How much does a typist make?
a year · about $24 an hour
A typical typist in the United States makes $49,280 a year, about $24 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A typist may turn rough drafts, dictation, or recordings into clean letters and reports on a computer. They proofread spelling and layout, save or send the files, and may also sort mail or answer phones.
Did you know? Some U.S. typists turn voice recordings or dictation into documents, then check spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $36,810 and $65,150How do you become one?
Typists in the United States generally need a high school diploma or equivalent; clerical training or related office experience can help. Practicing accurate typing, formatting, and proofreading can prepare you for office and clerical jobs.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like keeping things organized and building and doing
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, typists with more experience or useful, in-demand skills may earn more. Pay can also differ by employer and industry, the difficulty of the work, location, and hours worked.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Colorado ($57,550), lowest in Georgia ($31,450).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,810 | $49,280 | $65,150 | about 35,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $57,550 | about 60 |
| California | $56,380 | about 10,000 |
| Massachusetts | $53,740 | about 350 |
| Oregon | $52,420 | about 40 |
| Minnesota | $51,550 | about 210 |
Official definition: 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).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-9022.00
- www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/occupation-profile.aspx?keywor
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY