Word processors and typists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Mean (average) | $51,120 | $24.58 |
| 90th percentile | $65,150 | $31.32 |
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
Word processors and typists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 39 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,860 | $30,780 | $65,880 | 70 | 0.14 |
| Arizona | $42,070 | $34,350 | $73,250 | ||
| Arkansas | $43,010 | $35,990 | $49,730 | 40 | 0.12 |
| California | $56,380 | $40,760 | $65,720 | 10,270 | 2.51 |
| Colorado | $57,550 | $37,760 | $69,450 | 60 | 0.09 |
| Connecticut | $49,250 | $38,430 | $74,000 | 170 | 0.46 |
| Delaware | $45,480 | $39,120 | $83,230 | 50 | 0.45 |
| District of Columbia | $49,180 | $41,060 | $70,390 | 120 | 0.77 |
| Florida | $35,770 | $27,520 | $61,520 | 1,000 | 0.45 |
| Georgia | $31,450 | $29,280 | $46,700 | ||
| Hawaii | $40,060 | $40,060 | $54,970 | 270 | 1.93 |
| Idaho | $49,930 | $36,820 | $58,560 | 60 | 0.31 |
| Illinois | $45,490 | $37,910 | $72,850 | 490 | 0.36 |
| Indiana | $39,520 | $30,880 | $56,410 | 120 | 0.16 |
| Iowa | $43,210 | $32,130 | $54,900 | 360 | 1.03 |
| Kentucky | Data unavailable | 160 | 0.35 | ||
| Maryland | $47,110 | $40,250 | $65,000 | 210 | 0.34 |
| Massachusetts | $53,740 | $41,600 | $63,790 | 350 | 0.42 |
| Michigan | $47,970 | $36,940 | $59,470 | 520 | 0.53 |
| Minnesota | $51,550 | $47,440 | $60,860 | 210 | 0.32 |
| Missouri | $37,440 | $35,030 | $55,690 | 260 | 0.39 |
| Nebraska | $47,080 | $40,190 | $58,550 | 80 | 0.36 |
| Nevada | $41,290 | $40,700 | $52,930 | 170 | 0.5 |
| New Jersey | $49,520 | $38,430 | $70,650 | 3,560 | 3.69 |
| New Mexico | $46,400 | $37,140 | $52,420 | 60 | 0.32 |
| New York | $48,400 | $37,020 | $68,580 | 12,340 | 5.66 |
| Ohio | $48,670 | $23,040 | $59,390 | 310 | 0.25 |
| Oklahoma | $43,710 | $37,270 | $52,420 | 40 | 0.11 |
| Oregon | $52,420 | $41,820 | $62,700 | 40 | 0.09 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,000 | $30,400 | $60,060 | 1,170 | 0.85 |
| Puerto Rico | $32,270 | $22,850 | $44,680 | 1,700 | 8.02 |
| Rhode Island | $47,040 | $37,310 | $60,070 | 120 | 1.03 |
| South Carolina | $42,840 | $35,320 | $58,430 | 30 | 0.06 |
| Tennessee | $49,750 | $26,040 | $57,880 | 90 | 0.12 |
| Texas | $47,720 | $25,400 | $62,370 | 290 | 0.09 |
| Virginia | $46,130 | $31,420 | $59,970 | 290 | 0.31 |
| Washington | $46,110 | $40,850 | $81,750 | 140 | 0.18 |
| West Virginia | $36,060 | $31,460 | $41,500 | 80 | 0.52 |
| Wisconsin | $48,540 | $38,080 | $63,200 | 180 | 0.27 |
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 word processors and typists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 10.9%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for word processors and typists
- 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
- Word Processing CIP 11.0602
- General Office Occupations and Clerical Services CIP 52.0408
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- File and store completed documents on computer hard drive or disk, or maintain a computer filing system to store, retrieve, update, and delete documents.
- Transmit work electronically to other locations.
- Perform other clerical duties, such as answering telephone, sorting and distributing mail, running errands or sending faxes.
- Electronically sort and compile text and numerical data, retrieving, updating, and merging documents as required.
- Check completed work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format.
- Print and make copies of work.
- Search for specific sets of stored, typed characters to make changes.
- Address envelopes or prepare envelope labels, using typewriter or computer.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Google Workspace software (hot technology)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle PeopleSoft (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Act!
- Blackbaud CRM
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
Transferable skills for career changers: Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Clerk Specialist, Clerk Typist, Keyboard Specialist, Stenographer, Typist, Word Processing Operator, Word Processing Specialist, Word Processor.
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 word processors and typists make?
The national median annual wage for word processors and typists was $49,280 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,810 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $65,150. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do word processors and typists 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 word processors and typists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of word processors and typists to change -34.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay word processors and typists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Colorado ($57,550), California ($56,380), Massachusetts ($53,740). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.