Word Processors and Typists
Word Processors and Typists (SOC 43-9022) earn a median $49,280 a year ($23.69 an hour) in the United States, with 35,010 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Colorado.
What word processors and typists do
Word processors and typists use a word processor, computer, or typewriter to type letters, reports, forms, and other material from rough drafts, corrected copy, or voice recordings. They gather, register, and arrange the material to be typed according to instructions, then type correspondence, reports, and text from drafts, dictation, or previous versions. Completed work is checked for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format, printed and copied, and transmitted electronically to other locations. They save finished documents on a computer, or run a computer filing system in which documents are stored, found, updated, and deleted. Some address envelopes or prepare envelope labels. Other clerical duties may be assigned, such as answering the telephone, sorting and distributing mail, running errands, or sending faxes. The occupation excludes court reporters and simultaneous captioners, medical transcriptionists, secretaries and administrative assistants, and data entry keyers, each of which has its own code. Clerk typist, document processor, and dictaphone typist are alternate titles.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Addresser, Bordereau Clerk, Clerk Specialist, Clerk Typist, Continuity Clerk.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.70 | $19.62 | $23.69 | $27.73 | $31.32 | $24.58 | 35,010 |
| Annual | $36,810 | $40,800 | $49,280 | $57,670 | $65,150 | $51,120 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where word processors and typists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $18.15 | $19.91 | $27.67 | $30.59 | $33.39 | $26.78 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| Annual | $37,760 | $41,410 | $57,550 | $63,630 | $69,450 | $55,700 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $19.60 | $23.42 | $27.11 | $27.73 | $31.60 | $26.37 | 10,270 | 0.56 | 2.51 |
| Annual | $40,760 | $48,710 | $56,380 | $57,670 | $65,720 | $54,840 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $20.00 | $23.68 | $25.84 | $28.42 | $30.67 | $26.22 | 350 | 0.10 | 0.42 |
| Annual | $41,600 | $49,260 | $53,740 | $59,110 | $63,790 | $54,540 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $20.11 | $21.58 | $25.20 | $29.33 | $30.14 | $25.28 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| Annual | $41,820 | $44,890 | $52,420 | $61,010 | $62,700 | $52,580 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $22.81 | $24.78 | $24.78 | $29.26 | $29.26 | $26.09 | 210 | 0.07 | 0.32 |
| Annual | $47,440 | $51,550 | $51,550 | $60,860 | $60,860 | $54,260 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.80 | $20.28 | $23.27 | $28.27 | $32.97 | $24.87 | 12,340 | 1.27 | 5.66 |
| Annual | $37,020 | $42,180 | $48,400 | $58,790 | $68,580 | $51,720 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $19.60 | $23.42 | $27.11 | $27.73 | $31.60 | $26.37 | 10,270 | 0.56 | 2.51 |
| Annual | $40,760 | $48,710 | $56,380 | $57,670 | $65,720 | $54,840 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $18.48 | $19.79 | $23.81 | $29.29 | $33.97 | $25.42 | 3,560 | 0.83 | 3.69 |
| Annual | $38,430 | $41,170 | $49,520 | $60,920 | $70,650 | $52,870 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $14.61 | $17.86 | $19.71 | $23.77 | $28.88 | $21.08 | 1,170 | 0.19 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $30,400 | $37,150 | $41,000 | $49,440 | $60,060 | $43,840 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.23 | $13.98 | $17.20 | $21.90 | $29.58 | $19.57 | 1,000 | 0.10 | 0.45 |
| Annual | $27,520 | $29,070 | $35,770 | $45,560 | $61,520 | $40,710 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $20.21 | $28.21 | $38.19 | $39.66 | $40.97 | $33.61 | 840 | 0.35 | 1.57 |
| Annual | $42,030 | $58,690 | $79,430 | $82,490 | $85,220 | $69,920 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $25.24 | $27.77 | $30.90 | $38.24 | $39.76 | $33.20 | 100 | 0.09 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $52,500 | $57,760 | $64,280 | $79,540 | $82,710 | $69,060 | ||||
| Worcester, MA | Hourly | $23.43 | $25.46 | $28.42 | $28.42 | $28.42 | $26.91 | 90 | 0.26 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $48,730 | $52,960 | $59,110 | $59,110 | $59,110 | $55,980 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $17.75 | $21.13 | $28.10 | $31.74 | $47.20 | $28.18 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.10 |
| Annual | $36,920 | $43,950 | $58,450 | $66,020 | $98,180 | $58,610 | ||||
| Ann Arbor, MI | Hourly | $23.65 | $23.65 | $27.97 | $29.01 | $29.01 | $26.77 | 30 | 0.14 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $49,200 | $49,200 | $58,180 | $60,340 | $60,340 | $55,680 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.57 | $22.58 | $25.14 | $30.54 | $37.38 | $27.09 | 8,370 | 0.88 | 3.92 |
| Annual | $38,630 | $46,970 | $52,290 | $63,520 | $77,760 | $56,350 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $19.60 | $23.69 | $27.73 | $27.73 | $27.73 | $25.60 | 6,830 | 1.09 | 4.83 |
| Annual | $40,760 | $49,280 | $57,670 | $57,670 | $57,670 | $53,250 | ||||
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | Hourly | $10.99 | $11.63 | $13.91 | $19.89 | $21.47 | $15.54 | 1,330 | 1.92 | 8.52 |
| Annual | $22,850 | $24,180 | $28,940 | $41,360 | $44,660 | $32,320 | ||||
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | Hourly | $17.48 | $19.72 | $22.62 | $24.47 | $28.47 | $22.77 | 1,300 | 2.43 | 10.79 |
| Annual | $36,360 | $41,020 | $47,040 | $50,900 | $59,220 | $47,360 | ||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | $20.25 | $23.32 | $23.69 | $27.64 | $29.28 | $25.05 | 880 | 0.51 | 2.28 |
| Annual | $42,130 | $48,510 | $49,280 | $57,490 | $60,890 | $52,090 | ||||
Top industries employing word processors and typists
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 36.0% of word processors and typists nationally (12,620 jobs) at a median $50,900 a year ($24.47 an hour), followed by Elementary and Secondary Schools (32.2%) and State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (6.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 12,620 | 36.0% | $50,900 | $24.47 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 11,280 | 32.2% | $48,790 | $23.46 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 2,230 | 6.4% | $43,240 | $20.79 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 1,160 | 3.3% | $51,170 | $24.60 |
| Business Support Services NAICS 561400 | 1,100 | 3.1% | $38,980 | $18.74 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (35,010). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $44,030 for word processors and typists in May 2021 and $49,280 in May 2025, with employment of 41,930 and 35,010.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $44,030 | $21.17 | 41,930 |
| May 2022 | $44,330 | $21.31 | 41,990 |
| May 2023 | $46,450 | $22.33 | 37,200 |
| May 2024 | $47,850 | $23.01 | 36,030 |
| May 2025 | $49,280 | $23.69 | 35,010 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
38 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado profile | $27.67 | $57,550 | $37,760 | $69,450 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| 2 | California profile | $27.11 | $56,380 | $40,760 | $65,720 | 10,270 | 0.56 | 2.51 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $25.84 | $53,740 | $41,600 | $63,790 | 350 | 0.10 | 0.42 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $25.20 | $52,420 | $41,820 | $62,700 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| 5 | Minnesota profile | $24.78 | $51,550 | $47,440 | $60,860 | 210 | 0.07 | 0.32 |
| 6 | Idaho profile | $24.00 | $49,930 | $36,820 | $58,560 | 60 | 0.07 | 0.31 |
| 7 | Tennessee profile | $23.92 | $49,750 | $26,040 | $57,880 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| 8 | New Jersey profile | $23.81 | $49,520 | $38,430 | $70,650 | 3,560 | 0.83 | 3.69 |
| 9 | Connecticut profile | $23.68 | $49,250 | $38,430 | $74,000 | 170 | 0.10 | 0.46 |
| 10 | District of Columbia profile | $23.64 | $49,180 | $41,060 | $70,390 | 120 | 0.17 | 0.77 |
| 11 | Ohio profile | $23.40 | $48,670 | $23,040 | $59,390 | 310 | 0.06 | 0.25 |
| 12 | Wisconsin profile | $23.34 | $48,540 | $38,080 | $63,200 | 180 | 0.06 | 0.27 |
| 13 | New York profile | $23.27 | $48,400 | $37,020 | $68,580 | 12,340 | 1.27 | 5.66 |
| 14 | Michigan profile | $23.06 | $47,970 | $36,940 | $59,470 | 520 | 0.12 | 0.53 |
| 15 | Texas profile | $22.94 | $47,720 | $25,400 | $62,370 | 290 | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| 16 | Maryland profile | $22.65 | $47,110 | $40,250 | $65,000 | 210 | 0.08 | 0.34 |
| 17 | Nebraska profile | $22.64 | $47,080 | $40,190 | $58,550 | 80 | 0.08 | 0.36 |
| 18 | Rhode Island profile | $22.61 | $47,040 | $37,310 | $60,070 | 120 | 0.23 | 1.03 |
| 19 | Alabama profile | $22.53 | $46,860 | $30,780 | $65,880 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.14 |
| 20 | New Mexico profile | $22.31 | $46,400 | $37,140 | $52,420 | 60 | 0.07 | 0.32 |
| 21 | Virginia profile | $22.18 | $46,130 | $31,420 | $59,970 | 290 | 0.07 | 0.31 |
| 22 | Washington profile | $22.17 | $46,110 | $40,850 | $81,750 | 140 | 0.04 | 0.18 |
| 23 | Illinois profile | $21.87 | $45,490 | $37,910 | $72,850 | 490 | 0.08 | 0.36 |
| 24 | Delaware profile | $21.87 | $45,480 | $39,120 | $83,230 | 50 | 0.10 | 0.45 |
| 25 | Oklahoma profile | $21.01 | $43,710 | $37,270 | $52,420 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.11 |
| 26 | Iowa profile | $20.78 | $43,210 | $32,130 | $54,900 | 360 | 0.23 | 1.03 |
| 27 | Arkansas profile | $20.68 | $43,010 | $35,990 | $49,730 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| 28 | South Carolina profile | $20.60 | $42,840 | $35,320 | $58,430 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.06 |
| 29 | Arizona profile | $20.23 | $42,070 | $34,350 | $73,250 | ** | ** | ** |
| 30 | Nevada profile | $19.85 | $41,290 | $40,700 | $52,930 | 170 | 0.11 | 0.50 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania profile | $19.71 | $41,000 | $30,400 | $60,060 | 1,170 | 0.19 | 0.85 |
| 32 | Hawaii profile | $19.26 | $40,060 | $40,060 | $54,970 | 270 | 0.44 | 1.93 |
| 33 | Indiana profile | $19.00 | $39,520 | $30,880 | $56,410 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.16 |
| 34 | Missouri profile | $18.00 | $37,440 | $35,030 | $55,690 | 260 | 0.09 | 0.39 |
| 35 | West Virginia profile | $17.34 | $36,060 | $31,460 | $41,500 | 80 | 0.12 | 0.52 |
| 36 | Florida profile | $17.20 | $35,770 | $27,520 | $61,520 | 1,000 | 0.10 | 0.45 |
| 37 | Georgia profile | $15.12 | $31,450 | $29,280 | $46,700 | ** | ** | ** |
| – | Kentucky profile | * | * | * | * | 160 | 0.08 | 0.35 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (43-9020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Office and Administrative Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 43-9022 Word Processors and Typists.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 43-9022, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-9022.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.