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. Excludes “Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners” (27-3092), “Medical Transcriptionists” (31-9094), “Secretaries and Administrative Assistants” (43-6010), and “Data Entry Keyers” (43-9021).
National median · BLS
$49,280
▲ +2.99%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$51,120
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
35,010
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Word Processors and Typists
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$36,810
25th
$40,800
Median (50th)
$49,280
75th
$57,670
90th — top pay
$65,150
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Word Processors and Typists
BLS projects employment of word processors and typists to decline 34.4% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 1,900 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
40,400 → 26,500
-13,900 jobs
Projected change
-34.4%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,900
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
10.9% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What word processors and typists do
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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Word Processors and Typists, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $49,280.
