51112 – Technical writers
Lead statement
Technical writers write manuals and specifications for publication or presentation.
Main duties
- Analyze material, such as specifications, notes and drawings
- Conduct interviews and research to gather information on a specific field
- Write, review and update manuals, user guides and other documents to provide instruction and to explain clearly and concisely the installation, operation and maintenance of software and electronic, mechanical and other equipment
- Develop and maintain help documentation
- May design and develop training course material
- May help create content for software products, such as on-screen instructions and error messages.
Employment requirements
- A university degree in the area of specialization, such as computer science or engineering is usually required.
Example job titles
help file developer · on-line reference developer · handbook writer · manual writer · medical writer · programmed-instruction writer · scientific writer · technical writer · technical writer - aeronautics · technical writer - pharmaceutical industry · technical writer - electronics equipment · technical writer - chemical processing · support materials writer · self-instruction manual writer · standards writer · specifications writer (except construction) · content writer (technical) · proposal writer · instructional designer
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $27.00 | $36.06 | $53.37 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $29.70 | $39.82 | $54.52 |
| Nova Scotia | $23.95 | $36.30 | $49.48 |
| New Brunswick | $28.05 | $37.02 | $51.28 |
| Quebec | $31.19 | $41.54 | $48.72 |
| Ontario | $27.00 | $34.98 | $59.63 |
| Manitoba | $27.08 | $40.17 | $56.61 |
| Saskatchewan | $26.21 | $37.15 | $50.16 |
| Alberta | $30.00 | $36.00 | $47.80 |
| British Columbia | $28.85 | $43.27 | $57.69 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.