Source: https://deftridge.com/side-work/technical-writer/ Title: Side work for Technical Writers | Deftridge Summary: Part-time roles for technical writers: what they pay per hour, which tasks are open and how to start in about five hours a week. Side work for Technical Writers · **Updated November 4, 2026** # Side work for Technical Writers Technical Writer is one of the titles we hear most. These are the part-time roles where your experience carries over, what they pay per hour, and the tasks open now. About five hours a week, next to your main job. **3** roles that fit a technical writer **782** open tasks in those roles **$55/hr** typical US rate, Reference-Answer Writer **5 h** a week is enough By [Olivia Hartley](https://deftridge.com/team/olivia-hartley/), Director, AI Expert Review · Edited by [Helena Voss](https://deftridge.com/team/helena-voss/) · Published 2 November 2026 ## Side work as a technical writer: what to know Technical writers are hired for documentation that never gets written in a sprint: API references, user guides, admin manuals, release notes and internal runbooks. The work is well suited to evenings because it needs focus more than meetings. Show samples, with confidential details removed, and name the tools you work in, such as a docs-as-code setup or a help centre platform. Ask for access to a test environment early; good documentation is written from using the product, not from reading tickets. Technical writers also take AI expert review tasks, rating model answers on documentation and clarity. In our data: 782 open tasks across the 3 roles that fit a technical writer, 91% of them remote. The typical senior rate for Reference-Answer Writer is $55 in the US, £25 in the UK, CA$45 in Canada and €32 in Germany an hour, before the company's 15% fee. The other roles that fit are Process Documentation Specialist, AI Evaluator: Operations & Project Management. Most of these tasks are sized for 5 to 15 hours a week. Rates come from official wage statistics aged to October 2026; see [the full table by country](https://deftridge.com/rates/reference-answer-writer/). ## Where a technical writer's experience fits The best match is first. Each role page shows the rate by country and level. - [307 open tasks Reference-Answer Writer Writes the gold-standard answer and rubric an AI is later graded against. typical US rate $55/hr](https://deftridge.com/jobs/reference-answer-writer/) - [139 open tasks Process Documentation Specialist Records how work is done and turns it into SOPs and checklists people follow. typical US rate $60/hr](https://deftridge.com/jobs/process-documentation/) - [336 open tasks AI Evaluator: Operations & Project Management Assesses AI plans and answers on projects, supply chains and process work. typical US rate $70/hr](https://deftridge.com/jobs/ai-evaluator-operations/) ## Open now for a technical writer Tasks in the roles above, newest first, each with the hourly rate. One-off Posted Nov 3 ### [Video Walkthrough Recording (Loom)](https://deftridge.com/job/video-walkthrough-recording-antwerp-dt-3494852/) Senior · Process Documentation Specialist Education foundation in global health · 201–500 employees **€44–€53** / hour About €150–€390 in total - about 6 h in total - On-site · Antwerp - Starts next week - Top 25% for the role [View task](https://deftridge.com/job/video-walkthrough-recording-antwerp-dt-3494852/) AI review Posted Nov 3 ### [Reference Plan Authoring (Google Docs)](https://deftridge.com/job/reference-plan-authoring-germany-dt-4690569/) Manager · AI Evaluator: Operations & Project Management Consumer goods company in baby care · 5,000+ employees **€46–€54** / hour About €1,520 a month at 7 h a week - 4–10 h a week - Remote · Germany - Starts next week - Top 25% for the role [View task](https://deftridge.com/job/reference-plan-authoring-germany-dt-4690569/) AI review Posted Nov 3 ### [Style Guide Compliance Review · E-commerce](https://deftridge.com/job/style-guide-compliance-review-netherlands-dt-5438950/) Senior · Reference-Answer Writer E-commerce platform for outdoor gear · 1,001–5,000 employees **€29–€36** / hour About €630 a month at 5 h a week - 3–6 h a week - Remote · Netherlands - Starts within 7 days - Top 25% for the role [View task](https://deftridge.com/job/style-guide-compliance-review-netherlands-dt-5438950/) AI review Posted Nov 3 ### [Multi-Step Reasoning Solution](https://deftridge.com/job/multi-step-reasoning-solution-united-kingdom-dt-6190708/) Director · Reference-Answer Writer Specialty insurer for professional liability · 501–1,000 employees **£34–£41** / hour About £1,140 a month at 7 h a week - 4–10 h a week - Remote · United Kingdom - Starts within 7 days - Top 25% for the role [View task](https://deftridge.com/job/multi-step-reasoning-solution-united-kingdom-dt-6190708/) Bundle Posted Nov 3 ### [SOP Writing](https://deftridge.com/job/sop-writing-san-francisco-dt-6721758/) Senior · Process Documentation Specialist Online travel company in tours and activities · 201–500 employees **$85–$100** / hour About $740–$1,850 a month - 8–20 h a month - Hybrid · San Francisco - Starts within 7 days - Top 25% for the role [View task](https://deftridge.com/job/sop-writing-san-francisco-dt-6721758/) AI review Posted Nov 3 ### [Project Plan Answer Rating](https://deftridge.com/job/project-plan-answer-rating-germany-dt-7667167/) Manager · AI Evaluator: Operations & Project Management Series B developer-tools company for finance teams · 201–500 employees **€50–€58** / hour About €1,990 a month at 9 h a week - 5–12 h a week - Remote · Germany - Starts within 7 days - Top 25% for the role - English and German [View task](https://deftridge.com/job/project-plan-answer-rating-germany-dt-7667167/) ## Before you take side work Three checks that take ten minutes. - Read the outside-work, conflict-of-interest and confidentiality clauses in your employment contract. If it asks for consent, ask in writing. - Do not take tasks from a direct competitor of your employer. - Use your own equipment and your own time. [Read the guide](https://deftridge.com/guides/check-your-contract-before-side-work/) ## Questions about pay, fees and privacy The same rules apply to every task, so they live on two pages: [Pricing](https://deftridge.com/pricing/) explains the 15% fee, prepayment and when you are paid; [How it works](https://deftridge.com/how-it-works/) covers matching, what a company sees and side work next to a job.