Word Processors and Typists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Word Processors and Typists fall under the Office and Administrative Support category in the U.S. occupational classification. Word Processors and Typists earn a median salary of $47,850 per year, ranking in the top 69% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -36.1% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. 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 word processors and typists earn?

The median annual wage for word processors and typists is $47,850. That puts word processors and typists at #557 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 word processors and typists a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for word processors and typists is -36.1%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 40K positions in 2024 to 25K in 2034, a net change of -15K. 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 do word processors and typists do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working word processors and typists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Address envelopes or prepare envelope labels, using typewriter or computer.
2. 2.Compute and verify totals on report forms, requisitions, or bills, using adding machine or calculator.
3. 3.Reformat documents, moving paragraphs or columns.
4. 4.Operate and resupply printers and computers, changing print wheels or fluid cartridges, adding paper, and loading blank tapes, cards, or disks into equipment.
5. 5.Perform other clerical duties, such as answering telephone, sorting and distributing mail, running errands or sending faxes.
6. 6.File and store completed documents on computer hard drive or disk, or maintain a computer filing system to store, retrieve, update, and delete documents.
7. 7.Print and make copies of work.
8. 8.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.

Top skills for word processors and typists

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become word processors and typist?

Many word processors and typists 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

• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
  $74,260 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
  $66,140 median
• Brokerage Clerks
  $62,940 median
• Postal Service Clerks
  $61,630 median
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
  $57,770 median
• Postal Service Mail Carriers
  $57,490 median

Common questions parents ask about word processors and typists