Data entry keyers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $41,340 | $19.88 |
| Mean (average) | $43,310 | $20.82 |
| 90th percentile | $58,790 | $28.26 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Data entry keyers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $35,130 | $29,330 | $47,210 | 1,060 | 0.61 |
| Alaska | $40,700 | $35,180 | $68,550 | 160 | 0.61 |
| Arizona | $43,200 | $33,860 | $54,900 | 3,420 | 1.29 |
| Arkansas | $33,860 | $29,140 | $49,950 | 1,000 | 0.94 |
| California | $47,010 | $37,490 | $61,520 | 14,520 | 0.98 |
| Colorado | $43,910 | $33,920 | $61,070 | 1,190 | 0.51 |
| Connecticut | $38,560 | $34,010 | $58,190 | 1,290 | 0.93 |
| Delaware | $37,810 | $31,400 | $56,100 | 410 | 1.03 |
| District of Columbia | $55,170 | $48,930 | $73,090 | 200 | 0.35 |
| Florida | $38,880 | $31,400 | $51,250 | 7,650 | 0.94 |
| Georgia | $41,270 | $31,750 | $58,480 | 3,410 | 0.85 |
| Guam | $25,730 | $20,940 | $36,440 | 100 | 1.77 |
| Hawaii | $47,630 | $36,750 | $53,550 | 210 | 0.4 |
| Idaho | $42,810 | $29,990 | $59,460 | 540 | 0.77 |
| Illinois | $42,840 | $31,200 | $59,920 | 5,910 | 1.18 |
| Indiana | $40,550 | $31,460 | $55,040 | 2,370 | 0.91 |
| Iowa | $43,640 | $32,210 | $57,920 | 1,180 | 0.93 |
| Kansas | $38,290 | $28,090 | $45,760 | 1,210 | 1.03 |
| Kentucky | $36,870 | $29,280 | $50,910 | 2,020 | 1.23 |
| Louisiana | $36,920 | $23,420 | $54,160 | 1,800 | 1.14 |
| Maine | $48,190 | $40,960 | $58,340 | 140 | 0.26 |
| Maryland | $38,970 | $31,200 | $56,490 | 1,850 | 0.82 |
| Massachusetts | $47,560 | $35,250 | $58,280 | 1,590 | 0.54 |
| Michigan | $38,080 | $33,370 | $52,100 | 3,290 | 0.91 |
| Minnesota | $44,280 | $35,200 | $71,820 | 1,360 | 0.57 |
| Mississippi | $34,540 | $26,350 | $48,870 | 530 | 0.55 |
| Missouri | Data unavailable | 2,720 | 1.13 | ||
| Montana | $42,340 | $34,510 | $51,140 | 300 | 0.72 |
| Nebraska | $39,600 | $28,080 | $49,230 | 1,260 | 1.51 |
| Nevada | $39,260 | $30,160 | $54,930 | 800 | 0.63 |
| New Hampshire | $43,440 | $34,610 | $54,990 | 790 | 1.42 |
| New Jersey | $42,470 | $32,410 | $61,990 | 4,940 | 1.41 |
| New Mexico | $49,810 | $35,990 | $53,410 | 300 | 0.43 |
| New York | $44,860 | $34,130 | $61,200 | 9,470 | 1.2 |
| North Carolina | $39,610 | $31,780 | $52,620 | 3,330 | 0.82 |
| North Dakota | $48,300 | $33,670 | $64,310 | 110 | 0.3 |
| Ohio | $40,220 | $29,220 | $54,990 | 4,530 | 1 |
| Oklahoma | $38,590 | $29,640 | $51,620 | 1,290 | 0.92 |
| Oregon | Data unavailable | 1,840 | 1.15 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $38,810 | $29,740 | $51,710 | 5,270 | 1.06 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,940 | $21,840 | $34,420 | 2,000 | 2.61 |
| Rhode Island | $44,980 | $37,280 | $63,190 | 270 | 0.66 |
| South Carolina | $38,070 | $28,920 | $51,890 | 1,490 | 0.79 |
| South Dakota | $34,320 | $31,300 | $39,630 | 30 | 0.09 |
| Tennessee | $40,490 | $29,940 | $57,310 | 2,360 | 0.88 |
| Texas | $38,880 | $28,020 | $56,920 | 17,850 | 1.55 |
| Utah | $47,180 | $31,220 | $69,430 | 2,140 | 1.51 |
| Vermont | $43,280 | $39,070 | $54,040 | 290 | 1.15 |
| Virgin Islands | $33,280 | $27,390 | $43,420 | 70 | 2.8 |
| Virginia | $38,900 | $28,010 | $54,670 | 2,890 | 0.86 |
| Washington | $47,480 | $38,070 | $63,790 | 1,360 | 0.47 |
| West Virginia | $35,900 | $27,250 | $47,740 | 660 | 1.15 |
| Wisconsin | $38,170 | $27,940 | $51,180 | 2,360 | 0.98 |
| Wyoming | $45,870 | $31,720 | $56,430 | 140 | 0.63 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for data entry keyers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 7,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.6%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for data entry keyers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator, General Production CIP 10.0305
- Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications, General CIP 11.0601
- Business/Office Automation/Technology/Data Entry CIP 52.0407
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Locate and correct data entry errors, or report them to supervisors.
- Compile, sort, and verify the accuracy of data before it is entered.
- Compare data with source documents, or re-enter data in verification format to detect errors.
- Store completed documents in appropriate locations.
- Select materials needed to complete work assignments.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
- Data entry software
- Database software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- FaceTime
- FileMaker Pro
- Google Drive
Transferable skills for career changers: Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Instructing.
Common job titles: Data Capture Specialist, Data Entry Clerk, Data Entry Machine Operator, Data Entry Operator, Data Entry Specialist, Data Transcriber, Records Clerk, Underwriting Support Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do data entry keyers make?
The national median annual wage for data entry keyers was $41,340 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $31,200 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $58,790. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do data entry keyers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is data entry keyers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of data entry keyers to change -25.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 7,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay data entry keyers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($55,170), New Mexico ($49,810), North Dakota ($48,300). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.