43 Series · SOC 43-9022
Word Processors and Typists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $49,280
- Median / year
- $65,150
- Top 10% earn
- -36.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 35,010
- US workers
Word Processors and Typists earn a median of $49,280 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $49,280, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $36,810 (10th percentile) to $65,150 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 35,010 US workers. Colorado pays the most ($57,550), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Word Processors and Typists earn a median of $49,280, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 31% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Office and Administrative Support, it ranks #25 of 54 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 36.1% by 2033.
- $49,280
- Median annual wage
- Top 69%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #25 of 54
- in Office and Administrative Support
- 1.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Colorado at $57,550. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Word Processors and Typists (SOC 43-9022) pays a national median of $49,280 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $36,810 at the 10th percentile to $65,150 at the 90th, with a mean of $51,120 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 35,010 Americans work in this occupation across 38 reporting states and 92 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -36.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Colorado pays the highest state median at $57,550, which is +17% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $79,430 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$49,280
per year
Median Hourly
$23.69/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$51,120
average
Employment
35,010
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Word Processors and Typists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$49,280 Bottom 31% higher than 31% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 43-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Word Processors and Typists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Word Processors and Typists sits on the slower-growing side at -36.1% growth and $49,280 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-36.1%
Declining
Annual Openings
2,200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.5/100K
Injury Rate
1/100
Danger Index
4.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Word Processors and Typists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Perform other clerical duties, such as answering telephone, sorting and distributing mail, running errands or sending faxes.
- ▸ Check completed work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format.
- ▸ File and store completed documents on computer hard drive or disk, or maintain a computer filing system to store, retrieve, update, and delete documents.
- ▸ Print and make copies of work.
- ▸ Transmit work electronically to other locations.
- ▸ Address envelopes or prepare envelope labels, using typewriter or computer.
- ▸ Type correspondence, reports, text and other written material from rough drafts, corrected copies, voice recordings, dictation, or previous versions, using a computer, word processor, or typewriter.
- ▸ Gather, register, and arrange the material to be typed, following instructions.
- ▸ Compute and verify totals on report forms, requisitions, or bills, using adding machine or calculator.
- ▸ Manage schedules and set dates, times, and locations for meetings and appointments.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$36,810
25th Percentile
$40,800
Median
$49,280
75th Percentile
$57,670
90th Percentile
$65,150
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 38 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $57,550 | +17% above national |
| 2 | California | $56,380 | +14% above national |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $53,740 | +9% above national |
| 4 | Oregon | $52,420 | +6% above national |
| 5 | Minnesota | $51,550 | +5% above national |
| 6 | Idaho | $49,930 | +1% above national |
| 7 | Tennessee | $49,750 | +1% above national |
| 8 | New Jersey | $49,520 | same as national |
| 9 | Connecticut | $49,250 | same as national |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $49,180 | same as national |
| 11 | Ohio | $48,670 | 1% below national |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $48,540 | 2% below national |
| 13 | New York | $48,400 | 2% below national |
| 14 | Michigan | $47,970 | 3% below national |
| 15 | Texas | $47,720 | 3% below national |
| 16 | Maryland | $47,110 | 4% below national |
| 17 | Nebraska | $47,080 | 4% below national |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $47,040 | 5% below national |
| 19 | Alabama | $46,860 | 5% below national |
| 20 | New Mexico | $46,400 | 6% below national |
| 21 | Virginia | $46,130 | 6% below national |
| 22 | Washington | $46,110 | 6% below national |
| 23 | Illinois | $45,490 | 8% below national |
| 24 | Delaware | $45,480 | 8% below national |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $43,710 | 11% below national |
| 26 | Iowa | $43,210 | 12% below national |
| 27 | Arkansas | $43,010 | 13% below national |
| 28 | South Carolina | $42,840 | 13% below national |
| 29 | Arizona | $42,070 | 15% below national |
| 30 | Nevada | $41,290 | 16% below national |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $41,000 | 17% below national |
| 32 | Hawaii | $40,060 | 19% below national |
| 33 | Indiana | $39,520 | 20% below national |
| 34 | Missouri | $37,440 | 24% below national |
| 35 | West Virginia | $36,060 | 27% below national |
| 36 | Florida | $35,770 | 27% below national |
| 37 | Puerto Rico | $32,270 | 35% below national |
| 38 | Georgia | $31,450 | 36% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 92 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $79,430 | +61% above national |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $64,280 | +30% above national |
| 3 | Worcester, MA | $59,110 | +20% above national |
| 4 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $58,450 | +19% above national |
| 5 | Ann Arbor, MI | $58,180 | +18% above national |
| 6 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $58,150 | +18% above national |
| 7 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $57,820 | +17% above national |
| 8 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $57,670 | +17% above national |
| 9 | Salinas, CA | $57,590 | +17% above national |
| 10 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $57,320 | +16% above national |
| 11 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,660 | +13% above national |
| 12 | Vallejo, CA | $55,140 | +12% above national |
| 13 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $54,430 | +10% above national |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $54,160 | +10% above national |
| 15 | Visalia, CA | $53,790 | +9% above national |
| 16 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $53,740 | +9% above national |
| 17 | Madison, WI | $53,710 | +9% above national |
| 18 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $52,370 | +6% above national |
| 19 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $52,290 | +6% above national |
| 20 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $52,000 | +6% above national |
| 21 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $51,750 | +5% above national |
| 22 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $51,670 | +5% above national |
| 23 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $51,550 | +5% above national |
| 24 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,470 | +2% above national |
| 25 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $49,950 | +1% above national |
| 26 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $49,280 | same as national |
| 27 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $49,180 | same as national |
| 28 | Fresno, CA | $49,070 | same as national |
| 29 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $48,910 | 1% below national |
| 30 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $48,720 | 1% below national |
| 31 | Modesto, CA | $48,710 | 1% below national |
| 32 | Merced, CA | $48,490 | 2% below national |
| 33 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $48,310 | 2% below national |
| 34 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $48,080 | 2% below national |
| 35 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $48,070 | 2% below national |
| 36 | Kingston, NY | $47,920 | 3% below national |
| 37 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $47,860 | 3% below national |
| 38 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $47,740 | 3% below national |
| 39 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $47,250 | 4% below national |
| 40 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $47,110 | 4% below national |
| 41 | Omaha, NE-IA | $47,080 | 4% below national |
| 42 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $47,060 | 5% below national |
| 43 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $47,040 | 5% below national |
| 44 | Ithaca, NY | $46,810 | 5% below national |
| 45 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $46,550 | 6% below national |
| 46 | Reading, PA | $46,540 | 6% below national |
| 47 | Richmond, VA | $46,320 | 6% below national |
| 48 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $46,300 | 6% below national |
| 49 | Syracuse, NY | $46,220 | 6% below national |
| 50 | Cleveland, OH | $45,850 | 7% below national |
| 51 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $45,810 | 7% below national |
| 52 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $45,650 | 7% below national |
| 53 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $45,100 | 8% below national |
| 54 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $45,000 | 9% below national |
| 55 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $44,920 | 9% below national |
| 56 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $44,720 | 9% below national |
| 57 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $44,450 | 10% below national |
| 58 | Rochester, NY | $43,510 | 12% below national |
| 59 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $43,510 | 12% below national |
| 60 | Vineland, NJ | $43,120 | 12% below national |
| 61 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $42,890 | 13% below national |
| 62 | Green Bay, WI | $42,770 | 13% below national |
| 63 | Utica-Rome, NY | $42,620 | 14% below national |
| 64 | Arecibo, PR | $42,180 | 14% below national |
| 65 | Ponce, PR | $41,390 | 16% below national |
| 66 | Aguadilla, PR | $41,320 | 16% below national |
| 67 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $41,140 | 17% below national |
| 68 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $40,740 | 17% below national |
| 69 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $40,630 | 18% below national |
| 70 | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,550 | 18% below national |
| 71 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $40,060 | 19% below national |
| 72 | Mayaguez, PR | $39,580 | 20% below national |
| 73 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $39,520 | 20% below national |
| 74 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $39,500 | 20% below national |
| 75 | Elmira, NY | $39,200 | 20% below national |
| 76 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $39,150 | 21% below national |
| 77 | Binghamton, NY | $39,080 | 21% below national |
| 78 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $39,050 | 21% below national |
| 79 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $37,710 | 23% below national |
| 80 | Glens Falls, NY | $37,650 | 24% below national |
| 81 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $37,580 | 24% below national |
| 82 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $37,440 | 24% below national |
| 83 | Jacksonville, FL | $37,430 | 24% below national |
| 84 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $37,060 | 25% below national |
| 85 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $36,610 | 26% below national |
| 86 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $35,770 | 27% below national |
| 87 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $35,170 | 29% below national |
| 88 | Jefferson City, MO | $35,030 | 29% below national |
| 89 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $32,850 | 33% below national |
| 90 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $31,450 | 36% below national |
| 91 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $28,940 | 41% below national |
| 92 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $27,430 | 44% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 43 (office and administrative support) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Word Processors and Typists make? ▼
What state pays Word Processors and Typists the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Word Processors and Typists? ▼
How dangerous is being a Word Processors and Typists? ▼
Is Word Processors and Typists a good career? ▼
How does Word Processors and Typists pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Word Processors and Typists pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $57,670/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Colorado leads at $57,550/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.