Technical Writers build judgment and decision making, time management and coordination skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Document Management Specialists (81%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Document Management Specialists | 81% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 2 | Clinical Data Managers | 76% | $120,230Pay for the broader BLS group “Data Scientists” | Not compared | None |
| 3 | Web and Digital Interface Designers | 76% | $104,000 | +15% | None |
| 4 | Management Analysts | 74% | $101,860 | +13% | None |
| 5 | Data Scientists | 73% | $120,230 | +33% | None |
| 6 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 73% | $76,870 | −15% | None |
| 7 | Project Management Specialists | 72% | $102,320 | +13% | None |
| 8 | Database Administrators | 71% | $104,620 | +16% | None |
| 9 | Information Security Analysts | 71% | $129,180 | +43% | None |
| 10 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | 71% | $81,390 | −10% | None |
Compared with Technical Writers, median $90,390. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as technical writers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
81% skill match · $116,580 (broader BLS group)
Systems Evaluation · Systems Analysis · Programming
76% skill match · $120,230 (broader BLS group)
Programming · Systems Evaluation · Management of Personnel Resources
76% skill match · $104,000 · +15% pay
Programming · Troubleshooting · Technology Design
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Document Management Specialists (81% skill match, median $116,580), Clinical Data Managers (76% skill match, median $120,230) and Web and Digital Interface Designers (76% skill match, median $104,000), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 11 pay more than technical writers at the median. The biggest increases: Database Architects (+54%, $139,500), Software Developers (+50%, $135,980) and Information Security Analysts (+43%, $129,180).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.