Compare careers
Factual side-by-side attributes from the imported O*NET and BLS OEWS datasets. No career is ranked or recommended.
Career A (or your current career)
Technical Writers
Career B (or your target career)
Software Developers
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Comparison table
| Metric | Technical Writers | Software Developers |
|---|---|---|
| National median salary | $90,390 | $135,980 |
| Local median salary | Not published | Not published |
| National employment | 45,500 | 1,687,890 |
| Typical education | Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | Bachelor's Degree |
| Job zone | 4 | 4 |
| Important skills | Writing, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, Critical Thinking | Programming, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Reading Comprehension |
| Related careers | Computer Programmers, Database Administrators, Correspondence Clerks, Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | Information Technology Project Managers, Penetration Testers, Electronics Engineers, Except Computer, Data Scientists |
Career transition: skill overlap
Skill overlap
63%
10 of 16 target skills
Target-only skills
6
Current-only skills
0
Skill overlap compares O*NET skills rated at importance 3.0 or above for each occupation. It is a measure of listed skill overlap, not a probability of getting the job.
Shared skills
- Critical Thinking+0.2 level
- Judgment and Decision Making+0.8 level
- Reading Comprehension—
- Active Learning—
- Active Listening—
- Writing—
- Time Management+0.3 level
- Speaking—
- Coordination+0.1 level
- Monitoring+0.5 level
Only in Software Developers
- Programming
- Systems Analysis
- Technology Design
- Complex Problem Solving
- Systems Evaluation
- Operations Analysis
Only in Technical Writers
- None