Leads the team that writes winning responses to government and corporate requests for proposals, from strategy to final submission. BLS does not publish separate figures for technical writers; it counts them within technical writer (SOC 27-3042), whose median pay is $90,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 27-3042
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Proposal Manager in four numbers
- Median pay
- $90,390a year, or $43.46/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $57KTop 10% $145K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.8%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,20046,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202546.4K
- Projected 203546.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 46.4K Projected 2035 46.7K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Certificate6.9%
- Some college15.9%
- Associate's35.3%
- Bachelor's33%
- Post-bacc certificate2.5%
- Master's5.5%
Highest education held by technical writers Segment Value Certificate 6.9% Some college 15.9% Associate's 35.3% Bachelor's 33% Post-bacc certificate 2.5% Master's 5.5%
Also advertised as: Capture Manager, Bid Manager, Proposal Writer, Proposal Coordinator, RFP Manager.
Pay
How much do Technical Writers make?
Every proposal manager in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$90,390
Middle half earn $70,880 to $115,510
- 10th
- $57,440
- 25th
- $70,880
- 75th
- $115,510
- 90th
- $145,270
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $57,440 |
| 25th | $70,880 |
| Median | $90,390 |
| 75th | $115,510 |
| 90th | $145,270 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $90,390
- Median hourly wage
- $43.46/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $96,970
- People employed
- 45,500
Versus all US occupations
At $90,390, Technical Writers earn 77% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $39,410 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 33% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $145,270 or more while the bottom 10% earn $57,440, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 67% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Jersey pays the most at $122,320, and still leads at $112,421 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Technical Writers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Jersey | $122,320 | $112,421 | 1,550 |
| 2District of Columbia | $117,810 | $107,196 | 440 |
| 3Massachusetts | $109,200 | $103,256 | 1,850 |
| 4Washington | $104,070 | $97,250 | 1,620 |
| 5California | $104,000 | $93,931 | 5,280 |
| 6Rhode Island | $102,360 | $100,078 | 150 |
| 7Connecticut | $101,870 | $98,321 | 770 |
| 8Maryland | $100,990 | $96,219 | 1,780 |
| 9Colorado | $100,610 | $97,630 | 1,320 |
| 10New York | $98,310 | $91,094 | 1,610 |
Job outlook
Is Proposal Manager a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Technical Writers | +0.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Technical Writers to change 0.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,200 openings are projected each year, 6.9% of the 46,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Proposal Manager
Most proposal managers hold a bachelor's degree in English, communications, business or a technical field. Many start as proposal coordinators or writers at defense, IT or engineering contractors and move up after supporting several bids. Knowing the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), especially how agencies evaluate proposals, is a major advantage for government work.
The Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) offers a tiered certification path: Foundation, Practitioner and Professional. It also publishes a body of knowledge used across the industry. A security clearance opens many defense roles. Strong writing samples, comfort with tight deadlines and skill at managing senior people who do not report to you matter more than any single credential.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as technical writers.
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree35.3%
- Bachelor's Degree33%
- Some College Courses15.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate6.9%
- Master's Degree5.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 35.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 33% |
| Some College Courses | 15.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 6.9% |
| Master's Degree | 5.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Proposal Manager do?
Proposal managers run the process a company uses to win contracts. When a government agency or large business issues a request for proposals (RFP), the proposal manager reads every requirement, builds a compliance matrix and an outline, assigns sections to engineers, finance staff and executives, and sets a tight schedule with review stages often called pink, red and gold team reviews.
They also write and edit heavily. Proposal managers turn technical input into clear, persuasive text, keep win themes consistent, coordinate graphics and pricing, and make sure every page follows the formatting and page-limit rules. In government contracting, a missed requirement can disqualify a bid, so attention to detail and deadline management are central to the work.
Day-to-day tasks
- Analyze RFP requirements and build compliance matrices
- Create proposal outlines, schedules and writing assignments
- Write and edit executive summaries and technical sections
- Run structured color team reviews of draft proposals
- Coordinate graphics, pricing volumes and resumes
- Check final documents against formatting and page-limit rules
- Submit proposals and manage questions from the buyer
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Proposal managers work for government contractors, consulting firms, healthcare companies and technology vendors. Much of the work can be done remotely, though classified bids require secure facilities. Workloads are cyclical: calm between bids, then long days and some weekends as a deadline approaches. The job involves constant meetings and coordination with many contributors.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Writing4.9
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Active Listening3.8
- Speaking3.8
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Active Learning3.3
- Monitoring3.0
- Learning Strategies2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Writing | 4.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Persuasion2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.8
- Negotiation2.6
- Instructing2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.8 |
| Negotiation | 2.6 |
| Instructing | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Data base reporting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- File versioning software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Proposal Manager?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ECA) built on O*NET's Technical Writer profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Proposal Manager |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Conventional5.3
- Artistic4.4
- Investigative3.7
- Enterprising3.2
- Realistic2.8
- Social2.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Proposal Manager
O*NET related occupations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Computer and Mathematical
- Business and Financial Operations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Business and Financial Operations
- Office and Administrative Support
More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with technical writers highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Proposal Manager$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Proposal Manager | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Proposal Manager appears on
Questions
Proposal Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do Technical Writers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for technical writers. It counts them within technical writer, whose median pay is $90,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $70,880 and $115,510, and the top 10% earn $145,270 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Proposal Manager?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Technical Writers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 35.3% hold associate's degree or other 2-year degree.
Is Proposal Manager a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.8% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Proposal Manager do?
Proposal managers run the process a company uses to win contracts. A typical task: analyze RFP requirements and build compliance matrices. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Computer aided design CAD software.
Which states pay Technical Writers the most?
The highest state medians for Technical Writers are New Jersey ($122,320), District of Columbia ($117,810), Massachusetts ($109,200) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Proposal Manager?
O*NET scores Technical Writers highest on the Conventional, Artistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INTJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.