Authors, writers and translators write, edit and evaluate literary material for publication excluding material for newspapers, magazines and other periodicals but including scripts and narrative for film, TV, radio and video games and animations; and translate spoken and written statements into different languages.
Also calledAuthorTechnical authorTechnical copywriterTechnical editorTechnical communicatorTranslatorand 61 more titles
Recruitment from abroad. 50 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from United States, India, Poland, ranking it 133rd of 313. Home Office
Who does it
ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
31%aged 55 or over
81%hold a degree
62%self-employed
64%women
Age of writers
Age profile of writers
3.2%!
25%!
20%!
21%!
19%!
12%!
16–2425–3435–4445–5455–6465+
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
16–24
3.2% (small sample)
25–34
25% (small sample)
35–44
20% (small sample)
45–54
21% (small sample)
55–64
19% (small sample)
65+
12% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Highest qualification held by writers
Degree or equivalent81%
Higher education below degree!7.4%
A levels or equivalent!4.8%
GCSEs or equivalent!4.1%
Other qualifications!1.5%
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
Degree or equivalent
81%
Higher education below degree
7.4% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent
4.8% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent
4.1% (small sample)
Other qualifications
1.5% (small sample)
No qualifications
Not published
Main employers: translation and interpretation activities (26%), artistic creation (15%), book publishing (9.4%), publishing of journals and periodicals (4.4%).
How to get in
Hold a degree
81%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
2
from level 3
Apprenticeships take
15 months to 2 years
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds
Self-employed
62%
of people in the job
Routes in
Writer
You can get into this job through:
University
You'll need a high level of writing skill and talent to be successful. To develop your skills, you could study for a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject, such as:
creative writing
communication and media
English language or literature
creative and professional writing
journalism
You could also do a postgraduate writing course to get into this career.
To work as a technical author, you'll usually need a higher education qualification in the subject you want to write about, for example engineering, technology or healthcare.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
Other ways in
Volunteering
You can do several things to develop your writing skills and learn more about the world of publishing. These include:
joining writers' groups in person or online
entering writing competitions
blogging on websites
Apply directly
You may be able to apply directly for technical writing jobs in industries, such as engineering, computing or scientific research, if you've got the relevant background and qualifications.
Experience in journalism could also help you to get into areas like travel or broadcast writing.
Other routes
You could work in TV or radio as a scriptwriter. BBC Writers and Channel 4 Talent Schemes have information, advice and workshops on writing and submitting scripts.
You may be able to publish and sell your work without formal training or qualifications, if you're exceptionally talented and have original ideas. A literary agent may be able to help you with this.
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
You'll need:
creative ideas that will sell
good research skills
the ability to express ideas in a style suited to your intended audience
You'll also need to have confidence in your writing, be able to accept criticism and remain positive.
You'll need a portfolio of your work to show to employers and commissioning editors.
Further information
You'll find more advice about careers in writing through the National Association of Writers Groups.
The Poetry Society and Writers & Artists have more details on writing competitions.
Writers & Artists also has industry advice on being a writer and submitting work for publishing or self-publishing. It publishes the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook, which has information on literary agents, publishers, newspapers and magazines.
You can get information about a career in technical writing from the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for writer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Technical author
You can get into this job through:
University
You'll usually need a degree qualification in a subject like:
science
computing
journalism
engineering
healthcare
communications
modern languages and translation
You can also do technical or science communication and writing courses at postgraduate level.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apply directly
You can apply to companies directly. Employers will expect you to have in-depth industry knowledge and experience of writing and editing for a target audience.
You'll need to show you can research and interpret complex information and communicate it clearly. You'll also need to know about:
content planning and strategy
writing to a brand style or other guidelines
user behaviour - how people read and absorb information
project management
You can also apply for jobs advertised through agencies that recruit and place technical authors.
Other routes
You may be able to find work after doing specialised training courses in:
content planning
writing styles
quality assurance
costing
project management
The Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators has details of course providers.
You can find out more about how to become a technical author from the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators. The Association of British Science Writers also has information on working as a science journalist.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for technical author. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Translator
You can get into this job through:
University
You could study for a degree or postgraduate qualification, such as:
translation studies
translation and interpreting
modern languages
combined degrees, usually a language with translation studies
Some universities offer short courses in languages and translation, which can be a useful way to find out more about the subject and whether it's what you want to do.
Check the Institute of Translation and Interpreting for courses.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Other routes
You can do translation qualifications through a professional body, like the Chartered Institute of Linguists. Qualifications include:
Certificate in Translation (CertTrans)
Diploma in Translation (DipTrans)
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
You'll need to be fluent in at least one second language, as well as English. You'll need a good understanding of the culture of the country or communities that use that language, usually gained by living or working abroad. You'll also need excellent writing skills.
Languages in demand by translation services include:
French
German
Russian
Chinese
Arabic
Spanish
Further information
You can find out more about how to become a translator from the Institute of Translation and Interpreting.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for translator. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Screenwriter
You can get into this job through:
University
You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification to improve your job prospects, though this is not essential.
Useful subjects include:
creative writing
English
media and communications
film studies
journalism
psychology
Your university careers service can give advice on societies, work experience, internship and year placement opportunities that will help you build your creative network and develop your skills.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
College
When you're starting out you may find it useful to take a college course to help develop your skills.
Courses are available in:
creative writing
scriptwriting
creative and digital media
Adult education centres, colleges and universities sometimes run short courses in writing for screen.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Other ways in
Apply directly
If you want to get directly into this job, it will be useful if you have writing experience, for example, from journalism, advertising copywriting or acting.
You'll normally start by coming up with your own screenplays and ideas, and trying to sell them to agents and producers. Once you've had some work accepted and started to build a professional reputation, producers might then commission you to produce scripts for them.
Other routes
You could take short courses in screenwriting run by film schools, regional screen agencies and private training providers.
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
As a new writer, you could get yourself noticed by entering screenwriting competitions. These competitions are run by broadcasters and regional screen agencies to discover new talent.
You can also find advice about submitting your work through schemes like:
BBC Writers
Channel 4 New Writers Scheme
You might also write scripts for short films appearing online as part of film or animation festivals.
Create a LinkedIn profile to connect with people in the industry and make sure you have a portfolio to show off your writing skills.
Further information
You can get more advice on writing careers in film and TV from ScreenSkills.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for screenwriter. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
British Sign Language interpreter
You can get into this job through:
University
You'll need a degree or level 6 award in both British Sign Language and interpreting.
You would also need an approved qualification in interpreting like:
postgraduate or master's degree in interpreting or translation
Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Other ways in
Work your way up
You could work for an organisation that supports deaf people, or in a school or college, for example, as an educational support assistant. You could then do your British Sign Language qualifications on the job to qualify as an interpreter.
Volunteering
Getting involved in clubs or centres for deaf people is a good way of getting experience and may give you the opportunity to get relevant training.
Other routes
You could qualify by registering as a trainee sign language interpreter (TSLI). To register, you'll need:
a degree or level 6 award in your first language - either English or British Sign Language (BSL)
a minimum of level 4, above A level standard, in your second language - either English or BSL
What you’ll need
pass enhanced background checks
Registration and professional bodies
Registration
you'll need to register with the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People
Career tips
Many interpreters work freelance or through agencies and often get work through recommendations of people who have already used their services. It is useful if you have an understanding of deaf people's needs and the challenges that they face.
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a British Sign Language interpreter from:
Signature
Royal Association for Deaf People
British Deaf Association
Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for british sign language interpreter. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Editorial assistant
You can get into this job through:
University
You can study for a university qualification before looking for work. Subjects like English, journalism or media and communication studies may give you an advantage, though most subjects will be acceptable.
If you want to specialise in a particular field of publishing, you may need a degree that's closely related to it, for example physics or maths for a scientific journal.
An excellent grasp of English language will be essential for all jobs.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apprenticeship
You can apply to do a Publishing Professional Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship with a company to get into this role.
This typically takes around 2 years to complete and is a mix of workplace training and study.
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
Other ways in
Work your way up
You could work in a publishing office or a company's communications department, as an admin assistant or copywriter, and work your way up through in-house training and promotion.
Volunteering
You'll find it useful when applying for jobs to have done some paid or unpaid work experience in publishing, for example on behalf of a charity.
Other routes
You could take a proofreading or editing course, like the ones offered by The Publishing Training Centre or the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
Skills in image editing software could be useful for some jobs, though employers would give you training in the packages they use.
Professional and industry bodies
You may find it useful to join organisations like the the Publishers Association and Professional Publishers Association for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Further information
You can find out more about becoming an editorial assistant from the:
Publishers Association
Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for editorial assistant. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Interpreter
You can get into this job through:
University
You can do a degree or postgraduate qualification in:
interpreting studies
languages and interpreting
translation and interpreting
modern languages
Check the Institute of Translation and Interpreting for courses.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
College
You can do a college course in community interpreting if you are fluent in English and another language spoken by people in the community.
These courses are often available from introductory level to advanced.
You'll usually need some experience of paid or unpaid interpreting work in community settings to move on to the higher-level courses.
Entry requirements
You'll need:
an excellent standard of English
Other ways in
Volunteering
You can find volunteering opportunities as a community interpreter with:
local councils
health and social services
welfare rights organisations
legal advice centres
community organisations
Volunteering experience will be helpful if you want to apply to do a college course in interpreting, or to study to become professionally qualified.
Other routes
You can do interpreting qualifications through a professional body, like the Chartered Institute of Linguists.
Courses include:
Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI)
DPSI Law - for interpreters working in the justice system
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
To be fluent in a second language, you should:
be able to communicate quickly, smoothly and accurately
know and understand informal speech, slang and regional differences
understand the culture of the country or communities where the language is spoken
Professional and industry bodies
You can join an industry association to help with your professional development and to build up your network of contacts.
Organisations include:
Institute of Translation and Interpreting
Chartered Institute of Linguists
International Association of Conference Interpreters
National Register of Public Service Interpreters
Further information
You can find out more about how to become an interpreter from the Institute of Translation and Interpreting.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for interpreter. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
determines subject matter and researches as necessary by interviewing, attending public events, seeking out records, observing etc.
generates and develops creative ideas for literary material
selects material for publication, checks style, grammar and accuracy of content, arranges for any necessary revisions and checks proof copies before printing
negotiates contracts with freelance agents and with buyer on behalf of writer
writes instruction manuals and user guides, technical reports, catalogues and indexes, prepares sales literature and writes technical articles for trade journals
converts documents or spoken statements from original or source language into another language
provides communication support for the hard of hearing or the visually impaired
Skills
apply grammar and spelling rules
consult information sources
attend book fairs
critically reflect on artistic production processes
develop creative ideas
do historical research
perform background research on writing subject
read manuscripts
evaluate writings in response to feedback
manage writing administration
promote your writings
proofread text
teach writing
advise on historical context
Knowledge
copyright legislation
grammar
literature
spelling
writing techniques
publishing market
types of literature genres
linguistics
Suits people who like
Creating and designing
Organising and following procedures
Outlook
DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for culture, media and sports occupations, a group of 13 jobs that includes writers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 10%about 79,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 2035442,000including people replacing those who retire or leave
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.
This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.
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