Professional and Technical Writing: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Professional and Technical Writing equips students with advanced skills to communicate complex information clearly, effectively, and strategically across diverse industries and digital environments. This program emphasizes the creation of precise, audience-centered content for technical, scientific, and business contexts, preparing graduates for impactful roles in communication, editing, research, and content strategy.
- Theories of Rhetoric and Writing: Explores foundational principles of persuasive and effective communication, focusing on audience analysis, argumentation, and stylistic adaptation across different genres and formats.
- Digital Literacy: Develops proficiency in using digital tools and platforms to create, manage, and distribute written content, with an emphasis on ethical and efficient information practices.
- Document Design, Production, and Management: Teaches the structural and visual organization of documents, including layout, formatting, version control, and workflow systems for professional publishing.
- Visual Rhetoric and Multimedia Composition: Integrates imagery, data visualization, and interactive elements to enhance message clarity and engagement in digital and print media.
- Documentation Development: Focuses on creating user manuals, technical guides, and procedural content that support usability and accessibility in technical and consumer-facing applications.
- Usability Testing: Introduces methods for evaluating how well written content supports user goals, using feedback and analytics to refine clarity, structure, and effectiveness.
- Web Writing and Content Strategy: Covers the principles of concise, scannable, and SEO-optimized online content tailored for websites, blogs, and digital campaigns.
- Publishing in Print and Electronic Media: Provides hands-on experience in preparing content for traditional and digital publishing channels, including formatting, editing, and distribution protocols.
Professional and Technical Writing Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Professional and Technical Writing Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Professional and Technical Writing degrees, including Technical Writers, Postsecondary Teachers, All Other and English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 409,930 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Writers 27-3042 | $91,670 | $54,400 - $130,430 | 55,530 | $44.07 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other 25-1199 | $78,490 | $39,720 - $172,850 | 151,530 | N/A |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1123 | $78,270 | $47,540 - $154,800 | 59,590 | N/A |
| Editors 27-3041 | $75,260 | $36,200 - $140,840 | 95,480 | $36.18 |
| Writers and Authors 27-3043 | $72,270 | $41,080 - $133,680 | 47,800 | $34.75 |
Professional and Technical Writing Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $54,182 in Arkansas to $101,274 in California—a 87% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 409,930 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Professional and Technical Writing by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Professional and Technical Writing programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Professional and Technical Writing is found at Chattahoochee Technical College (785 graduates), Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) (298 graduates), Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) (113 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (88 graduates), and Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) (87 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,742 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee Technical College |
Other Award
|
785 | Marietta, Georgia | Public | chattahoocheetech.edu |
| Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) |
Other Award
|
298 | Griffin, Georgia | Public | sctech.edu |
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
113 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
|
88 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) |
Other Award
|
87 | Warner Robins, Georgia | Public | centralgatech.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
53 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
52 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| James Madison University (JMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Public | jmu.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
43 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Lanier Technical College (Lanier Tech) |
Other Award
|
42 | Gainesville, Georgia | Public | laniertech.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Other Award
|
42 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
39 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | scad.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
39 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Middle Georgia State University (MGA) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
36 | Macon, Georgia | Public | mga.edu |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) |
Other Award
|
32 | Rome, Georgia | Public | gntc.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
32 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Other Award
|
31 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
29 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
29 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UA Little Rock) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
26 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | ualr.edu |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
26 | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | Public | kutztown.edu |
| Stark State College |
Other Award
|
25 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Other Award
|
24 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| Columbus Technical College (Columbus Tech) |
Other Award
|
22 | Columbus, Georgia | Public | columbustech.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
19 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of Houston (UHD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhd.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
18 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Metropolitan State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Residency
|
17 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Public | metrostate.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
17 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Master's
|
17 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Other Award
|
17 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Liberty University |
Master's
|
15 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
14 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
14 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| Utah Tech University (UT) |
Master's
Other Award
|
14 | Saint George, Utah | Public | utahtech.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAH) |
Postbac Cert.
|
13 | Huntsville, Alabama | Public | uah.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Western Colorado University |
Other Award
|
13 | Gunnison, Colorado | Public | western.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Other Award
|
13 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Master's
|
13 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Other Award
|
12 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | uccs.edu |
| Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) |
Other Award
|
11 | Clarkston, Georgia | Public | gptc.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Master's
|
10 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Cedarville University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Cedarville, Ohio | Private | cedarville.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
7 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Taylor University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Upland, Indiana | Private | taylor.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
6 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAA) |
Other Award
|
6 | Anchorage, Alaska | Public | uaa.alaska.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Post-Master's
|
6 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | University Center, Michigan | Public | svsu.edu |
| University of St Thomas |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stthomas.edu |
| Maryville College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Maryville, Tennessee | Private | maryvillecollege.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
6 | Annandale, Virginia | Public | nvcc.edu |
| Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
| DePaul University |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Master's
|
5 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
5 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| Elon University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Master's
|
5 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) |
Master's
|
5 | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | esu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| University of Indianapolis (UIndy) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | uindy.edu |
| Indiana University (IUE) |
Other Award
|
4 | Richmond, Indiana | Public | iue.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| Park University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
4 | Parkville, Missouri | Private | park.edu |
| New England College (NEC) |
Master's
|
4 | Henniker, New Hampshire | Private | nec.edu |
| Rowan University |
Other Award
|
4 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology (NYCCT) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | citytech.cuny.edu |
| St. John Fisher University |
Other Award
|
4 | Rochester, New York | Private | sjf.edu |
| York College of Pennsylvania (YCP) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | York, Pennsylvania | Private | ycp.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
4 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Bridgewater College (BC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Bridgewater, Virginia | Private | bridgewater.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Master's
|
4 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| South Georgia State College (SGSC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Douglas, Georgia | Public | sgsc.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UAFS) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
3 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Public | uafs.edu |
| Woodbury University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Burbank, California | Private | woodbury.edu |
| Valparaiso University (Valpo) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Valparaiso, Indiana | Private | valpo.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Other Award
|
3 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umaryland.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Professional and Technical Writing programs
How much can I earn with a Professional and Technical Writing degree?
Salaries for Professional and Technical Writing graduates vary by role and location. Technical Writers earn a median of $91,670 annually, while Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn around $78,490. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $101,274 compared to $54,182 in Arkansas. Approximately 409,930 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Professional and Technical Writing programs?
Currently 159 accredited institutions offer Professional and Technical Writing degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Chattahoochee Technical College (785 graduates), Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) (298 graduates), and Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) (113 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Professional and Technical Writing growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,508 in 2010 to 2,835 in 2023-24. This represents a 88% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Professional and Technical Writing degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Technical Writers, Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, and English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 409,930 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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