Technology

How to become a Technical Writer

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

3–12 months

Typical pay

$62k–$85k

Starting from

No experience

The steps

1. 1

   Prove you can write

   Clear, structured, no padding. A portfolio settles this faster than a degree.

   2–4 months

2. 2

   Learn the domain

   API docs pay more than user guides, and require reading code.

   Course that covers thisA Gentle Introduction To JavaScript For Absolute BeginnersUdemy · around $19.99 →
3. 3

   Learn docs-as-code

   Git, Markdown, and a static site generator. Increasingly assumed.

   Course that covers thisThe Complete HTML & CSS Course and ProjectsUdemy · around $19.99 →
4. 4

   Build a public portfolio

   Contribute to open-source documentation — real, verifiable, and it gets you hired.

   2–3 months

Course links are Udemy affiliate links — we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Licences and exams named above are issued by state boards and certifying bodies we have no relationship with; we list them because they are what the job actually requires.