Career comparison
Journalist 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. $62,200), while technical writers usually get to work faster (4 years or technical background plus writing training of training). Journalists find, report and tell the stories that keep the public informed. 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
| Journalist | Technical Writer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,200 ($29.91/hr) | $90,390 ($43.46/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,240 – $144,140 | $57,440 – $145,270 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -5.9% (a projected decline) | +0.8% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 3,400 | 3,200 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 4 years or technical background plus writing training |
| Key credential | Journalism degree | Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) |
| Work setting | Journalists work in newsrooms, remotely and in the field, often on deadline.. | Technical writers work in offices or remotely, mostly at computers.. |
What each job does
Journalist
- Find and pitch stories
- Interview sources
- Research records and data
- Verify facts
- Write and produce stories
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 and working independently. Both are part of the arts, media & design field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose journalist if…
- I’m curious about everything
- I love writing
- I can handle deadlines
Choose technical writer if…
- I explain things clearly
- I enjoy learning technology
- I like writing
Still torn? Take the Journalist fit quiz and the Technical Writer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, journalist or technical writer?
Technical Writers earn more at the median: $90,390 versus $62,200 for journalists, 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 journalists (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects technical writers to grow +0.8% from 2025–35, compared with -5.9% for journalists.