Typing speed for jobs in the United States
Typing is one of the most commonly tested skills in US hiring for office work. Staffing agencies and HR teams usually ask candidates to copy a passage for one to five minutes and look at net WPM (speed after errors) and accuracy. These are typical targets you'll see in job postings:
| Role | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Receptionist / front desk | 35–45 WPM |
| Administrative assistant | 40–50 WPM |
| Customer service (chat & email) | 40–50 WPM |
| Executive assistant | 55–65 WPM |
| Legal secretary / paralegal | 60–75 WPM |
| Medical transcriptionist | 65–80 WPM |
| Data entry clerk | 8,000–12,000 KPH |
Federal clerk-typist positions have traditionally required 40 WPM. Court reporters are a special case: they use stenotype machines, not standard keyboards, and train for speeds above 200 words per minute.
Keyboarding in US schools
Many American schools introduce keyboarding in elementary grades, and online state tests are taken on computers, so typing fluency directly affects how much students can write in the time allowed. Short daily practice with our touch typing lessons and typing games builds that fluency without boring drills.
Get job-ready
- Take this test three times and note your typical score.
- Practise the format you'll face: a 5-minute test, the job typing test or the 10-key test.
- Add a free typing certificate to your résumé or portfolio.