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Alabama Department of Labor

Labor Market Information Division
SOC: 27-3042 Technical Writers
Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
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Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
OJT: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Tasks: Organize material and complete writing assignment according to set standards regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style, and terminology. Maintain records and files of work and revisions. Edit, standardize, or make changes to material prepared by other writers or establishment personnel. Select photographs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, and charts to illustrate material. Interview production and engineering personnel and read journals and other material to become familiar with product technologies and production methods. Develop or maintain online help documentation. Assist in laying out material for publication. Study drawings, specifications, mockups, and product samples to integrate and delineate technology, operating procedure, and production sequence and detail. Arrange for typing, duplication, and distribution of material. Observe production, developmental, and experimental activities to determine operating procedure and detail. Review manufacturer's and trade catalogs, drawings and other data relative to operation, maintenance, and service of equipment. Analyze developments in specific field to determine need for revisions in previously published materials and development of new material. Draw sketches to illustrate specified materials or assembly sequence. Review published materials and recommend revisions or changes in scope, format, content, and methods of reproduction and binding. Confer with customer representatives, vendors, plant executives, or publisher to establish technical specifications and to determine subject material to be developed for publication.
License: License not required.
Outlook: Good
Alabama Employment Outlook
Alabama Wage Data
Hourly Wage   Annual Wage
Entry $22.39   Entry $46,567.00
Mean $33.12   Mean $68,900.00
Experience $38.50 Experience $80,067.00

The data is based on the May 2017 Occupation Employment Survey employment and wage estimate file. The wages have been aged using the most current ECI factors reflecting wages as of June 2018.

Alabama Projections
Estimated Employment 2016Projected Employment 2026Annual Average OpeningsAnnual Growth Rate
700830851.71
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27-3042.00 Technical Writers