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.
Word Processors and Typists
SOC: 43-9022 O*NET: 43-9022.00
Median Salary
$47,850
per year
Job Growth
📉 -36.1%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
2.2
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
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.
What does a Word Processors and Typists do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$35,300
10th percentile
Early Career
$39,740
25th percentile
Median
$47,850
50th percentile
Experienced
$56,000
75th percentile
Top Earners
$64,370
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$35,300
25th
$39,740
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$47,850
Mean: $49,730
75th
$56,000
90th
$64,370
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $29,070 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $39,740 and $56,000
- •Salary spread is 34.0% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 36,030 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:40,000
Top Industries
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services6.3%
Administrative and Support Services6.3%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services5.1%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-36.1%
Annual Openings:2,200
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)40,000
Current
2034 (Projected)25,600
-36.1%
-14,400
Employment Change
-36.1%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Word Processors and Typists professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 45 locations
New York
12,870 jobs$47,3205.77x
California
9,780 jobs$51,1002.32x
New Jersey
3,370 jobs$50,0903.39x
Pennsylvania
1,700 jobs$43,1501.21x
Florida
1,270 jobs$36,0700.55x
Michigan
510 jobs$48,5300.50x
Illinois
460 jobs$50,4200.32x
Georgia
450 jobs$37,4900.40x
Texas
390 jobs$40,8900.12x
Ohio
370 jobs$46,6400.29x
Virginia
360 jobs$39,0200.38x
Iowa
340 jobs$38,3200.94x
Massachusetts
330 jobs$51,0300.39x
Missouri
300 jobs$40,4500.44x
Wisconsin
290 jobs$47,1300.42x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Administrative
100%
#2
Reading Comprehension
100%
#3
Near Vision
100%
#4
Written Comprehension
92%
#5
Writing
88%
#6
Speech Recognition
82%
#7
English Language
80%
#8
Active Listening
76%
#9
Oral Comprehension
74%
#10
Written Expression
66%
Skills Overview
Administrative
advanced5.0
100%
Reading Comprehension
advanced5.0
100%
Near Vision
advanced5.0
100%
Written Comprehension
advanced4.6
92%
Writing
intermediate4.4
88%
Speech Recognition
intermediate4.1
82%
English Language
intermediate4.0
80%
Active Listening
intermediate3.8
76%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Administrative
advancedImportance100%
knowledge
5.0/5.0
Reading Comprehension
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Near Vision
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Written Comprehension
advancedImportance92%
abilities
4.6/5.0
Writing
intermediateImportance88%
skills
4.4/5.0
Speech Recognition
intermediateImportance82%
abilities
4.1/5.0
English Language
intermediateImportance80%
knowledge
4.0/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance76%
skills
3.8/5.0
Oral Comprehension
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Written Expression
intermediateImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance64%
skills
3.2/5.0
Customer and Personal Service
intermediateImportance60%
knowledge
3.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners100%
5 shared skills
Data Entry Keyers83%
5 shared skills
Billing and Posting Clerks75%
5 shared skills
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks75%
5 shared skills
Medical Transcriptionists75%
5 shared skills
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks71%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Writing
- ✓Administrative
- ✓English Language
Learn on the Job:
- →Monitoring
- →Speaking
- →Customer and Personal Service
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Writing
- ✓Administrative
- ✓English Language
- ✓Reading Comprehension
- ✓Near Vision
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Writing
- ★Administrative
- ★English Language
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Near Vision
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Word Processors and Typists
Technology Intensity
High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Intuit QuickBooks
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Access
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Acrobat
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft SharePoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechOracle PeopleSoft
🔥 Hot TechSAP software
🔥 Hot TechGoogle Workspace software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Visio
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Intuit QuickBooks
Microsoft Access
Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft Outlook
Oracle PeopleSoft
SAP software
Google Workspace software
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Excel
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
19
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (10)Operations & Execution (2)Training & Development (1)Documentation & Record-Keeping (4)Planning & Development (1)Management & Supervision (1)
1
Check completed work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Perform other clerical duties, such as answering telephone, sorting and distributing mail, running errands or sending faxes.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution97% perform98%
3
Gather, register, and arrange the material to be typed, following instructions.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Training & Development94% perform96%
4
Type correspondence, reports, text and other written material from rough drafts, corrected copies, voice recordings, dictation, or previous versions, using a computer, word processor, or typewriter.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping91% perform94%
5
File and store completed documents on computer hard drive or disk, or maintain a computer filing system to store, retrieve, update, and delete documents.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping88% perform92%
6
Print and make copies of work.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Keep records of work performed.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping82% perform88%
8
Compute and verify totals on report forms, requisitions, or bills, using adding machine or calculator.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Collate pages of reports and other documents.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Electronically sort and compile text and numerical data, retrieving, updating, and merging documents as required.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •37% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Word Processors and Typists
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Word Processors and Typists professionals typically have a CRS Holland code and highly value relationships
CConventional
RRealistic
SSocial
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Word Processors and Typists
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.76
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.57
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.35
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.32
Independence
Very ImportantIndependence
Importance Level4.24
Initiative
Very ImportantInitiative
Importance Level4.09
Complete Work Styles Profile
Integrity
4.8
Attention to Detail
4.6
Cooperation
4.3
Dependability
4.3
Independence
4.2
Initiative
4.1
Stress Tolerance
4.0
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.0
Self-Control
3.9
Innovation
3.7
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Explore educational programs that can help you become a Word Processors and Typists.
Browse Training Programs →Trade Colleges That Train for Word Processors and Typists
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