This survey was conducted by Jean Hollis Weber on behalf of the STC Australia chapter using the online service, SurveyKey.com, to provide information to Australian technical communicators about current salaries (or hourly rates) in relation to experience, qualifications and other factors. It was open to technical communicators living in Australia (employed or not).
The survey began on 15 May 2003, and was closed on 20 July 1003. In that time, 206 responses were received. Many thanks to everyone who participated.
The table below these links shows the data collected for each question. Jean is working on some basic correlations between factors and will post them when they are done. Meantime, the results have been broken down as follows:
| 1) | Gender | |||
| Female | = 101 | 49.03% | ||
| Male | = 104 | 50.49% | ||
| No Answer | = 1 | 0.49% | ||
|
| ||||
| 2) | Age | |||
| 29 years or under | = 20 | 9.71% | ||
| 30 to 39 years | = 64 | 31.07% | ||
| 40 to 49 years | = 65 | 31.55% | ||
| 50 years or over | = 55 | 26.70% | ||
| No Answer | = 2 | 0.97% | ||
|
| ||||
| 3) | Experience in technical communication | |||
| Less than 2 years | = 15 | 7.28% | ||
| 2-5 years | = 51 | 24.76% | ||
| 6-10 years | = 61 | 29.61% | ||
| 11 years or more | = 79 | 38.35% | ||
| No Answer | = 0 | 0.00% | ||
|
| ||||
| 4) | Type of employment (select all that apply) | |||
| Salaried | = 116 | 56.31% | ||
| Consultant | = 22 | 10.68% | ||
| Contract (includes freelance) | = 78 | 37.86% | ||
| Not currently in paid employment | = 10 | 4.85% | ||
| No Answer | = 0 | 0.00% | ||
|
| ||||
| 5) | Main areas of work (select all that apply) | |||
| Technical writing | = 182 | 88.35% | ||
| Technical editing/copy editing | = 123 | 59.71% | ||
| Indexing | = 29 | 14.08% | ||
| Training | = 66 | 32.04% | ||
| Documentation consulting | = 93 | 45.15% | ||
| Website management/development | = 82 | 39.81% | ||
| Project leading/team leading/people management | = 45 | 21.84% | ||
| Quality assurance | = 48 | 23.30% | ||
| Usability/accessibilty testing | = 47 | 22.82% | ||
| Sales support (first or second level) | = 8 | 3.88% | ||
| Knowledge management | = 51 | 24.76% | ||
| Supervising/management | = 32 | 15.53% | ||
| Other (please specify) | = 48 | 23.30% | ||
| No Answer | = 0 | 0.00% | ||
|
| ||||
| 6) | Main areas of work: other. See separate page. | |||
|
| ||||
| 7) | Formal education level (any field) | |||
| No tertiary qualification | = 21 | 10.19% | ||
| Diploma/certificate | = 44 | 21.36% | ||
| Bachelors degree | = 91 | 44.17% | ||
| Graduate diploma/certificate | = 67 | 32.52% | ||
| Masters degree | = 29 | 14.08% | ||
| Doctorate | = 11 | 5.34% | ||
| No Answer | = 2 | 0.97% | ||
|
| ||||
| 8) | If you hold a tertiary qualification, is it in | |||
| A technical field (e.g. engineering, programming) | = 65 | 31.55% | ||
| Technical communication, English or similar | = 65 | 31.55% | ||
| Other (please specify) | = 78 | 37.86% | ||
| No Answer | = 29 | 14.08% | ||
|
| ||||
| 9) | Tertiary qualification, other field. See separate page. | |||
|
| ||||
| 10) | Training in technical writing (select all that apply) | |||
| On your own | = 146 | 70.87% | ||
| On-the-job informal mentoring | = 113 | 54.85% | ||
| On-the-job formal mentoring/training | = 44 | 21.36% | ||
| Private tutoring | = 5 | 2.43% | ||
| Conferences/seminars/workshops | = 110 | 53.40% | ||
| Tertiary course | = 37 | 17.96% | ||
| Other (please specify) | = 11 | 5.34% | ||
| No Answer | = 4 | 1.94% | ||
|
| ||||
| 11) | Training in technical writing, other.
Trained by IBM America in the 70's | |||
|
| ||||
| 12) | How many billable hours do you work in an average week? (If you are paid by the hour, please give billable hours; if you are on salary without overtime compensation, please give total hours.) | |||
| 10 or fewer hours | = 11 | 5.34% | ||
| 11-20 hours | = 6 | 2.91% | ||
| 21-30 hours | = 14 | 6.80% | ||
| 31-40 hours | = 119 | 57.77% | ||
| 41-50 hours | = 47 | 22.82% | ||
| over 50 hours | = 5 | 2.43% | ||
| No Answer | = 4 | 1.94% | ||
|
| ||||
| 13) | How many non-billable hours do you work in an average week? | |||
| 10 or fewer hours | = 132 | 64.08% | ||
| 11-20 hours | = 29 | 14.08% | ||
| 21-30 hours | = 7 | 3.40% | ||
| 31-40 hours | = 7 | 3.40% | ||
| 41-50 hours | = 5 | 2.43% | ||
| over 50 hours | = 2 | 0.97% | ||
| No Answer | = 24 | 11.65% | ||
|
| ||||
| 14) | Salary (A$), before tax. | |||
| Not applicable | = 21 | 10.19% | ||
| under $30,000 | = 1 | 0.49% | ||
| $30,001-$40,000 | = 7 | 3.40% | ||
| $40,001-$50,000 | = 12 | 5.83% | ||
| $50,001-$60,000 | = 38 | 18.45% | ||
| $60,001-$70,000 | = 28 | 13.59% | ||
| $70,001-$80,000 | = 21 | 10.19% | ||
| $80,001-$90,000 | = 9 | 4.37% | ||
| $90,001-$100,000 | = 5 | 2.43% | ||
| $100,001 or more | = 3 | 1.46% | ||
| No Answer | = 61 | 29.61% | ||
|
| ||||
| 15) | Hourly Rate (A$), excluding GST. For fixed-price contracts, please give the intended equivalent hourly rate. | |||
| Not applicable | = 48 | 23.30% | ||
| Less than $30 | = 5 | 2.43% | ||
| $30-$39 | = 10 | 4.85% | ||
| $40-$49 | = 19 | 9.22% | ||
| $50-$59 | = 34 | 16.50% | ||
| $60-$69 | = 15 | 7.28% | ||
| $70-$79 | = 6 | 2.91% | ||
| $80-$89 | = 2 | 0.97% | ||
| $90-$99 | = 1 | 0.49% | ||
| $100 or more | = 4 | 1.94% | ||
| No Answer | = 62 | 30.10% | ||
|
| ||||
| 16) | Over the past year, have any of the following happened to you? (Select all that apply.) | |||
| Made redundant/sacked from permanent job | = 14 | 6.80% | ||
| Contract terminated or not renewed | = 24 | 11.65% | ||
| Increased workload due to staff cuts | = 46 | 22.33% | ||
| Canceled projects | = 46 | 22.33% | ||
| Training and/or travel budget cuts | = 35 | 16.99% | ||
| No (or less than normal) salary increase | = 74 | 35.92% | ||
| Hourly rate decreased | = 37 | 17.96% | ||
| No Answer | = 64 | 31.07% | ||
|
| ||||
| 17) | Professional memberships (please select all that apply) | |||
| Current member of ASTC | = 93 | 45.15% | ||
| Former member of ASTC | = 27 | 13.11% | ||
| Current member of STC | = 35 | 16.99% | ||
| Former member of STC | = 7 | 3.40% | ||
| Current member of another professional organisation | = 47 | 22.82% | ||
| No Answer | = 56 | 27.18% | ||
|
| ||||
| 18) | Professional memberships, other. See separate page. | |||
|
| ||||
| 19) | Work location - I work primarily | |||
| Onsite | = 137 | 65.50% | ||
| At home/own office (includes telecommuting) | = 22 | 10.68% | ||
| Both/varies | = 45 | 21.84% | ||
| No Answer | = 2 | 0.97% | ||
|
| ||||
| 20) | I work in this part of the country | |||
| Sydney area | = 50 | 24.27% | ||
| Other NSW | = 2 | 0.97% | ||
| ACT | = 22 | 10.68% | ||
| Melbourne area | = 87 | 42.23% | ||
| Other Victoria | = 1 | 0.49% | ||
| Adelaide area | = 5 | 2.43% | ||
| Other SA | = 0 | 0.00% | ||
| Perth area | = 26 | 12.62% | ||
| Other WA | = 0 | 0.00% | ||
| Tasmania | = 2 | 0.97% | ||
| Northern Territory | = 2 | 0.97% | ||
| Brisbane, other SE Qld | = 17 | 8.25% | ||
| Other Qld | = 2 | 0.97% | ||
| Outside Australia | = 6 | 2.91% | ||
| No Answer | = 0 | 0.00% | ||
|
| ||||
| 21) | Additional information you wish to provide or any comments about the survey. See separate page. | |||
Return to STC Australia Chapter website
Page last updated: 28 August 2003