The median pay for Word Processors and Typists is $49,280 a year ($23.69/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 34.4% through 2035, with about 1,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 43-9022
- Office and Administrative Support
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Word Processor and Typist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $49,280a year, or $23.69/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $65K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -34.4%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−34.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −34.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,90040,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202540.4K
- Projected 203526.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 40.4K Projected 2035 26.5K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Clerk Specialist, Clerk Typist, Keyboard Specialist, Stenographer, Typist, Word Processing Operator.
Pay
How much do Word Processors and Typists make?
Every word processor and typist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$49,280
Middle half earn $40,800 to $57,670
- 10th
- $36,810
- 25th
- $40,800
- 75th
- $57,670
- 90th
- $65,150
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $36,810 |
| 25th | $40,800 |
| Median | $49,280 |
| 75th | $57,670 |
| 90th | $65,150 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $49,280
- Median hourly wage
- $23.69/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $51,120
- People employed
- 35,010
Versus all US occupations
At $49,280, Word Processors and Typists earn 3% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $1,700 a year.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
The median is typical for the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $49,230.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $65,150 or more while the bottom 10% earn $36,810, a gap of 1.8×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 20% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Colorado pays the most at $57,550, and still leads at $55,846 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Word Processors and Typists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Colorado | $57,550 | $55,846 | 60 |
| 2California | $56,380 | $50,921 | 10,270 |
| 3Massachusetts | $53,740 | $50,815 | 350 |
| 4Oregon | $52,420 | $50,715 | 40 |
| 5Minnesota | $51,550 | $52,271 | 210 |
| 6Idaho | $49,930 | $52,286 | 60 |
| 7Tennessee | $49,750 | $54,153 | 90 |
| 8New Jersey | $49,520 | $45,513 | 3,560 |
| 9Connecticut | $49,250 | $47,534 | 170 |
| 10District of Columbia | $49,180 | $44,749 | 120 |
Job outlook
Is Word Processor and Typist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -34.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Word Processors and Typists | −34.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Word Processors and Typists to change -34.4% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 13,900 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,900 openings are projected each year, 4.7% of the 40,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Word Processor and Typist
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a Word Processor and Typist do?
Use word processor, computer, or typewriter to type letters, reports, forms, or other material from rough draft, corrected copy, or voice recording. May perform other clerical duties as assigned.
Day-to-day tasks
- Perform other clerical duties, such as answering telephone, sorting and distributing mail, running errands or sending faxes.
- Check completed work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format.
- Print and make copies of work.
- 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.
- Adjust settings for format, page layout, line spacing, and other style requirements.
- Search for specific sets of stored, typed characters to make changes.
- Gather, register, and arrange the material to be typed, following instructions.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors 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
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
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
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Active Listening3.4
- Writing3.3
- Speaking3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Mathematics2.1
- Active Learning2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Active Listening | 3.4 |
| Writing | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
| Mathematics | 2.1 |
| Active Learning | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Time Management2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.6
- Coordination2.5
- Service Orientation2.5
- Quality Control Analysis2.3
- Judgment and Decision Making2.1
- Persuasion2.0
- Complex Problem Solving2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.6 |
| Coordination | 2.5 |
| Service Orientation | 2.5 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.1 |
| Persuasion | 2.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Desktop publishing software
“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 Word Processor and Typist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Word Processor and Typist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 7 |
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.
- Conventional6.6
- Realistic2.9
- Artistic2.3
- Social2.2
- Investigative1.9
- Enterprising1.9
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 Word Processor and Typist
O*NET related occupations
- Office and Administrative Support
- Office and Administrative Support
- Healthcare Support
- Office and Administrative Support
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner
$72,420median a year
Most earn $42K to $131K
−0.1%Certificate - Office and Administrative Support
More office and administrative support careers
Median annual pay, with word processors and typists highlighted
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$76,590
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$55,570
- Public Safety Telecommunicator$53,040
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$50,670
- Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$50,610
- Word Processor and Typist$49,280
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Teller$43,030
- Receptionist and Information Clerk$38,010
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,590 |
| Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $55,570 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk | $50,670 |
| Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $50,610 |
| Word Processor and Typist | $49,280 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 |
| Teller | $43,030 |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Word Processor and Typist appears on
Questions
Word Processor and Typist: frequently asked questions
How much do Word Processors and Typists make?
Word Processors and Typists earn a median of $49,280 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 3% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.69/hr. The middle half earn between $40,800 and $57,670. The top 10% earn $65,150 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Word Processor and Typist?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Word Processors and Typists. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Word Processor and Typist a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 34.4% over 2025–2035, a loss of 13,900 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Word Processor and Typist do?
Use word processor, computer, or typewriter to type letters, reports, forms, or other material from rough draft, corrected copy, or voice recording. A core O*NET task: perform other clerical duties, such as answering telephone, sorting and distributing mail, running errands or sending faxes. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Data base user interface and query software, Document management software.
Which states pay Word Processors and Typists the most?
The highest state medians for Word Processors and Typists are Colorado ($57,550), California ($56,380), Massachusetts ($53,740) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Word Processor and Typist?
O*NET scores Word Processors and Typists highest on the Conventional interest area, which means organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, 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.