Hiring guide · Business & Office
How to Hire a Typist
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring typists, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $49,280), recruit through community college business programs and career centers, verify Microsoft Office Specialist where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for typists
There are about 40,400 typists employed in the U.S., with roughly 1,900 openings each year. Employment is projected to change -34.4% from 2025–35 (a projected decline). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $36,810–$40,800 | $17.70–$19.62 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,670 | $27.73 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $65,150 | $31.32 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- High school diploma or equivalent (typical entry level)
- Fast typing
- Accuracy
Nice-to-haves
- Microsoft Office Specialist
- Typing speed certificate
- Transcription certificate
- Experience with microsoft Word
Where to find typists
- Community college business programs and career centers
- Professional associations (such as SHRM, PMI and state CPA societies)
- LinkedIn and niche job boards
- Internal promotion from front-line roles
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Word Processor, Transcription Typist, Document Specialist, Clerk Typist
Screening checklist
- A skills assessment (Excel, writing or role software)
- Credential verification (CPA, PMP, SHRM-CP, paralegal certificate)
- Reference checks focused on reliability and accuracy
- A structured interview with a short work sample
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “What’s your typing speed?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
2. “How do you proofread?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
3. “How strong are your Word skills?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
4. “Have you transcribed?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
5. “How do you stay accurate?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Format a Long Report with Styles (see the steps)
- Proofread a Document Thoroughly (see the steps)
- Run a Mail Merge (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Word processing, Formatting, Styles
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Typist 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Typist training. Show them the path forward: Typist → Document Specialist → Administrative Assistant → Office Manager.
Hiring typists: FAQ
How much should I pay a typist?
The U.S. median wage for typists is $49,280 per year ($23.69/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($40,800), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($57,670). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a typist have?
BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Microsoft Office Specialist and Typing speed certificate where relevant, plus skills such as fast typing, word processing, and document formatting.
How long does it take to train a new typist?
Becoming qualified typically takes A few weeks on the job. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “short-term on-the-job training.”