How much does it cost to hire a remote technical writer?
For every business, clear and precise communication is more important than it has ever been. Businesses will rely on high-quality data to make sure the services, products, and processes are easily understood by the internal teams and external users. This is where the technical writers will play an important role. From user manuals and API documentation to internal process guides and training materials, technical writers can transform complicated data into content that is accurate, engaging, and accessible.
With a rise in demand for remote work, companies will no longer be required to limit themselves to hiring local talent. Remote technical writers will offer cost efficiency, flexibility, and access to a global talent pool. However, one of the key concerns that businesses face when considering remote hires is understanding the cost. The cost of hiring a technical writer tends to go beyond just the monthly or hourly rate; it depends on various factors like the writer’s experience, expertise in specific technologies or industries, geographic location, and the complexity and scope of the project.
Moreover, additional considerations like revision, research, formatting, and collaboration tools can add to the overall expenses. For businesses that are planning to scale the documentation or deliverables effectively, having a clear understanding of these costs is important for budgeting, resource allocation, and ensuring high ROI.
In this blog, we provide a detailed breakdown of the costs to hire a remote technical writer, explore the factors that influence pricing, and offer actionable insights to help businesses make informed decisions when hiring top remote talent.
Why should businesses hire technical writers remotely?
Businesses tend to operate in a global environment where clear and accurate communication is important. Hiring an offshore technical writer will enable companies to produce high-quality manuals, guides, and documentation. Here are some reasons why you should hire them:
1. Simplify complex information
Businesses tend to produce a huge amount of content, which includes product manuals, help guides, knowledge bases, and API documentation. Accurate and precise communication is important. Technical writers will help in translating complicated technical data into easily comprehensible content, thus ensuring internal teams and external clients can access and understand important information without any confusion.
2. Flexibility and cost efficiency
Hiring remote technical writing talent will allow businesses to save overhead costs associated with full-time and in-office employees. Companies can easily hire writers on a project basis or for ongoing work, which provides flexibility in scaling teams according to workload. Access to a global talent pool also means specialized expertise is just a hire away, be it in software, engineering, healthcare, or other niche industries.
3. Quick turnaround with access to global talent
They will work across multiple time zones, which allows for continuous productivity. This will ensure quick project completion and seamless collaboration with international teams and continuous content updates, which is important in fast-paced industries.
4. Maintain professionalism and consistency
Professional technical writers will ensure that all content aligns with the industry regulations, company standards, and user expectations. This will maintain brand authority and consistency, which will elevate the quality of documentation and strengthen the credibility and professional image of the company.
5. Making smart investments for long-term development
Employing technical writing talent is a strategic investment that goes beyond content production. No matter where your team or audience is situated, it guarantees that technical material is accurate, professional, and accessible while also improving communication, increasing productivity, and lowering expenses.
What Factors Influence the Hiring Cost of a Remote Technical Writer?
Having such professionals in the team could be a huge game-changer for businesses looking to produce high-quality, professional, and precise content. However, the cost of hiring a technical writer is not fixed; it varies based on various key factors. Understanding these can help businesses plan their budget effectively and make smart hiring decisions.
1. Expertise and experience
The writer’s experience level will play a huge role in determining costs. Senior technical writers with years of domain-specific knowledge typically command higher rates than junior writers. Specialized talent in fields like healthcare, finance, engineering, or software development will also increase costs because of the demand for precise and high-quality content.
2. Complexity and scope of work
The type of content you require will affect the pricing. Writing a detailed API documentation or legal data will usually cost more than just creating basic user guides or blog posts. More complex projects will require research, multiple revisions, and interviews with subject matter experts, all of which will impact the total costs.
3. Project volume and duration
Cost is influenced by whether you’re hiring for a one-time project or continuing content requirements. Long-term collaborations will come with discounted rates for consistent work, while urgent or one-time projects will carry higher charges because of tight deadlines and immediate deliverables.
3. Location of the writer
Remote writers from multiple countries will have varying market rates. For example, writers in the US or Western Europe usually charge more than those in the Philippines, India, or Mexico. However, the quality and expertise can be comparable. Companies can balance talent and cost by hiring from regions with lower costs without compromising on the quality.
4. Platforms and tools required
Certain technical writing projects will need access to specialised tools such as markdown editors, content management systems, or collaborative platforms. Access to these tools and the proficiency in using them can affect the final cost, especially if software licenses are required.
5. Turnaround and urgency time
Fast-tracking projects or working with tight deadlines can increase costs. Writers might charge premium rates to prioritize urgent tasks while also maintaining quality. Planning projects with reasonable timelines can help optimize costs. Additionally, top skills to look for when hiring technical writers, such as expertise in specific domains and strong communication abilities, can ensure quality without escalating costs.
Technical writers’ average monthly salaries across countries
The cost of hiring a technical writer can vary depending on factors like industry specialization, complexity of the project, experience, and geographic location. Understanding these average rates can help businesses plan budgets more effectively and make informed decisions during hiring. Here are some examples of their average salaries in various countries:
- USA: $5666 – $8333 / month
- Mexico: $2430 – $4752 / month
- India: $850 – $1700 / month
- Philippines: $731 – $1275 / month
Source: Glassdoor
Additional costs you may incur with an offshore technical writer
While the cost to hire a technical writer might seem pretty straightforward, businesses will often face additional costs that can impact the overall budget. Understanding these costs upfront will ensure better planning and avoid misunderstandings later.
1. Training and onboarding
Even highly experienced technical writers will require time to understand the products, processes, and documentation standards. This onboarding period includes training sessions, access to internal tools, and knowledge transfer, which can add extra costs and hours before the writer will fully produce independent work.
2. Collaboration and communication tools
Remote work will require effective tools for file sharing, project management, and collaboration. Subscription costs for tools such as Notion, Jira, Google Workspace, or Slack can be an additional expense, especially when multiple team members are involved in managing or reviewing content.
3. Staffing agency fees (if applicable)
Hiring through a staffing or recruitment agency will simplify the process, but will often accompany markup fees, which will increase the overall cost of hiring. These fees will cover pre-screening, sourcing, and administration.
4. Wire transfer fees and payment
For global hires, businesses might incur currency conversion fees for wire transfers, especially when paying freelancers or agencies in multiple countries. Over time, these fees can vastly impact the final cost.
Remote vs in-house: Which hiring model is affordable?
When deciding between in-house or remote professionals, cost is generally a primary consideration. In-house technical writers will usually come with fixed benefits, salaries, equipment, office space, and software licenses. While you can gain direct oversight and instant collaboration, these additional expenses can greatly increase the total cost of employment.
On the other hand, remote writers will often provide flexibility and cost efficiency. You can hire talent from regions with a low cost of living, which skips high local salaries and reduces overheads like office spaces and equipment.
In the end, remote technical writing talent is typically less expensive, particularly for startups and small enterprises that require excellent content without having to worry about long-term financial obligations. To guarantee the greatest outcomes for your company, the decision should, nevertheless, strike a balance between cost, the necessity for collaboration, the effectiveness of communication, and project complexity.
How will Global Squirrels reduce technical writer hiring costs?
Hiring a remote technical writer can save the business resources and time, but the costs can quickly add up because of agency fees, administrative overhead, and wire transfer fees. Working with Global Squirrels will offer a smarter alternative, which will help businesses cut down hiring expenses while also accessing pre-vetted and skilled technical writers. This is how partnering up with Global Squirrels will help in cutting hiring costs:
1. Access to a global talent pool
One of the primary ways we assist businesses in saving hiring costs is by allowing access to a global pool of technical writers. Instead of hiring locally and paying high wages to technical writers from expensive locations, Global Squirrels will connect you with talented technical writers from countries where the cost of living is lower, like the Philippines, Mexico, and India. By hiring a technical writer from these locations, businesses will be able to access highly skilled talent at a fraction of the cost when compared to hiring locally. This will reduce salaries and help you save on the overhead costs such as office space, utilities, and employee benefits.
2. EOR eliminates the need to set up an entity
When hiring technical writers remotely, businesses will be required to pay careful attention to legal compliance, taxes, and labor laws. This could be a headache for businesses that are familiar with international employment regulations. Global Squirrels will simplify this process by providing EOR solutions, which simply means that we will handle all the legal, compliance, and administrative responsibilities for you. From drafting contracts and ensuring legal compliance to managing the payroll, Global Squirrels will take care of the tasks. Businesses will therefore be able to save money by using EOR services instead of establishing local entities, which can cost thousands of dollars.
3. Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Many staffing agencies or freelance platforms will add hidden fees or markups to the cost of hiring a technical writer. With Global Squirrels, we offer transparent pricing, which means you’ll only pay the payroll cost and a flat fee. This predictable and clear pricing structure will allow businesses to manage their budgets, thus giving them confidence that they are getting high-quality legal support at a reasonable and fair price.
4. Streamlined process for recruitment
Recruiting and onboarding a technical writer can be a time-consuming and expensive process if done internally. With Global Squirrels, we will handle the recruitment process for you. After you post a job on our portal, our platform will share three curated profiles of top technical writers with you. Our pre-screened candidates will have undergone multiple evaluations, which include verifying credentials, professional experience, and legal expertise. This will save your business the effort and time spent on advertising and reviewing profiles.
How to hire a remote technical writer through Global Squirrels?
If you are looking to hire a remote technical writer, our Orange Plan would be a great fit since it covers recruitment as well as their EOR/payrolling. To onboard a self-sourced talent, the Purple Plan will handle this and also take care of the payroll and benefits administration. If you prefer your writers to work from our office located in India, Mexico, and the Philippines, the Blue Plan is the viable one. This setting enables companies to maintain maximum oversight and management of their remote talent.
The involved steps are:
- Sign up for FREE or login and post the job requirements, the hiring location, budget, etc.
- You should receive an email notification to review three carefully selected profiles on the portal within two to five business days.
- Shortlist the best applicant for the onboarding process after conducting an interview.
- Pay the new hire’s onboarding deposit after reviewing and approving the offer letter. In this case, the payroll expense and the flat license charge are equal to the one-month employment cost.
- The technical writer will be onboarded by Global Squirrels, and our platform will also manage HR-related tasks like benefits, payroll, and compliance.
Hiring a top technical writer does not have to be complex or expensive if the right staffing partner is chosen.
If the plan interests you, take a tour to understand the platform in detail.
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