Occupations · Office and Administrative Support
Data Entry Keyers
Operate data entry device, such as keyboard or photo composing perforator. Duties may include verifying data and preparing materials for printing.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 43-9021.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 76% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $44,610 | 11,000 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,470 | 6,070 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $37,440 | 5,620 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $39,580 | 5,310 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $40,990 | 4,870 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $44,180 | 2,980 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $40,250 | 2,780 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $39,440 | 2,600 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $38,000 | 2,170 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $43,370 | 1,990 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $46,180 | 1,780 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $40,560 | 1,730 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- Locate and correct data entry errors, or report them to supervisors.
- Compile, sort, and verify the accuracy of data before it is entered.
- Compare data with source documents, or re-enter data in verification format to detect errors.
- Read source documents such as canceled checks, sales reports, or bills, and enter data in specific data fields or onto tapes or disks for subsequent entry, using keyboards or scanners.
- Store completed documents in appropriate locations.
- Select materials needed to complete work assignments.
- Maintain logs of activities and completed work.
- Load machines with required input or output media, such as paper, cards, disks, tape, or Braille media.
- Resolve garbled or indecipherable messages, using cryptographic procedures and equipment.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2018-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2018-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 2 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 14
No longer listed 4
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| data entry clerk | 4132.1 | exact |
| typist | 4131.1 | close |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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