Medical writers write for a variety of medical journals, pharmaceutical companies, and other organizations. Their work varies widely depending on their field of expertise and the industry they work in. Consequently, medical writers’ salary varies. With experience, medical writers can earn between $50,000 and $175,000 annually as of 2022.
This article covers medical writers’ salary in detail, job duties, required skills, preferred education, common job titles, and salary range. It also discusses career paths, salary growth potential, key challenges faced by medical writers today as well as opportunities for advancement.
What are the typical duties of a medical writer?
Medical writers work as a team with physicians and other medical professionals to ensure the quality and accuracy of medical information. While physicians are the experts and authorities on health, they can become bogged down by the details of their job.
As a result, they need their medical information to have a nice format. It also needs to be free of errors so they can focus on the best treatment options and outcomes. Medical writers are responsible for creating medical content that supports health care professionals. They often explain diagnosis and treatment options clearly, accurately, and succinctly. They must be conversant with current medical practices and relevant research.
Learn more about the medical writer’s job description.
Medical writers’ salary: How much does a medical writer earn?
The average annual salary for medical writers was $78,060 or $37.53 per hour in May 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This number represents a 3 per cent increase over the year before. These earnings primarily depend on the writer’s experience and education level.
Entry-level medical writer’s salary ranges between $35,000 and $50,000 for those in permanent positions. However, a freelance medical writer’s salary may be a little higher because of the lower responsibility for hiring companies.
While some experience may be required, it’s not uncommon to enter the field with little to no experience. That’s where internships, residencies, and other entry-level jobs can come in handy. It allows the writer to hone their skills and build experience quickly. Once in the workforce, salaries can vary based on a variety of factors. This includes the experience level of the writer and the geographic location.
You can also use LinkedIn’s Salary Insight to check medical writer’s salary across different levels and locations.
Job growth potential
The demand for medical writers will increase as the population ages, which will spur a need for more professionals to help meet the demand for health care.
As medicine becomes more computerized, it will also become more important to have health care professionals who understand how to use computers effectively.
Key challenges for writers
The key challenge for medical writers is to stay abreast of the latest research and practices in the field. As a result, writers must have a strong understanding of both conventional and alternative medicine, as well as the latest treatments and procedures.
Opportunities for Medical Writers
The future of medical writing looks bright, with an increasing demand for information about health care services and treatments. With an estimated increase in health care spending of about 10%, there will be more and more people coming to medical centres, clinics, and hospitals, as well as other health care organizations, to get the services they need. Medical writers can find employment with medcomms agencies and pharma companies. They can also work for hospitals, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, diagnostic centres, health insurance organizations, pharmacies, and other institutions.
Summing up – Why is the demand for medical writers high?
The increased need for information about health care will spur the demand for medical writers. With a growing number of people aging, there is also an increased need for information about the aging process, which will spur the demand for writers who specialize in this area.
Conclusion
The future looks bright for medical writers, with an increasing need for information about health care services and treatments, as well as an aging population. This will spur the demand for medical writers. Job growth is expected to be above average, and medical writers’ salary is expected to rise as well.
With all of these positive factors, there are many reasons why you might want to pursue a career in medical writing. If you are interested in this field, make sure you take the time to research medical writing careers so you can find a career that is right for you.
