% are in the professional, scientific, and technical services industry Here are some of the most common jobs you can get:

• Technical Writer: Creates clear instruction manuals, how-to guides, and articles.
• Content Developer/Strategist: Plans and manages the entire content lifecycle for a product or company.
• Information Architect: Designs the structure and navigation of websites and help systems to be intuitive.
• User Experience (UX) Writer: Crafts the text within software and apps to guide the user experience.
• Documentation Specialist: Manages and maintains a company’s library of technical documents.
• Training and Development Specialist: Creates and delivers training programs for employees on new systems or processes.

These roles are vital across many industries. As shown in the chart below, the professional, scientific, and technical services sector is the single largest employer of technical communicators.

However, a technical communication degree also prepares you for significant opportunities in manufacturing, information technology, and government. The skills are so transferable that graduates can find a fit in almost any field that values clarity.

Technical communicators work across a wide range of industries, with certain sectors employing the largest share of professionals. This chart highlights the top employers, reflecting where demand for clear and effective communication is strongest.

How do salaries vary for technical communication professionals?

Salaries for technical communication professionals are not uniform; they vary significantly based on four key factors: your specific job role, the industry you work in, your years of experience, and your geographic location. Exploring the best technical communication degrees online can help you position yourself for higher-paying roles by gaining the specialized skills employers value most.

Your responsibilities play a major role in your pay. For example, a Content Strategist or an Information Architect who sets the direction for an entire product's documentation will often earn more than a writer focused on a single set of documents.

Similarly, your level of experience creates a wide salary band, with senior and lead practitioners earning substantially more than those in entry-level positions. Finally, salaries are typically higher in major metropolitan areas with a high cost of living and a concentration of tech companies.

How Role and Industry Impact Your Paycheck

The data clearly shows how much these factors matter. A Technical Writer, for example, had a median annual wage of $91,670 in 2024, while a Training and Development Specialist earned a median of $65,850. The industry you choose also has a major impact on your earnings.

Technical writers in the administrative and support services sector earned a higher median salary than those in manufacturing or even the government. Understanding these variations can help you strategically guide your career toward higher-paying roles and industries.

What skills do you learn in a technical communication degree program?

A technical communication degree program is designed to build a powerful and versatile professional toolkit. You will graduate with a unique blend of creative communication talent, sharp analytical ability, and practical technological know-how.  For those interested in a broader business-focused path, pursuing a fast track online business communication degree can also provide complementary skills in organizational communication and leadership.

Here are the core skills you can expect to learn:

• Audience Analysis: You will learn how to identify the needs, knowledge level, and goals of your users to ensure the information you provide is relevant and effective.
• Clear and Concise Writing: You will master the ability to translate complex, technical jargon into simple, direct language that anyone can understand.
• Information Design: You will learn principles of graphic design, layout, and data visualization to present information in a way that is easy to scan and comprehend.
• User Experience (UX) Principles: You will learn the fundamentals of how people interact with technology, allowing you to design user-friendly content and interfaces.
• Content Strategy: You will learn to plan, create, and manage content across its entire lifecycle, from initial concept to final archive.
• Industry-Standard Tools: You will get hands-on experience with the software used in the field, such as content management systems, help-authoring tools, and graphic design software.

It is the strategic combination of these skills that makes graduates so valuable. Employers are not just looking for a writer; they are looking for a problem-solver who can manage the entire process of making technical information useful.

What certifications complement a technical communication degree?

While your degree provides the foundational knowledge for a career in technical communication, professional certifications can significantly boost your resume and signal specialized expertise to employers.

Adding a certification is a strategic way to demonstrate your skills in a specific area, often making you a more competitive candidate for specialized roles.

Here are some of the most valuable types of certifications to consider with a technical communication degree:

• Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC): Offered by the Society for Technical Communication (STC), this is the industry-standard credential that validates your core knowledge.
• Project Management (PMP or CAPM): A certification in project management demonstrates your ability to lead complex documentation projects from start to finish.
• UX/UI Design: Certifications in user experience or user interface design signal your ability to contribute to the overall usability of a product.
• Specific Software Tools: Becoming certified in popular industry software like Adobe FrameMaker, MadCap Flare, or even specific content management systems can make you an immediate asset.

Why Certifications Matter

Think of your degree as your broad qualification and certifications as your sharp, specialized tools. They show a commitment to continuous learning and can be particularly powerful when you're trying to pivot into a new niche, like software documentation or medical device instructions. For those aiming at leadership roles, pursuing an accelerated online masters in communication management alongside certifications can provide the management and strategic skills needed to advance. For many senior or management-level positions, having a credential like the PMP is not just a bonus—it's often a requirement.

Should I pursue a master’s degree after a technical communication bachelor’s?

For the vast majority of technical communication jobs, a bachelor’s degree paired with a strong portfolio of your work is the key to success. A master’s degree is not a requirement for most practitioner roles and is best seen as a strategic tool for specific career goals. Much like exploring what jobs can you do with an anthropology degree, students considering graduate studies in technical communication need to think broadly about transferable skills, career flexibility, and how advanced education can shape long-term opportunities.

A master’s degree becomes a smart investment when:

• You are aiming for leadership. If your goal is to become a content strategy manager, a documentation department head, or another senior leader, a master's degree is often preferred or required.
• You want to teach. To teach technical communication at the college or university level, a graduate degree is a firm requirement.
• You want to enter a highly specialized field. For roles in advanced user research, human-computer interaction, or other research-intensive areas, a master’s provides the necessary theoretical and research background.

Why Experience Is Often the Best Next Step

Before committing to a master's program, our experts strongly recommend getting a few years of professional experience first. This real-world work does two critical things: it clarifies your long-term career goals, ensuring you're pursuing a master's for the right reasons, and it makes you a much stronger candidate for graduate school.

Furthermore, many large companies offer tuition reimbursement programs for employees. Letting your employer help pay for an advanced technical communication degree significantly increases your return on investment and makes it a much smarter financial decision. The best strategy for most is to build your portfolio, prove your value in the workplace, and then pursue a master’s only when you have a clear, strategic goal it will help you achieve.

Earnings for technical writers vary depending on the industry they work in, with some sectors offering significantly higher pay. For instance, technical writers employed within the information sector earn an $83,380 on average annually while those connected with administrative and support services receive $90,400.

This chart shows the median annual wage across top industries, highlighting where technical writers can expect the strongest compensation.

Can technical communication skills be applied to scientific writing?

Yes, absolutely. The skills you gain from a technical communication degree are the perfect foundation for a successful career in scientific writing. In many ways, scientific writing is a highly advanced form of technical communication. For students interested in broadening their expertise, pursuing the best strategic communication degree online can also provide valuable training in messaging, audience engagement, and persuasive communication that complements scientific and technical writing.

At its core, technical communication teaches you how to analyze a specific audience and present complex information to them in the clearest, most effective way possible. This is the fundamental challenge of scientific writing, whether you are explaining clinical trial results or detailing a new laboratory procedure. The principles of audience analysis, logical organization, and information design that you master in your degree are directly applicable to scientific and medical fields.

The Key Difference: Your Audience

The main distinction between general technical writing and scientific writing is the intended audience. While a technical writer for a consumer product might be writing for the general public, a scientific writer is often communicating with other highly specialized experts. For example, you might be a:

• Medical Writer: Creating documentation for regulatory bodies like the FDA, or writing clinical study reports for physicians.
• Grant Writer: Developing proposals to secure funding from government agencies like the National Science Foundation.
• Science Journalist: Translating complex research findings into articles for specialized publications or journals.

Your degree provides the communication framework, and you can then specialize by gaining knowledge in a specific scientific domain like biology, chemistry, or engineering. In fact, this adaptability mirrors fields like speech-language pathology, where communication disorders jobs range from clinical roles to research and education, all requiring the ability to tailor messages for different audiences.

What is the average salary for a technical communication professional?

The average salary for a technical communication professional is excellent, reflecting the high demand for this specialized skill set. Through 2033, the expected growth for this role is at least 4,100 openings per year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for technical writers was $91,670 in May 2024.

This figure represents the midpoint for the profession. The lowest 10% of earners made less than $54,400, which often represents entry-level positions, while the highest 10% of technical writers earned more than $130,430. This top tier typically includes senior practitioners, managers, and specialists in high-paying industries like software and biotechnology. An accelerated communications degree is your direct path to accessing this lucrative and rewarding career field.

What career paths offer advancement for technical communication graduates?

A technical communication degree provides a launchpad for a career with significant upward mobility. Graduates are not limited to a single role; instead, they have two primary avenues for advancement: moving into management or becoming a highly specialized senior expert.

This versatility mirrors the pathways available in broader humanities careers, where strong writing, research, and analytical skills also open doors to leadership roles and specialized expertise across industries.

Here are some of the advanced career paths you can pursue:

Management Path

• Documentation Manager: Leads a team of technical writers and oversees all documentation projects.
• Content Strategy Director: Sets the high-level content vision for an entire company or product line.
• UX Director: Manages the user experience team, including UX writers, researchers, and designers.

Senior Expert Path

• Principal Technical Writer: Serves as the lead subject matter expert for the most complex products. This includes medical communicators.
• Information Architect: Designs and owns the structure of large-scale information systems.
• API Documentation Specialist: A highly sought-after expert who specializes in writing for developer audiences.

Advancement in this field comes from combining your communication skills with business acumen and specialized knowledge. To move into management, focus on developing leadership and project management skills—earning a PMP certification is a great step. To become a senior expert, dive deep into a specific domain, such as cloud computing, medical devices, or API documentation. As you progress, understanding how to become a technical writer at a deeper, strategic level will allow you to mentor junior colleagues and demonstrate your value as a leader in the field.

Freelance medical communicators come from diverse educational backgrounds, but advanced degrees are especially common in the field. This chart highlights the highest level of education reported, with 56% holding PhD-level degrees, showing how formal training influences career paths in medical communication.

What are the future job prospects for technical communication graduates?

The future job prospects for technical communication graduates are strong and stable. As technology continues to become more integrated into every aspect of our lives, the demand for professionals who can make that technology understandable is projected to grow steadily.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for technical writers will grow 4 percent over the next decade. More importantly, they project about 4,100 job openings for technical writers each year, on average, during that period. This consistent demand is a sign of a healthy and necessary profession.

For those curious about related paths, exploring what can you do with a master’s degree in instructional design highlights how communication and design expertise intersect to create engaging training materials, e-learning tools, and workplace education programs—fields that often overlap with technical writing.

Why Technical Communicators Are Future-Proof

In an age of increasing automation and artificial intelligence, the skills of a technical communicator are more valuable than ever. While AI can generate raw text, it cannot replicate the uniquely human ability to analyze an audience, understand their context, and craft a message with empathy and strategic clarity. The more complex technology becomes, the more we need skilled human translators to bridge the gap between the machine and the user.

A technical communication degree doesn't just train you for a job; it equips you with a set of enduring skills that are essential to the tech economy. As the chart below shows, the consistent demand for these roles underscores their long-term value in the marketplace.

Here’s What Graduates Have to Say about Their Technical Communication Degree

Other Things You Should Know About Technical Communication Degree Programs

What is the difference between technical writing and copywriting?

Technical writing aims to explain complex information clearly and accurately, often for manuals, guides, or documentation, with a focus on precision and usability. It serves an instructional or informational purpose, avoiding persuasive language. Copywriting, in contrast, is designed to persuade or motivate action, using creative and emotionally engaging language for marketing or sales. While technical writing serves understanding, copywriting serves conversion.

Do technical communication programs teach visual communication skills?

Yes, most technical communication programs include visual communication training as part of their curriculum. Students learn to design and integrate visuals such as charts, diagrams, infographics, and user interface elements to enhance clarity. This skill is essential because complex information is often easier to understand when paired with well-designed visuals. Programs may also cover software tools for creating and editing graphics.

Are there leadership opportunities in technical communication?

Technical communication offers various leadership opportunities, especially for those with strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills. Professionals can advance to roles such as documentation manager, content strategy lead, or communications director. These positions involve overseeing teams, setting documentation standards, and coordinating with other departments. Leadership roles often require a mix of technical expertise, organizational skills, and strategic thinking.

Are there new specializations emerging within technical communication?

Yes, the field is evolving with new specializations driven by technology and industry needs. Areas like UX writing, API documentation, content strategy, and information architecture are in high demand. Emerging fields such as AI-assisted documentation and accessibility-focused communication are also growing. These specializations require blending traditional writing skills with new technical and design expertise.