Free Technical Writing Courses
While many schools offer free writing courses online at least one institution offers free technical writing courses online. While other websites offer specialized writer training, we will focus on the technical writing courses available from a 4-year institution in addition to e-learning platforms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers several different non-credited technical writer classes through the Open Course Ware website. Introductory level courses and advanced level workshops allow students to browse the teaching materials used for a wide range of MIT course subjects, including communications. Through this site, students can examine the syllabus, assignments, and other course materials for online technical writing courses such as:
- Intro to Tech Communication: Explorations in Scientific and Technical Writing
- Intro to Tech Communication: Perspectives on Medicine and Public Health
- Communicating in Technical Organizations
- Science Writing for the Public
- Communicating with Data
- Graduate Technical Writing Workshop
These courses can help students develop the skills needed to produce technical writing pieces about many different subjects. For example, the Introduction to Tech Communication course provides an overview of technical and interdisciplinary writing skills, such as:
- Progress reports
- Literature reviews
- Research analyses
- Conference papers
- Grant proposals
Degree Programs for Technical Writers
Students wishing to take their education in technical writing to the next level may decide to pursue a technical writing degree. These degree programs are available at the associate's, Bachelor's, master's levels, and certificate programs. Some of these degree programs are available online and may go by names like Technical Communication or Professional Technical Writing.
E-learning Platforms
Though there is not an abundance of free online ways to learn technical writing, the following sites provide additional course offerings:
- Google Technical Writing
- Coursera Technical Writing
- Alison Technical Writing Essentials
Technical Writing: Training Requirements & Career Information
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree |
| Other Requirements | Proven training experience working in a technical writing position |
| Annual Mean Salary (2019)* | $76,860 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Technical writers usually work full-time and may need to work extended hours or outside normal business hours to meet deadlines. These writers typically need a Bachelor's Degree, and some technical writers may need some work experience (less than five years, according to the BLS) before they work on projects independently. The occupation is expected to have faster-than-average job growth from 2019 to 2029, per the BLS.
The BLS also reported that the average annual salary for technical writers was $76,860 as of 2019. Most of these writers worked in computer systems design and related services and made an average salary of $79,060, said the BLS. The highest average salary of $109,580 was made in 2019 by technical writers in the computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing industry.
