Technical writers are needed not only to write instruction manuals for products of all kinds, but also as journalists to write about a variety of industries. All industries have their own trade magazines and newspapers. Search Google for “technical writers.”

But, as someone mentioned, $12.00/hr out of school isn’t great–a Wendy’s swing manager makes more, and a store manager much more. Actually, it’s salaried, so I work about 55 hrs a week: 9a to about 10p some nights…so the actual net per hour figure is around $8-9/hr. Plus, when you take out takes, a $25k gross figure is about $17k net.

Granted, a $25k salary at a weekly is about $3k more than a weekly average and only $1k less than a daily starting salary, but still, that’s not saying much.

What sucks is that I considered a career in automotive engineering/R&D before the switch in high school. Now I’m living at home trying to save up money and look at switching careers. It’s tough all over the board.

Meranda had a good point about the master’s program at Kent State: Definitely not worth it.

You gain a wider audience as a science writer, as compared with someone who spends a career in the laboratory.

Personally, my first choice would be to make a career out of writing, but it’s hard to see how to reconcile it with the need to provide.

After that, download Soundslides and learn to use it. Then get some photos (either shoot them yourself, or work with a photojournalist) and try to make a two-minute story that really works well AS A STORY. The first one probably won’t be any good, but the second one might actually be damned good.

I’ve known several people who basically made the same amount of money being servers at a restaurant as they did when they started off in journalism (within a few thousand of each other). You don’t need a college degree to serve people, but it’s pretty hard to get a journalism job today without a college degree.

So, they basically made the same amount of money in both of those jobs, except one job field required them to take on a lot of student loans. I know Barista’s don’t make they much money, but a lot of journalists make around $13 and hour out of undergrad.

I know Web development, in addition to standard journalism skills. I’ve also added audio and video skills since I began my current job. And contrary to what a lot of print old timers would like to believe, I know how to write, and I know journalism. I’ve been published in seven print publications and graduated with a very high GPA.

I would suggest every journalist add at least one online skillset. Unfortunately, at least for the time being, a lot of old timers will view anyone with Web skills as more of an IT person than as a journalist.

As a former Starbucks barista (and after 3 months, shift supervisor), I am getting paid more at this entry-level job than I was making coffee.

You raise some good points about the data. Regarding the state of the industry - at least this is more fun than asking people if they want banana bread with a latte.

What kind of skillset got you ahead of the pack? Related to what Mindy talks about here, Flash/video/online stuff?