Technical writing and copywriting are two distinct career paths in the writing world, each requiring different talents and serving different purposes.
In a nutshell ...
If you're considering a career upgrade in writing, understanding the differences between these paths is key to choosing the one that fits your interests and goals.
Technical writing demands strong clarity, analytical thinking, and domain knowledge.
A technical writer must:
In short, a technical writer needs excellent writing skills coupled with the ability to learn and convey technical concepts clearly.
Copywriting demands a creative flair and a keen understanding of psychology and marketing.
A copywriter’s foremost skill is mastery of persuasive language – the art of using words to prompt action or emotion in the reader.
A copywriter must:
They often have a background in English, communications, or marketing, and strong research skills to understand different products or industries.
Overall, a copywriter excels at storytelling, selling ideas, and tailoring language to engage and convince the reader.
Professionals in technical writing use a range of specialized tools to create and publish documentation.
Common authoring and publishing tools include help-authoring software like:
Many technical writers need to handle version control and updates, so they may use tools like wikis or content management systems, and even version control systems (like Git) if working with software documentation.
In summary, technical writers leverage software that helps streamline writing, illustration, and publishing of complex documentation, ensuring consistency and accuracy across all materials.
Copywriters’ toolsets are geared toward content creation, marketing, and optimization.
They often utilize:
In essence, copywriters use a mix of content creation platforms, marketing analytics tools, and editing software to produce and refine high-impact copy.
Technical content is typically formal in tone and objective in language – the goal is to convey facts, instructions, or explanations as clearly as possible, without unnecessary flair.
The writing style in technical writing is:
For example, a user manual might be broken into chapters and steps that guide a reader through installing or using a product.
Consistency is important, so technical writers adhere to style guides and standard terminology throughout a document.
In terms of deliverables, technical writers produce materials like
These documents are often lengthy and detailed, and they assume the reader needs guidance to achieve a task or understand a product.
By the end of a good piece of technical writing, the reader should be able to use the product or understand the concept without confusion.
In contrast to the neutral tone of technical writing, copywriting often adopts a conversational or emotive tone that reflects a brand’s voice and connects with readers on an emotional level.
The copywriting style is:
The language is benefit-driven – instead of explaining every detail, copy focuses on what matters to the customer (for instance, not how a gadget works internally, but how it will improve the customer’s life).
Copywriters use rhetorical techniques like:
In all cases, the style prioritizes persuasion and brand consistency – the copy should grab the reader’s interest, align with the brand’s image, and ultimately drive the reader to take action (click, sign up, buy, etc.).
Common outputs of copywriting include:
For example, a copywriter might craft a catchy tagline for a campaign or write compelling prose for a website homepage.
Unlike technical writing, which assumes the reader is already seeking information, copywriting strives to create interest or desire even when the audience didn’t know they needed the product or service.
Technical writers are in demand in industries where products or services are complex and require extensive documentation.
They commonly work in sectors like:
Many technical writers work in-house for product companies (for example, a software firm or a medical device manufacturer), ensuring the documentation is created alongside the product development. Some also work for government agencies or scientific organizations.
The number of positions for technical writers is smaller compared to copywriters, reflecting its niche specialization.
Technical writing roles tend to offer stable, full-time employment with clear career progression from junior writer to senior writer, and sometimes into documentation manager or project lead roles.
Freelance opportunities in technical writing do exist (especially for contractors on short-term projects or those with specialized domain knowledge), but overall the field leans toward steady employment within organizations.
Because technical writers develop expertise in both writing and a technical domain, they can also transition into related roles such as content strategy, user experience writing, or even training development.
In summary, the career prospects for technical writers are strongest in tech-heavy fields that value clarity and user enablement, offering a path that values stability, subject matter expertise, and specialized communication skills.
As businesses large and small invest in content marketing, social media, and e-commerce, the need for good copy remains high.
Copywriters enjoy broad career opportunities across virtually every industry, since advertising and marketing are essential in all business sectors.
From fashion to finance, from technology to consumer goods, companies need copywriters to craft their brand message and promotional content.
Copywriters may work:
In fact, one of the appeals of copywriting as a career is its flexibility – skilled copywriters can carve out freelance careers and even work remotely with clients around the world, given the digital nature of content today.
Entry-level copywriters might begin by writing product descriptions or social media updates, and can progress to:
Freelance copywriting is a common path to higher earnings as well – performance-based pay or securing a roster of clients can increase income potential (top copywriters with a strong niche or reputation can command very high fees).
Overall, copywriting offers a dynamic and creative career path with ample opportunity to specialize:
With the continued growth of digital marketing, copywriters who can produce effective online content are especially in demand – the field is “booming” alongside content marketing trends.
Copywriting salaries can vary widely based on experience, industry, and whether one is employed or freelancing.
In the United States, average salaries for full-time copywriters tend to fall in the mid five-figure range. For example, Payscale reports an average copywriter salary around $56,600 per year (with common ranges from about $38,000 up to $83,000).
Indeed.com data shows a similar ballpark, with an average around $66,000 for U.S. copywriters.
The key drivers for copywriter pay are often:
Overall, copywriting offers solid earning potential, with a median wage that is on par with many other writing and media professions (for context, writers and authors in general have a median around $61k nationally.
Exceptional copywriters who become creative leads or run their own agencies can push well into six figures, but in general one can expect comfortable mid-range salaries with growth as you gain experience.
Technical writers tend to earn slightly higher salaries on average than general copywriters, reflecting the specialized skills and technical domain knowledge required.
According to Payscale, the average salary for a technical writer in the U.S. is about $63,900 per year, with a typical range from roughly $43,000 up to $94,000.
Other sources show a higher median; for example, a recent analysis put the median technical writer salary around $79,960 annually.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that as of 2024, the median annual wage for technical writers was $91,670.
This high median may reflect that many technical writers are employed in well-paying tech and engineering industries.
In technical writing, experience and specialization can have a big impact on pay.
The key drivers for technical writers' pay are often:
In summary, a career in technical writing offers strong salary potential, generally above the average for all occupations, with the trade-off that it requires specialized knowledge and tends to have a more defined career ladder.
The field rewards those who combine writing ability with technical expertise, and this is reflected in the compensation levels.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of both technical writing and copy writing industries are expected to grow, with copy writing projected to grow slightly more (3%).
In practical terms, this means a few thousand new copywriting jobs are expected to be added, on top of openings created as people retire or change jobs.
Demand for copywriters is closely tied to the health of advertising and marketing budgets – as companies continue to invest in digital marketing, content, and e-commerce, skilled copywriters should find ongoing opportunities, especially in online media and freelance markets.
One thing to note is that the field can be competitive, as many people are attracted to copywriting. However, those who build strong portfolios (particularly with digital and SEO skills) are positioned well for the future.
For technical writers, certain sectors may see higher demand, such as software-as-a-service, healthcare tech, and complex consumer electronics.
Additionally, a significant number of openings will arise from turnover – experienced technical writers retiring or moving on will open up positions for new writers.
Deciding between technical writing and copywriting comes down to your personal strengths and career preferences.
Copywriting may be the better fit if you love:
Technical writing could be your calling if you enjoy:
Both paths can be rewarding – copywriting lets you shape narratives that drive business, while technical writing lets you empower users with knowledge. Importantly, you can pivot or blend these skills as well (for instance, some writers do technical copywriting for tech marketing materials, combining elements of both).
For those leaning toward technical writing, building the right skillset is crucial.
Formal training can accelerate your transition into this field.
For example, Oregon State University’s online Technical Writing Certificate program is designed to help professionals develop the targeted skills needed for technical communication roles.
Through a series of courses, such a program teaches you to create the kinds of:
By completing a technical writing certificate or similar training, you not only gain valuable experience (and even a portfolio of work), but you also signal to employers that you are serious about the field.
Ultimately, whether you choose the path of a technical writer or a copywriter, success will come from mastering your craft.
Continually work on writing clearly and effectively, understand your audience, and keep learning the tools of the trade. Both careers offer opportunities for growth and fulfillment in their own ways.
With the right preparation – and perhaps some targeted education like the OSU Technical Writing Certificate – you can confidently step into the writing career that best suits your goals. Good luck on your journey to becoming a skilled writer in whichever domain you choose!