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Legal Services
Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, LegalZoom
Word Processors and Typists
Word processors and typists turn rough information into clean, usable documents by formatting pages, checking text, and making sure numbers and details are accurate. The work stands out for its mix of speed and precision: you have to move quickly, but even small errors in spelling, spacing, or totals can mean rework. It is straightforward to enter the field, but the job is under pressure from automation and a shrinking number of openings.
Also known as Word Processing SpecialistWord ProcessorTypistDocument Processing ClerkAdministrative Typist
Median Salary
$47,850
Mean $49,730
U.S. Workforce
~36K
2.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-36.1%
40K to 25.6K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Word Processors and Typists sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~36K workers, with a median annual pay of $47,850 and roughly 2.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 40 K in 2024 to 25.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Office Clerk and can progress toward Administrative Support Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Microsoft Word, Google Docs & Word Processing Software, Typing Speed, Keyboard Shortcuts & 10-Key Entry, and Adobe Acrobat, PDF Editing & Document Formatting, paired with soft skills such as Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and Writing.
Core Responsibilities
- Set up documents so the spacing, page layout, and formatting match the required style.
- Read through finished work to catch spelling, grammar, punctuation, and layout mistakes.
- Type, combine, and update text and numbers from different sources into one finished document.
- Check totals and figures on reports, forms, and bills to make sure they add up correctly.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Set up documents so the spacing, page layout, and formatting match the required style.
02 Read through finished work to catch spelling, grammar, punctuation, and layout mistakes.
03 Type, combine, and update text and numbers from different sources into one finished document.
04 Check totals and figures on reports, forms, and bills to make sure they add up correctly.
05 Save, organize, and retrieve files on office computers and document storage systems.
06 Handle basic office support tasks like answering phones, sorting mail, and keeping printers supplied.
Industries That Hire
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Healthcare
Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Cleveland Clinic
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Government
Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, State of California
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Education
University of California, Arizona State University, New York University
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Insurance
State Farm, Allstate, Progressive
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Business Services
Robert Half, ManpowerGroup, Kelly Services
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can get started without a degree; the usual entry point is a high school diploma or equivalent plus short-term training.
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The work is concrete and easy to understand: format documents, check errors, and keep records organized.
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The salary is modest but steady, with a median annual wage of $47,850 and mean pay of $49,730.
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The job builds office skills that transfer to other administrative roles in nearly any industry.
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Some employers offer hybrid or remote setups because most of the work happens on a computer.
Challenges
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The occupation is projected to shrink from 40.0 thousand jobs in 2024 to 25.6 thousand by 2034, a drop of 36.1%.
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There are only about 2.2 thousand annual openings, so competition for the remaining jobs can be tight.
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Pay is not especially high for the level of responsibility, especially when compared with other office roles that use similar software.
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The work can be repetitive and exacting, with a lot of time spent correcting formatting, spelling, and small errors.
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The role has a structural ceiling: document templates, speech-to-text, OCR, and automated office systems can handle more of the work over time, which limits long-term growth.
Career Progression
Office Clerk
0-2 years
$30K-$38K
You handle basic filing, data entry, phone calls, and document prep while learning office procedures and software.
Word Processor and Typist
1-4 years
$42K-$55K
You format documents, proofread text, and verify details and totals for reports, forms, and correspondence.
Senior Word Processing Specialist THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$55K-$68K
You take on more complex documents, tighter deadlines, and higher-stakes proofreading for departments that need clean, accurate records.
Administrative Support Supervisor
8+ years
$68K-$82K
You coordinate clerical workflows, assign document work, and make sure office support tasks are completed on time.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 49.61% of workers in this role.
Some college coursework
A very common route, used by 45.45% of workers, often paired with office software or clerical classes.
Associate's degree in office administration or business support
A smaller path, held by 2.98% of workers, and often useful for moving into broader clerical work.
Short-term certificate in office software and administrative support
A practical alternative for learning word processing, spreadsheets, and document handling quickly; this path is not directly reflected in the distribution.
Key Skills
Technical
Microsoft Word, Google Docs & Word Processing Software 88%
Typing Speed, Keyboard Shortcuts & 10-Key Entry 84%
Adobe Acrobat, PDF Editing & Document Formatting 76%
Microsoft Excel & Basic Spreadsheet Calculations 70%
Document Management Systems, SharePoint & Cloud File Storage 66%
Soft Skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingMonitoringSpeakingTime Management Job Outlook and Trends
+-36.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
2.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 40K to 25.6 K over the next decade, representing -36.1% growth. Around 2.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.