TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
> The 1999 STC salary survey gives the median
> salary in my area of the country at $46,000 for technical writers, and the
> mean salary for writers my age or with my level of experience at about the
> same. This looks low to me, based on the hourly rate I was getting when I was
>
> contracting full-time as a technical writer (started at $30/hour in 1996
> and over the next couple of years bumped it up to $40/hour -- and these
> days I'd probably ask for $50/hour).
Unless I misunderstand your point, you're comparing apples to oranges -- you
can't realistically expect a salary to be comparable to your contracting rate,
since your salary probably includes benefits (insurance, vacation, sick leave,
etc.) that your hourly contracting rate does not. Or were you working for an
agency and getting benefits as well as $40/hr? Again, sorry if I misunderstood
the question and you're sitting there saying "well, DUH!"
