What Are My Career Options in Data Entry?
Find out about the types of jobs you could pursue in data entry. Read on to learn more about career options along with job outlook and training information.
What Does a Data Entry Professional Do?
As a data entry professional, your official job title might vary. For example, your title could be data entry keyer, data entry operator or typist. Your job would involve working with a keyboard, analyzing documents like voided checks and bills, inputting data and then verifying the accuracy of the information. You may have to be familiar with how to operate specialized data-entry software programs. Depending on what industry you are working within, you may also need to know specific rules and legal regulations so you can input data properly. You can find out other helpful information about this career in the table below.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Education Required</b></td><td> High school diploma or GED</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Training Required</b> </td><td> On-the-job training</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Key Skills</b></td><td> Hand-eye coordination, reading/writing comprehension, attention to detail, time management</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b></td><td> -1% or lower (<i>for all data entry keyers</i>)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td> $34,440 (<i>for all data entry clerks</i>)**</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Sources: *O-Net OnLine, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreJobsInDataEntry">What Are Jobs in Data Entry?</h3><p>Data entry positions require you to key enter information into a database or computer program. You may pursue one of several related titles, such as data keyer, typist, information processor, data entry clerk or data capture specialist. Data entry employers include schools and universities, hospitals or healthcare service providers, all levels of government, temp agencies, insurance firms, accounting companies and small businesses. If you work for a specific industry, such as law or medicine, a knowledge of standard terminology can be beneficial.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatJobDutiesMightIHave">What Job Duties Might I Have?</h3><p>The main job duty that you can expect to handle when working in a data entry position is keying in information as provided by your employer and finding errors as you go along. The actual information varies based on the type of industry you are in. Other administrative tasks can be added as part of your duties, such as using office equipment, filing paperwork or answering the telephone.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatTrainingAndSkillsDoINeed">What Training and Skills Do I Need?</h3><p>Many companies hire data entry professionals without any specific training and later teach candidates the necessary skills. To obtain a position, you may need to be adept at touch-typing, ten key, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Some companies may require that you are able to type at a certain speed before they consider you for a position. You can find online tutorials to help you learn or improve your skills. Some community colleges do offer certificate programs or continuing education classes in data entry that can provide basic office skills, such as using office equipment and relevant computer applications.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatSalaryCouldIExpectToEarn">What Salary Could I Expect to Earn?</h3><p><i>PayScale.com</i> lists that a data entry clerk in the 10th-90th percentile earned $24,000 to $51,000, which includes any potential tips, bonuses, overtime and profit sharing, as of December 2021. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that as of May 2020, the 10th-90th percentile of all word processors and typists earned from $28,650 and $59,240.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3><p>You may be interested in pursuing a career as an office clerk, which also requires a high school diploma. As an office clerk, you will perform a variety of tasks and duties, depending on what type of office you work in. You may be in charge of keeping files organized, keeping track of documents, bookkeeping, answering phones, and typing. If you work in an office that hosts patients and customers, you will need good customer service skills. It is also possible that you will need to be able to use various software programs. You may also be interested in a job as a timekeeping or payroll clerk, which also requires a high school diploma. Timekeeping and payroll clerks are in charge of keeping track of when employees work, how long they work, and how much money they earn.</p>