Office and administrative support
Word processors and typists
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.
Median pay
$49,280
Growth to 2035
−34%
declining
Openings a year
1,900
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Word processors and typists
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Exposure to disease
Word processors and typists: 25% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Clerk Specialist · Clerk Typist · Keyboard Specialist · Stenographer · Typist · Word Processing Operator · Word Processing Specialist · Word Processor
Outlook and AI
Word processors and typists held 40,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 26,500 by 2035 (−34%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Occupational substitution, capital/labor substitution - share decreases as other workers assume the functions of typists due to the ubiquity of typing skills and traditional typing methods continue to be replaced by automated processes through use of machine learning (ML) technologies.
Compare with
- Word processors and typists vs. Data entry keyer
- Word processors and typists vs. File clerk
- Word processors and typists vs. Medical transcriptionist
- Word processors and typists vs. Office clerks, general
- Word processors and typists vs. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Word processors and typists vs. Proofreaders and copy markers
- Word processors and typists vs. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
- Word processors and typists vs. Office machine operators, except computer
- Word processors and typists vs. Computer occupations, all other
- Word processors and typists vs. Receptionists and information clerks