Headline risk
49%
High RiskTechnical Writer
AI displacement pressure score based on US employment data, wages, and demand signals. Built from 3 related occupations weighted by relevance.
Why this score
84% of tasks overlap with current AI
24% human advantage from judgment & presence
54% demand buffer from the local labour market
These factors interact with each other — the final score is not a simple sum of these bars.
Share of tasks AI can handle today
Work that requires human presence or coordination
How strong local hiring demand is for this role
How complete the underlying data is
Workflow profile
How this role's daily work breaks down across different dimensions.
Workflow dimensions (0 = low, 1 = high)
US employment data
Employment overview
Share of job tasks AI can currently perform
Annual median wage
Projected employment change 2024–2034
Education and training typically needed
Key metrics
Job zone
4The occupation usually needs substantial preparation and experience.
Median wage
USD 91,670USD 68,640 to USD 102,740
Openings
4.5K0.9% projected change
Median age
47.454K employed
What this job involves
Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
Entry requirements: Moderate preparation
The occupation usually needs substantial preparation and experience.
Wage context
Median annual
USD 91,670
Mean annual
USD 92,330
10th percentile: USD 54,400
25th percentile: USD 68,640
75th percentile: USD 102,740
90th percentile: USD 130,430
Hourly median: USD 44
Employment: 55,530 workers
Demand outlook
Current employment
56.4K
Projected employment
56.9K
Openings: 4.5K
Projected change: 0.9%
Education: Bachelor's degree
Work experience: Less than 5 years
On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training
Median wage: USD 91,670
Employment of technical writers is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Workforce profile
Based on a survey of workers currently in this occupation.
Protects from AI displacement
- Can telework 40.5% of workers
Typical background
- No education requirement 21.9% of workers
- High school diploma 22.5% of workers
- Bachelor's degree 44.4% of workers
- Associate's degree 11.1% of workers
- On-the-job training 34.35% of workers
- Prior work experience 60.5% of workers
Other characteristics
- Specific vocational preparation 10.6% of workers
Day-to-day work
Technical writers prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily.
Most technical writers work full time. Although technical writers work in a variety of industries, they are concentrated in the computer and management, scientific, and technical industries.
Technical writers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. In addition, knowledge of or experience with a technical subject, such as science or engineering, is beneficial.
Key tasks
- 1. Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology. · AI can do 87%
- 2. Maintain records and files of work and revisions. · AI can do 0%
- 3. Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel. · AI can do 83%
- 4. Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material. · AI can do 96%
- 5. Interview production and engineering personnel and read journals and other material to become familiar with product technologies and production methods. · AI can do 0%
- 6. Assist in laying out material for publication. · AI can do 90%
Tools commonly used
Work environment
- E-Mail 4.7/5
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team 4.6/5
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate 4.5/5
- Spend Time Sitting 4.5/5
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks 4.5/5
- Freedom to Make Decisions 4.4/5
Who does this work
Median age: 47.4
54K employed · Under 25: 0% · 25–54: 57% · 55+: 43%
Data sources: O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Component occupations
How this score works
The score measures how much this role's tasks overlap with current AI capabilities, adjusted for human-only requirements and local job market demand. This is a structural pressure estimate, not a prediction of job losses. Learn how scores work →