Is There a Place for You in Medical Writing? Here’s What the Potential for a Career in Medical Writing Looks Like in 2025 and Beyond.
Do you think there might be a spot for you in medical writing? You're probably right! The need for skilled medical communicators isn’t slowing down. In fact, it’s growing faster than ever. In 2025, an increasing number of healthcare companies, education providers, and research teams are seeking writers who can distill highly detailed and complex information into clear, accurate, and trustworthy content.
That means there are more projects, more clients, and more room for freelancers (like you!) to build a career that works for them. And if you’re curious about continuing medical education (CME) writing in particular, now’s the time to pay attention. It’s one of the most in-demand and rewarding specialities out there.
Let’s discuss why the demand is so high and the nitty-gritty of how to make your break into CME writing.
The Growing Demand for Medical Writers
If you’re wondering whether medical writing has the potential to be a long-term, sustainable career, here’s your answer: it absolutely does. According to recent reports, the global medical writing market was worth about $3.83 billion in 2024 and is expected to hit $4.25 billion in 2025, with a steady growth rate of 10.9% per year.
This is more than just a trend. It’s a response to some real industry needs. The healthcare, biotech, and pharmaceutical industries are moving at a rapid pace. New treatments, technologies, and innovative studies are constantly being released, and someone has to clearly communicate new findings to the public, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders. That’s where medical writers step in.
Regulatory bodies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), continue to tighten their expectations, which means that all documentation must be clear, compliant, and timely. At the same time, companies are generating more data than ever and need skilled communicators to translate that into usable information for physicians, patients, and all members of the interprofessional healthcare team. CME is in demand too.
Healthcare professionals consistently need trustworthy updates on standards of care that are independent from industry information. And to be real here, as long as I’ve been an independent CME writer, there’s been a demand for for skilled freelanc writers, especially ones with diverse skill sets who can easily handle complex medical topics and understand the healthcare landscape.
In short: the demand is real, the work is meaningful, and medical writers are more essential than ever.
What Makes CME Writing One of the Best Types of Medical Writing in 2025
If you're considering a career move into medical writing, focusing on CME is a smart move. CME writers create educational materials that help healthcare professionals stay up to date with the latest medical advancements, ensuring that they provide the best possible care to patients.
Increased Demand
The demand for CME content has been increasing due to continuous advancements in medical knowledge. Healthcare professionals are required to take part in ongoing education in order to keep up with all of the latest treatment options, technologies, and research findings. The increasingly rapid release of new treatment options and guidelines fuels the need for well-crafted and engaging CME materials that help healthcare professionals learn quickly and effectively.
Shift to Digital Learning Creates More Opportunities
There has been a significant shift toward digital and hybrid CME activities over the past few years. Traditional in-person seminars are being complemented, or in many cases, entirely replaced by online courses, virtual conferences, and microlearning opportunities that can be accessed on-the-go, on a phone.
This is making education more accessible and flexible for busy professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, resulting in a more substantial investment in online educational resources.
For writers, this shift presents numerous new opportunities to make meaningful contributions to healthcare education. By creating clear, accurate, and engaging CME content, you have the opportunity to play a crucial role in enhancing the knowledge and skills of healthcare providers, ultimately leading to a positive impact on patient outcomes.
Ready to start your CME writing career, but unsure where to begin? Chart your CME Writing Path today!
How Much Can Medical Writers Make?
If you're considering a career in medical writing, it's completely natural to wonder if the financial rewards are worth it. As of March 2025, freelance medical writers in the United States earn an average annual salary of $100,961, with most professionals earning between $91,641 and $116,161.
For a more niche view, CME writers earned a mean of $184,764 gross income (before taxes and other expenses) according to the American Medical Writers’ Association 2024 Compensation Report.
However, it’s important to understand that there are a few factors that can cause these figures to vary, such as:
Experience: As with most careers, seasoned writers who have a proven track record often earn higher rates than those who are just starting out.
Specialization: Focusing on niche areas, such as regulatory writing or Continuing Medical Education, can often lead to more lucrative opportunities.
Client Base: Building relationships with high-quality, reputable clients can result in consistent work and much better pay.
At the end of the day, your earning potential as a medical writer depends on your career choices, expertise, and the effort that you put into building your professional reputation, as well as the community you have surrounding you.
How to Become a Medical Writer
If you’re new to medical writing, don’t worry. You don’t need to have it all figured out right away. There’s a clear and easy path that you can follow to build a successful freelance medical writing career, one step at a time.
1. Take Stock of the Skills You Already Have
First off, start with your education. A degree in life sciences, English, journalism, or a related field is going to help give you the solid foundation you’ll need. From there, consider taking a course or two in medical writing to sharpen your skills and get familiar with all of the industry standards and jargon.
Remember that you don’t have to take a medical writing certificate course that costs thousands of dollars to get a foot in the door. Getting familiar with medical terminology can be as easy as reading journal articles regularly, while joining a community like WriteCME Pro can give you access to expert perspectives and chances to build your portfolio.
2. Build Your Portfolio
Next up, focus on building your portfolio and write sample pieces that mimic the type of writing you think you might like to do, like needs assessments or patient cases. Don’t worry if you don’t know what those are yet; there’s plenty of time to learn!
You don’t need client work to start. Just invest some time into showing off what you can do and getting peer feedback on your pieces. And yes, we include portfolio practice and written feedback as part of WriteCME Pro, a professional development program with a curriculum coaching, and a community for medical writers who are ready to specialize in CME.
3. Land Your First Gig and Build Your Network
After creating your portfolio, you’ll also want to gain some real-world experience. Look for internships, volunteer roles, or smaller paid gigs that will help you boost your confidence and build your credibility.
Networking matters, too. Join groups like the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA), where you will have the opportunity to connect with peers and mentors and reach out to potential clients.
Now Is a Great Time to Jump Into CME with WriteCME Pro
There’s never been a better time to explore CME writing as a career path. The demand is growing, the work is meaningful, and there’s real potential to build a career that fits your life and goals.
Whether you're looking for a higher level of flexibility, professional growth, or a way to have a positive impact on the healthcare industry without having to spend time in the clinic, this path is wide open and waiting for you.
If you're ready to take the next step, WriteCME Pro is here to help. It’s a supportive community of medical writers, led by someone who’s been where you are now. We give CME writers the foundations they need to succeed in a supportive community. Join WriteCME Pro today for one-to-one mentoring, group coaching, and lifelong learning.
You belong in medical writing, and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
