Word Processors and Typists salary in California
Word Processors and Typists in California earn a median of $56,380 a year ($27.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,270 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,720 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $49,280. California ranks 2nd of 37 states for word processors and typists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.56 word processors and typists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $54,840, close to the median.
Pay range for word processors and typists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,760 | $19.60 |
| 25th percentile | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| Median | $56,380 | $27.11 |
| 75th percentile | $57,670 | $27.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,720 | $31.60 |
| Average (mean) | $54,840 | $26.37 |
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 | $4,698.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,349.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,168.46 |
| Weekly | $1,084.23 |
| Hourly | $27.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Word Processors and Typists salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $79,430 | 840 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $64,280 | 100 |
| 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 |
| Vallejo, CA | $55,140 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $53,790 | 120 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $49,280 | 880 |
| Fresno, CA | $49,070 | 70 |
| Modesto, CA | $48,710 | 130 |
| Merced, CA | $48,490 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $48,080 | 180 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $47,060 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for word processors and typists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $57,550 |
| California | $56,380 |
| Massachusetts | $53,740 |
| Oregon | $52,420 |
| Minnesota | $51,550 |
| Idaho | $49,930 |
| Tennessee | $49,750 |
| New Jersey | $49,520 |
| Connecticut | $49,250 |
| District of Columbia | $49,180 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Office Clerks, General | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $56,800 | $27.31 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $54,020 | $25.97 |
| Data Entry Keyer | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service | $44,410 | $21.35 |
| Office Machine Operators, Except Computer | $47,150 | $22.67 |
| Desktop Publisher | $71,930 | $34.58 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $57,490 | $27.64 |
| Statistical Assistant | $82,580 | $39.70 |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,400 | $26.64 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $59,230 | $28.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $77,590 | $37.30 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $54,490 | $26.20 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for word processors and typists in California is $56,380 a year, or $27.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid word processors and typists make in California?
The top 10% of word processors and typists in California earn at least $65,720 a year. The top 25% earn $57,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for word processors and typists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,760 a year, and a quarter of word processors and typists earn $48,710 or less.
How many word processors and typists work in California?
About 10,270 word processors and typists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.