Technical Writers
Job description
These individuals plan, draft, and assemble technical documents. They are self-employed or work for:
- The government
- Consulting firms
- Multimedia or specialized media companies
- Advertising agencies
- Companies
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
Main tasks
- Analyze documents (specifications, technical notes, drawings, etc.).
- Identify, synthesize, and validate the information according to models.
- Draft manuals and explanatory guides in a clear and concise manner.
- Make minor updates or major technical changes to existing documents.
- Use a level of language that is appropriate for the target audience for each document.
- Answer questions from clients about technical documents.
Advancement and mobility
- These individuals may specialize in a particular technical field.
Hourly wage
Not available.Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 57.1% Female
- 42.9% Male
- 57.1% Female
- 42.9% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- None
All of Québec
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 541519% of jobs
-
NAICS 6110% of jobs
-
NAICS 519% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 54179% of jobs
-
NAICS 916% of jobs
-
Others47% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 541519% of jobs
-
NAICS 6110% of jobs
-
NAICS 519% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 54179% of jobs
-
NAICS 916% of jobs
-
Others47% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
University
French literature or French, language of instruction
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 40.8%
53.4% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 63.9%
26.4% of graduates pursue further studies
Linguistics
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 38.8%
57.6% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 83.3%
Sometimes required
- A university degree in the area of specialization (computer science, engineering, architecture, etc.) is usually required.
- Membership in a professional association related to the occupation may be required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Written expression
- Reading comprehension
- Active listening
- Critical thought
- Oral expression
- Teaching
- Judgment and decision-making
- Solving complex problems
- Information processing
- Coordination
- Time management
- Social perception
- Persuasion
- Service oriented
- Active learning
- Result evaluation
Abilities
- Written comprehension
- Written expression
- Oral comprehension
- Verbal skills
- Information organization
- Near vision
- Originality
- Awareness of issues
- Classification
- Deductive reasoning
- Idea generation
- Speech clarity
- Inductive reasoning
- Speech recognition
- Selective attention
Knowledge and attributes
- Critical thinking
- Knowledge of the French language
- Autonomy
- Capacity to adapt
- Spoken and written bilingualism (French and English)
- Rigour
- Attention to detail
- Respect standards and regulations
- Sense of observation
- Commitment to quality
Interests
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work in an office
- Work in computer science or information and communication technologies (ICT)
- Carry out research
- Self-employment
- Assist and advise
- Collect, verify, sort, and classify data or information
- Teach or educate
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
Official name of the NOC 51112
Technical writers
Job titles
- Technical writer
- Instructional designer
- Content writer (technical)
- Support materials writer
- Scientific writer
- Help file developer
- On-line reference developer
- Handbook writer
- Medical writer
- Programmed-instruction writer
- Technical writer - aeronautics
- Technical writer - pharmaceutical industry
- Technical writer - electronics equipment
- Technical writer - chemical processing
- Self-instruction manual writer
- Standards writer
- Specifications writer (except construction)
- Proposal writer
Skill type
Art, culture, recreation and sport
Last update: January 29, 2026