Word Processors and Typists salary in the U.S.
Word Processors and Typists in the U.S. earn a median of $49,280 a year ($23.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 35,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,150 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $51,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for word processors and typists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| 25th percentile | $40,800 | $19.62 |
| Median | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| 75th percentile | $57,670 | $27.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,150 | $31.32 |
| Average (mean) | $51,120 | $24.58 |
Half of word processors and typists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,106.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,053.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,895.38 |
| Weekly | $947.69 |
| Hourly | $23.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Word Processors and Typists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $57,550 | 60 |
| California | $56,380 | 10,270 |
| Massachusetts | $53,740 | 350 |
| Oregon | $52,420 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $51,550 | 210 |
| Idaho | $49,930 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $49,750 | 90 |
| New Jersey | $49,520 | 3,560 |
| Connecticut | $49,250 | 170 |
| District of Columbia | $49,180 | 120 |
| Ohio | $48,670 | 310 |
| Wisconsin | $48,540 | 180 |
| New York | $48,400 | 12,340 |
| Michigan | $47,970 | 520 |
| Texas | $47,720 | 290 |
| Maryland | $47,110 | 210 |
| Nebraska | $47,080 | 80 |
| Rhode Island | $47,040 | 120 |
| Alabama | $46,860 | 70 |
| New Mexico | $46,400 | 60 |
| Virginia | $46,130 | 290 |
| Washington | $46,110 | 140 |
| Illinois | $45,490 | 490 |
| Delaware | $45,480 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $43,710 | 40 |
| Iowa | $43,210 | 360 |
| Arkansas | $43,010 | 40 |
| South Carolina | $42,840 | 30 |
| Arizona | $42,070 | n/a |
| Nevada | $41,290 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,000 | 1,170 |
| Hawaii | $40,060 | 270 |
| Indiana | $39,520 | 120 |
| Missouri | $37,440 | 260 |
| West Virginia | $36,060 | 80 |
| Florida | $35,770 | 1,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $32,270 | 1,700 |
| Georgia | $31,450 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for word processors and typists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $79,430 | 840 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $64,280 | 100 |
| Worcester, MA | $59,110 | 90 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $58,450 | 40 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $58,180 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $58,150 | 130 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $57,820 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $57,670 | 6,830 |
| Salinas, CA | $57,590 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $57,320 | 410 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,660 | 110 |
| Vallejo, CA | $55,140 | 40 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $54,430 | 30 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $54,160 | 30 |
| Visalia, CA | $53,790 | 120 |
Metro areas with the most word processors and typists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 8,370 | $52,290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 6,830 | $57,670 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 1,330 | $28,940 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 1,300 | $47,040 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 880 | $49,280 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 840 | $79,430 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 830 | $46,550 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 690 | $47,250 |
| Rochester, NY | 660 | $43,510 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 620 | $47,860 |
| Syracuse, NY | 580 | $46,220 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 410 | $57,320 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 350 | $44,720 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 320 | $49,180 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 270 | $52,370 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Office Clerks, General | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $49,230 | $23.67 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Data Entry Keyer | $41,340 | $19.88 |
| Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service | $39,280 | $18.89 |
| Office Machine Operators, Except Computer | $40,960 | $19.69 |
| Statistical Assistant | $50,330 | $24.20 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $51,120 | $24.58 |
| Desktop Publisher | $55,290 | $26.58 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 | $21.53 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $69,500 | $33.41 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $50,670 | $24.36 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $45,930 | $22.08 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-9022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a word processors and typists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for word processors and typists in the U.S. is $49,280 a year, or $23.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid word processors and typists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of word processors and typists in the U.S. earn at least $65,150 a year. The top 25% earn $57,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for word processors and typists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,810 a year, and a quarter of word processors and typists earn $40,800 or less.
How many word processors and typists work in the U.S.?
About 35,010 word processors and typists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.