Career comparison
Data Entry Clerk vs. Typist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Typists earn more at the median ($49,280 vs. $41,340), while data entry clerks usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Data entry clerks type information into computer systems quickly and accurately. Typists type and format documents, letters and reports.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Data Entry Clerk | Typist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $41,340 ($19.88/hr) | $49,280 ($23.69/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $31,200 – $58,790 | $36,810 – $65,150 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -25.5% (a projected decline) | -34.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 7,700 | 1,900 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A few weeks on the job | A few weeks on the job |
| Key credential | Typing speed certificate | Microsoft Office Specialist |
| Work setting | Data entry clerks work in offices and often remotely.. | Typists work in offices and sometimes remotely.. |
What each job does
Data Entry Clerk
- Enter data from documents
- Verify accuracy
- Correct errors
- Update records
- Scan documents
Typist
- Type documents
- Format reports
- Proofread
- Transcribe recordings
- Manage templates
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, remote-friendly work, and working independently. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose data entry clerk if…
- I type fast and accurately
- I can focus for long periods
- I like quiet work
Choose typist if…
- I type fast
- I spot typos
- I like formatting
Still torn? Take the Data Entry Clerk fit quiz and the Typist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, data entry clerk or typist?
Typists earn more at the median: $49,280 versus $41,340 for data entry clerks, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Data Entry Clerks typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than typists (A few weeks on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects data entry clerks to grow -25.5% from 2025–35, compared with -34.4% for typists.