Word Processors and Typists: Job Description
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.
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What Do Word Processors and Typists Do?
Typical responsibilities of word processors and typists include:
- 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.
- File and store completed documents on computer hard drive or disk, or maintain a computer filing system to store, retrieve, update, and delete documents.
- Print and make copies of work.
- Transmit work electronically to other locations.
- Address envelopes or prepare envelope labels, using typewriter or computer.
- 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.
- Gather, register, and arrange the material to be typed, following instructions.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful word processors and typists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Account Clerk Typist
- Addresser
- Bordereau Clerk
- Clerk Specialist
- Clerk Typist
- Continuity Clerk
- Court Stenographer
- Data Transcriber
Employment and Demand
There are about 154,359 word processors and typists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +8.5% over the projection horizon.
Word Processors and Typists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $38,983 |
| Hourly median | $18.74 |
| 10th percentile | $28,270 |
| 25th percentile | $33,627 |
| 75th percentile | $44,339 |
| 90th percentile | $49,696 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Word Processors and Typists Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $56,700 |
| Alaska | $53,640 |
| Oregon | $53,090 |
| Kansas | $52,250 |
| Rhode Island | $51,360 |
| California | $51,100 |
| Massachusetts | $51,030 |
| Illinois | $50,420 |
| New Jersey | $50,090 |
| Minnesota | $49,870 |
| Delaware | $48,780 |
| Michigan | $48,530 |
| Arizona | $48,210 |
| North Carolina | $47,960 |
| Alabama | $47,800 |
| District of Columbia | $47,570 |
| Connecticut | $47,520 |
| New York | $47,320 |
| Wisconsin | $47,130 |
| Ohio | $46,640 |
| New Mexico | $45,970 |
| Nebraska | $45,720 |
| Maryland | $44,880 |
| Idaho | $43,510 |
| Arkansas | $43,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,150 |
| Hawaii | $42,920 |
| South Carolina | $42,670 |
| Mississippi | $42,200 |
| Washington | $41,750 |
| Oklahoma | $41,670 |
| Texas | $40,890 |
| Missouri | $40,450 |
| Louisiana | $40,390 |
| Kentucky | $39,560 |
| Nevada | $39,540 |
| Utah | $39,520 |
| Virginia | $39,020 |
| Iowa | $38,320 |
| Georgia | $37,490 |
| Tennessee | $36,190 |
| Florida | $36,070 |
| Indiana | $36,010 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,960 |
| Maine | $33,990 |
| West Virginia | $32,870 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for word processors and typists differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $50,525 | 27.9% | 2.22 |
| New England | $50,205 | 1.8% | 0.64 |
| Rocky Mountains | $48,283 | 0.4% | 0.16 |
| Great Lakes | $47,471 | 4.7% | 0.37 |
| Middle Atlantic | $47,416 | 48.6% | 4.80 |
| Plains States | $42,821 | 2.7% | 0.57 |
| Southwest | $42,284 | 1.6% | 0.15 |
| Southeast | $38,053 | 7.5% | 0.43 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $61,190 | 90 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $58,630 | 50 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | NC | $58,230 | 40 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $57,180 | 30 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $55,830 | 40 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $54,540 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $53,340 | 6,750 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $53,110 | 60 |
Which Industries Hire Word Processors and Typists
The largest employers of word processors and typists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 12,710 | $47,310 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,270 | n/a |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,820 | $51,700 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,480 | $49,480 |
| Finance and Insurance | 590 | $47,160 |
| Information | 500 | $35,350 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 130 | $43,930 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 80 | $40,950 |
Below are examples of industries where word processors and typists work:
Tools and Technology
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Google Workspace software (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)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Oracle PeopleSoft (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for word processors and typists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Spend Time Sitting
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
Typical word processors and typists positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Document Management Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers (Supplemental)
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners (Primary-Short)
- Medical Records Specialists (Supplemental)
- Medical Transcriptionists (Primary-Short)
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (Supplemental)
- Billing and Posting Clerks (Supplemental)
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Future word processors and typists commonly pursue 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
References
This profile draws on 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: 43-9022.00 (Word Processors and Typists).
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