Technical writing is an unsung hero of a wide array of industries (not just engineering or technology). Technical documentation helps people solve difficult problems and innovate in creative ways and helps organizations boost customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and growth.
Yet many people still underestimate the strategic value of a skilled technical writing engineer or overlook the importance of investing in their teams’ ability to communicate clearly about complex subject matter. That gap in understanding and appreciation leaves both individuals and companies missing out on powerful opportunities.
So, is technical writing a good career? For both the professionals who do the work and the employers who depend on them, the answer is yes, now more than ever.
What Is Technical Writing and Reporting, and How Is It Evolving?
At root, technical writing means translating complex ideas into clear, accessible information that is usable and understandable for the intended reader.
A technical writing engineer might document product requirements, create step-by-step instructions, or draft regulatory submissions. In other words, they help transform specialized knowledge into practical, helpful content that informs decisions and guides action. This is different from marketing copy or general business communication, for which it is often mistaken. Technical writing focuses on accuracy, clarity, and utility in highly technical subject matter. Its goal is to help readers understand exactly what to do, why to do it, and how to do it correctly and safely.
And, despite market challenges and the proliferation of high-tech tools such as automation and AI, the field is growing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, technical writing jobs are projected to grow 4% between 2023 and 2033. Jobsite Zippia shows an even more impressive job growth rate of 6% (significantly faster than average, per their research).
Zippia also reports that the unemployment rate for technical writers has fallen both continuously and dramatically since 2010, from 9.5% to 4.6% by 2021 (the most recent year for which they have technical writer-specific data).
This suggests the need for technical writing and reporting is increasing over time, which makes sense. Consider all the industries now wrestling with rapid innovation: renewable energy companies rolling out advanced storage technologies, pharmaceutical manufacturers developing new treatments, insurers updating claims systems, logistics firms digitizing entire supply chains, and on and on. Each of these changes requires precise communication, not only inside the organization but also out to customers, regulators, and partners.
In fact, many people who might not have expected technical writing to feature heavily in their careers have been surprised to discover that it does: “I strongly believed that once I graduated, I was not going to need many writing skills because I was going into engineering,” one alumnus told Sacramento State University researchers.
That’s because writing is the core deliverable in many technical roles. “A very experienced engineer I worked with towards the beginning of my career once told me, the output of engineering is documentation,” says Aaron Moncur, host of the podcast Being an Engineer, in a conversation with Pam Hurley, PhD, founder of Hurley Write.
The Elephant in the Room: AI and Technical Writing
AI is indeed encroaching on job tasks once performed by humans, but fears of wholesale job takeovers are likely overblown (at least for now). When it comes to technical writing, AI is more likely to serve as an accessory than a replacement. As technology news site TechTarget writes:
“There’s been some discussion about whether AI makes the technical writer role obsolete. A clear understanding of the role indicates this is not the case, and we should expect technical writers to remain a critical part of product support. AI is a tool in the technical writer’s toolbox, not a replacement.”
In fact, in some ways, AI is actively creating demand for more technical writing. For one thing, even the best AI products fail if users don’t trust or understand them, and that understanding requires clear documentation and tutorials. Then, AI is itself driving advances in all kinds of arenas, creating a huge array of use cases that need written materials to explain, train, and document.
Ultimately, think of AI as a more sophisticated type of grammar checker or proofreader. It can do more than those tools, but that doesn’t mean it can do everything. “Tools like Grammarly don’t just fix everything,” says Moncur. “They just fix the grammar, not the underlying thought process, which is really the most important part of the writing.”
Why Technical Writing Matters for Individuals (and Organizations)
For individuals, technical writing expands opportunities and career prospects. Moncur put it plainly: “If you’re not good at technical writing, you’re missing out on opportunities that would otherwise be available to you. [But] if you have [both] the minimum technical skill set and you’re also really good with communication, there’s almost no limit to how far you can go.”
For organizations, the stakes are equally high. Strong documentation delivers at least two major, measurable business benefits.
- It improves customer satisfaction. Per advisory firm Gartner, 74% of customer experience leaders say that improving content and knowledge delivery is the single most important factor for improving customer satisfaction and, by extension, driving business growth. No one likes to be confused by a new product or left hunting through contradictory instructions. Clear technical writing empowers customers to use products confidently, reducing frustration and building loyalty.
- Good technical writing can dramatically reduce costs. General Electric found this out firsthand when it rewrote its software manuals. The result was $375,000 in savings per business customer through reduced support requests. Another company saved $19,000 by simplifying a user manual. Investments in technical writing can yield tangible ROI.
In short, technical writing has the power to create strategic and competitive advantages if the technical writers are skilled and their employers are smart about using them wisely.
Getting Started (and Getting Better) as a Technical Writing Engineer
If you’re an individual professional looking to build a career in technical writing or enhance your core skills, the good news is that training opportunities abound. Technical writing workshops and courses can help you master the fundamentals: reader analysis, information design, plain language, and the art of translating expert knowledge into clear guidance.
Likewise, organizations that want to reap the rewards of better technical communication have a variety of options. They can invest in technical writing workshops, provide coaching, or bring in outside consultants to assess and improve existing documentation. The process isn’t about turning everyone into a professional writer. Rather, it’s about equipping teams with the tools and mindset to communicate effectively.
And remember that technical writing is a skill everyone can continue to refine throughout a career. Even seasoned professionals benefit from occasional refreshers or a targeted technical writing workshop to stay current on new tools and practices. The field evolves alongside technology itself. As products become more sophisticated, so must the documentation that supports them.
Looking Ahead
In the coming decade, the demand for clear, accurate communication will only intensify. Industries are converging, products are getting smarter, and regulations are growing more complex. In that environment, the organizations that thrive will be those that prioritize technical writing and reporting not as an afterthought but as a core competency.
For business leaders, this means making deliberate investments: hiring skilled technical writing engineers, supporting their development, and integrating clear documentation into every stage of the product lifecycle. For individual professionals, it means recognizing that the ability to write well is not a luxury but a career-defining advantage, like in our professional Writing Workshops.
Whether your team is planning the next product launch or you’re a professional mapping your own career, the time to prioritize technical writing is now. Hurley Write can help with targeted, personalized, and goal-oriented workshops such as “Exceptional Technical Writing” and “Technical Writing for Engineers.” Get started today and immediately boost your business prospects.