Technical communication is about making information easy to understand. Professional technical communicators do this in a number of different ways, including
- Understanding what information their audience needs most
- Writing in plain language that is clear and concise
- Designing user-friendly documents, programs, and digital interfaces that make information accessible
Making complex content understandable is a skill that's in high demand, and the career outlook for people who can do it well is promising.
At UNT, we like to think about technical communication in terms of three main tasks that technical communicators do: write, design, and code. Students who learn these skills as tech comm majors can use what they've learned to get paid doing work that they love.
Write.
Technical communicators write all kinds of documents. They write safety documentation, fact sheets, and instructions for just about any kind of product you can think of. They also write proposals, reports, white papers, and memos. Some technical writers even write marketing copy and develop content for their organizations' social media platforms.
Technical writing can look like many things, but one thing about it stays consistent: it's always about reformulating and designing specialized information to make it easy for readers to understand.
Tech Comm Jobs Focused on Writing
- Scientific research and development services writer
- Grant and proposal writer
- Editor
- Copywriter
- Medical writer
Related Courses at UNT
- TECM 2700: Technical Writing
- TECM 4100: Writing Proposals
- TECM 4190: Technical Editing
- TECM 4250: Writing Technical Manuals & Procedures
Design.
Technical design is a skill focused on using graphics to communicate technical information. Technical communicators learn how to design graphics that not only look visually appealing but that are also informative, accurate, and accessible. Everything from document design, typography, images, line drawings, illustrations, data visualizations, schematics, and video are central to technical design.
Tech Comm Jobs Focused on Design
- User experience (UX) designer
- Information designer
- Social media content creator
- Digital product designer
Related Courses at UNT
- TECM 3100: Visual Technical Communication
- TECM 3200: Information Design for Electronic Media
- TECM 3500: Digital Media for Professional Communication
Code.
Technical communicators work with coding in two main ways: through mark-up languages and programming languages. A familiarity with basic mark-up languages such as HTML and XML is a key part of many technical communicators' jobs. They might use HTML to work on front-end web content, or they might use XML to author structured content in a content management system.
Although most tech comm professionals will not need to master programming languages like Python, Java, or C++, some familiarity with one or more languages will help open doors to more opportunities. For example, technical communicators who want to write software or API documentation will need to be able to read a programing language and understand how developers use it. Technical communicators working in this field often write documentation, interact with coding platforms, and communicate with subject-matter experts.
Tech Comm Jobs Focused on Coding
- User experience (UX) designer
- Usability specialist or researcher
- Web and interaction designer
- Front-end developer
Related Courses at UNT
- TECM 3200: Information Design for Electronic Media
- TECM 3500: Digital Media for Professional Communication
- TECM 4400: Advanced Information Design
Get Paid.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary in 2021 for technical writers in the US was $78,060 per year. Currently the need for technical communicators in software development, information technology, and health care companies is rising. Those who specialize in software development documentation or medical writing are among the top-paid technical writers.
Write. Design. Code. Get Paid.
Please contact tcoffice@unt.edu for more information