Career comparison
Communications Professor vs. Technical Writer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Technical writers earn more at the median ($90,390 vs. $78,580), while technical writers usually get to work faster (4 years or technical background plus writing training of training). Communications professors teach public speaking, media and how people communicate. Technical writers explain complex products and processes in clear, usable documentation.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Communications Professor | Technical Writer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $78,580 | $90,390 ($43.46/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $47,590 – $143,720 | $57,440 – $145,270 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.1% (slower than average) | +0.8% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 2,400 | 3,200 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 4 years or technical background plus writing training |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in communication | Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, media labs and offices.. | Technical writers work in offices or remotely, mostly at computers.. |
What each job does
Communications Professor
- Teach communications courses
- Coach public speaking
- Advise student media
- Conduct research
- Mentor students
Technical Writer
- Interview subject matter experts
- Test products and procedures
- Write manuals, guides and help content
- Create API and developer documentation
- Edit and update documents
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work, working independently, desk work, and high-pay. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and arts, media & design, but share transferable skills such as presence and clarity.
Which should you choose?
Choose communications professor if…
- I love public speaking
- I follow media closely
- I give good feedback
Choose technical writer if…
- I explain things clearly
- I enjoy learning technology
- I like writing
Still torn? Take the Communications Professor fit quiz and the Technical Writer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, communications professor or technical writer?
Technical Writers earn more at the median: $90,390 versus $78,580 for communications professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Technical Writers typically train faster (4 years or technical background plus writing training) than communications professors (5–7 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects communications professors to grow +2.1% from 2025–35, compared with +0.8% for technical writers.