Data Entry Keyers: Career Profile
Operate data entry device, such as keyboard or photo composing perforator. Duties may include verifying data and preparing materials for printing.
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What Do Data Entry Keyers Perform?
The core tasks performed by data entry keyers span:
- Locate and correct data entry errors, or report them to supervisors.
- Compile, sort, and verify the accuracy of data before it is entered.
- Compare data with source documents, or re-enter data in verification format to detect errors.
- Store completed documents in appropriate locations.
- Select materials needed to complete work assignments.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective data entry keyers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjusto-Writer Operator
- Automatic Operator
- Braille Operator
- Braille Transcriber
- Braille Typist
- Card Puncher
- Card Punching Machine Operator
- Check Processor
How Many Data Entry Keyers Are There?
There are about 380,112 data entry keyers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +10.1% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Data Entry Keyers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $33,881 |
| Hourly median | $16.29 |
| 10th percentile | $21,982 |
| 25th percentile | $27,931 |
| 75th percentile | $39,831 |
| 90th percentile | $45,780 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $51,860 |
| Massachusetts | $46,930 |
| Rhode Island | $46,290 |
| Connecticut | $46,020 |
| California | $45,680 |
| Oregon | $45,650 |
| Colorado | $45,560 |
| New Mexico | $44,960 |
| Washington | $44,710 |
| Maine | $43,720 |
| New Jersey | $43,480 |
| New York | $42,990 |
| Arizona | $42,800 |
| Vermont | $42,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,400 |
| Alaska | $42,050 |
| New Hampshire | $41,940 |
| Minnesota | $41,640 |
| Utah | $41,600 |
| Iowa | $41,090 |
| Wyoming | $41,020 |
| Ohio | $39,810 |
| Indiana | $39,800 |
| Georgia | $39,800 |
| Montana | $39,750 |
| Tennessee | $39,670 |
| Illinois | $39,450 |
| Wisconsin | $38,740 |
| North Carolina | $38,580 |
| Michigan | $38,570 |
| South Dakota | $38,140 |
| Virginia | $38,130 |
| Florida | $38,100 |
| Nevada | $37,980 |
| Kansas | $37,710 |
| Delaware | $37,190 |
| Texas | $37,180 |
| Maryland | $36,940 |
| Louisiana | $36,630 |
| Missouri | $36,620 |
| South Carolina | $36,590 |
| Idaho | $36,400 |
| Kentucky | $36,400 |
| Nebraska | $36,330 |
| West Virginia | $35,700 |
| Oklahoma | $35,510 |
| Virgin Islands | $35,060 |
| Arkansas | $34,840 |
| Alabama | $33,670 |
| Mississippi | $33,530 |
| Guam | $27,620 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,270 |
Where Data Entry Keyers Earn the Most
Compensation for data entry keyers shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $45,367 | 3.1% | 0.74 |
| Far Western US | $44,671 | 12.9% | 0.82 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,392 | 4.0% | 1.15 |
| Middle Atlantic | $42,322 | 18.7% | 1.27 |
| Great Lakes | $39,372 | 14.8% | 1.08 |
| Plains States | $38,026 | 4.7% | 0.80 |
| Southwest | $38,004 | 18.7% | 1.55 |
| Southeast | $37,778 | 21.2% | 0.90 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $53,060 | 1,600 |
| Albuquerque, NM | NM | $51,780 | 260 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | SC | $50,580 | 60 |
| Bloomington, IN | IN | $50,170 | 220 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $49,500 | 150 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $49,390 | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $49,090 | 40 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $48,620 | 1,200 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of data entry keyers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 24,290 | $39,120 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 23,730 | $37,330 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 14,770 | $40,840 |
| Finance and Insurance | 8,820 | $40,420 |
| Wholesale Trade | 8,760 | $41,600 |
| Educational Services | 7,760 | $39,440 |
| Manufacturing | 6,770 | $41,600 |
| Information | 6,280 | $37,510 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Data Entry Keyers Use
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for data entry keyers reflects the following characteristics:
- Spend Time Sitting
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Education and Training
Entry-level data entry keyers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Document Management Specialists (Supplemental)
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers (Supplemental)
- Medical Records Specialists (Supplemental)
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (Supplemental)
- Billing and Posting Clerks (Primary-Long)
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (Supplemental)
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring data entry keyers often complete programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-9021.00 (Data Entry Keyers).
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