SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 43-9022.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $36,810 | $3,068 | $708 | $17.70 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $40,800 | $3,400 | $785 | $19.62 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $49,280 | $4,107 | $948 | $23.69 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $57,670 | $4,806 | $1,109 | $27.73 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $65,150 | $5,429 | $1,253 | $31.32 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Word Processors and Typists is $49,280, which is 3% lower. Among the 54 occupations of the field Office and Administrative Support, it ranks number 25 by median pay. With 35,010 jobs, it makes up about 2.3 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Word Processors and Typists pay by state
The highest median pay was in Colorado ($57,550), California ($56,380) and Massachusetts ($53,740). The lowest was in Georgia ($31,450), Puerto Rico ($32,270) and Florida ($35,770). The most jobs were in New York (12,340), California (10,270) and New Jersey (3,560). The occupation is most concentrated in Puerto Rico, where its share of all jobs is 8.0 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 60 | $57,550 | $55,700 | $27.67 |
| California | 10,270 | $56,380 | $54,840 | $27.11 |
| Massachusetts | 350 | $53,740 | $54,540 | $25.84 |
| Oregon | 40 | $52,420 | $52,580 | $25.20 |
| Minnesota | 210 | $51,550 | $54,260 | $24.78 |
| Idaho | 60 | $49,930 | $48,470 | $24.00 |
| Tennessee | 90 | $49,750 | $48,340 | $23.92 |
| New Jersey | 3,560 | $49,520 | $52,870 | $23.81 |
| Connecticut | 170 | $49,250 | $52,140 | $23.68 |
| District of Columbia | 120 | $49,180 | $53,970 | $23.64 |
| Ohio | 310 | $48,670 | $45,720 | $23.40 |
| Wisconsin | 180 | $48,540 | $48,690 | $23.34 |
| New York | 12,340 | $48,400 | $51,720 | $23.27 |
| Michigan | 520 | $47,970 | $48,740 | $23.06 |
| Texas | 290 | $47,720 | $46,290 | $22.94 |
| Maryland | 210 | $47,110 | $50,340 | $22.65 |
| Nebraska | 80 | $47,080 | $46,910 | $22.64 |
| Rhode Island | 120 | $47,040 | $49,660 | $22.61 |
| Alabama | 70 | $46,860 | $46,260 | $22.53 |
| New Mexico | 60 | $46,400 | $45,720 | $22.31 |
| Virginia | 290 | $46,130 | $46,150 | $22.18 |
| Washington | 140 | $46,110 | $54,520 | $22.17 |
| Illinois | 490 | $45,490 | $51,350 | $21.87 |
| Delaware | 50 | $45,480 | $50,570 | $21.87 |
| Oklahoma | 40 | $43,710 | $44,430 | $21.01 |
| Iowa | 360 | $43,210 | $42,740 | $20.78 |
| Arkansas | 40 | $43,010 | $43,000 | $20.68 |
| South Carolina | 30 | $42,840 | $44,710 | $20.60 |
| Arizona | not published | $42,070 | $48,550 | $20.23 |
| Nevada | 170 | $41,290 | $45,420 | $19.85 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,170 | $41,000 | $43,840 | $19.71 |
| Hawaii | 270 | $40,060 | $44,930 | $19.26 |
| Indiana | 120 | $39,520 | $41,580 | $19.00 |
| Missouri | 260 | $37,440 | $41,790 | $18.00 |
| West Virginia | 80 | $36,060 | $36,500 | $17.34 |
| Florida | 1,000 | $35,770 | $40,710 | $17.20 |
| Puerto Rico | 1,700 | $32,270 | $33,430 | $15.51 |
| Georgia | not published | $31,450 | $35,730 | $15.12 |
| Kentucky | 160 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks$50,080 a year
- Loan Interviewers and Clerks$50,020 a year
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other$49,500 a year
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$49,230 a year
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$48,700 a year
- Billing and Posting Clerks$48,500 a year
Common questions
How much do Word Processors and Typists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $49,280 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,810 and the highest-paid 10% more than $65,150.
How many people work as Word Processors and Typists?
About 35,010 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.