Data Entry Keyers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Data Entry Keyers fall under the Office and Administrative Support category in the U.S. occupational classification. Data Entry Keyers earn a median salary of $41,340 per year, ranking in the top 86% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -25.5% job growth through 2035, projected to lose jobs through 2035. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do data entry keyers earn?

The median annual wage for data entry keyers is $41,340. That puts data entry keyers at #714 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is data entry keyers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for data entry keyers is -25.5%, projected to lose jobs through 2035. Employment is projected to move from approximately 131K positions in 2024 to 98K in 2034, a net change of <1K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What education does my child need to become data entry keyer?

Many data entry keyers enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Office Machine Operators, Except Computer
  $40,960 median
• Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service
  $39,280 median
• Couriers and Messengers
  $39,200 median
• Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
  $38,630 median
• Receptionists and Information Clerks
  $38,010 median
• Gambling Cage Workers
  $37,580 median

Common questions parents ask about data entry keyers