Is Your Typing Speed Good? 30-80+ WPM Guide
Typing speed exists on a spectrum. Whether you're at 37, 41, 47, 53, or 57 WPM, you fall into established categories that employers and exams recognize. This comprehensive guide explains what your typing speed means for jobs, productivity, and career advancement.
Quick Answer: Where Does Your Speed Rank?
30-39 WPM: Beginner/below average – good start, needs work for professional roles
40-49 WPM: Average – meets entry-level office/government job minimums
50-59 WPM: Above Average – competitive for most office, admin, and basic data entry
60-69 WPM: Fast – professional level, top 20-25% of typists
70-79 WPM: Very Fast – premium transcription/data entry
80+ WPM: Elite – top 5%, specialized high-speed roles
Complete Typing Speed Benchmarks (30-80+ WPM)
| WPM Range | Percentile | Classification | Job Suitability | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-39 WPM | Bottom 40% | Below Average | Casual use only | 37, 39 WPM |
| 40-49 WPM | 40-60% | Average | Entry-level office | 41, 47 WPM |
| 50-59 WPM | 60-80% | Above Average | Most office jobs | 50, 53, 57 WPM |
| 60-69 WPM | 80-90% | Fast | Professional data entry | 60, 63, 67 WPM |
| 70-79 WPM | 90-95% | Very Fast | Premium transcription | 72, 75 WPM |
| 80+ WPM | Top 5% | Elite | Specialized roles | 82, 90 WPM |
Global Context
Average typing speed: 38-42 WPM (92% accuracy)
Office worker average: 45 WPM
Professional typist: 60+ WPM
Top 1%: 100+ WPM
Government Exams & Job Requirements
Common Typing Test Standards (Worldwide)
| Test/Job Type | Typical Min WPM | Accuracy | Safe Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Clerical | 35-40 WPM | 95%+ | 45 WPM |
| Admin Assistant | 40-50 WPM | 95%+ | 50 WPM |
| Data Entry | 50-60 WPM | 97%+ | 60 WPM |
| Professional | 60-70 WPM | 98%+ | 70 WPM |
Pro Tip
Add 5-7 WPM buffer for test-day pressure. If a job requires 40 WPM, aim for 47 WPM in practice.
Private Sector Job Requirements
- 40 WPM: Minimum for basic office clerk, receptionist
- 50 WPM: Standard for admin assistant, customer support
- 60 WPM: Required for data entry, executive assistant, content writing
- 70+ WPM: Premium transcription, medical/legal typing
Career Opportunities by Typing Speed
| Job Category | 40 WPM | 50 WPM | 60 WPM | 70+ WPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative | ✓ Entry-level | ✓ Most roles | ✓ Executive level | ✓ Premium roles |
| Data Entry | ❌ Not competitive | ✓ Entry-level | ✓ Professional | ✓ High-volume |
| Transcription | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✓ Entry-level | ✓ Medical/Legal |
| Content Writing | ✓ Slow | ✓ Good | ✓ Fast | ✓ Very fast |
Real Productivity Impact (Time Savings)
Daily Typing Time Comparison (3 hours typing/day)
| Speed | 500-word email | 2000-word report | Daily savings vs 40 WPM | Annual savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 WPM | 12½ min | 50 min | — | — |
| 47 WPM | 10½ min | 42 min | 20 min/day | 85 hours/year |
| 50 WPM | 10 min | 40 min | 30 min/day | 125 hours/year |
| 57 WPM | 8¾ min | 35 min | 45 min/day | 185 hours/year |
| 60 WPM | 81/3 min | 331/3 min | 1½ hours/day | 375 hours/year |
Key Insight
Going from 47 WPM to 57 WPM saves ~20% typing time. Over a career, that's thousands of hours of productivity.
Detailed Improvement Plans
Phase 1: 30-40 WPM → 50 WPM (6-8 Weeks)
- Weeks 1-2: Perfect accuracy (95%+) on home row keys
- Weeks 3-4: Master common bigrams (th, he, in, er, an)
- Weeks 5-6: Practice full paragraphs, 30 min/day
- Weeks 7-8: Timed tests aiming 48-50 WPM consistently
Phase 2: 50 WPM → 60 WPM (8-12 Weeks)
Critical Focus: Weak finger combinations cause 80% of plateaus
- Drill: qu, tion, ough, stra, ild (20 min/day)
- Practice technical content (legal, medical, code)
- Eye training: Read 2-3 words ahead while typing
- Target: 58 WPM with 97% accuracy
Phase 3: 60+ WPM → Professional (3-6 Months)
- Read 3-4 words ahead (anticipation training)
- "Rolling" technique: Next finger moves before current key bottoms out
- Practice under fatigue (end of long sessions)
- Specialized content matching your career (medical/legal/programming)
Common Mistakes By Speed Level
| Current Speed | Typical Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 30-39 WPM | Hunt-and-peck typing | Learn touch typing, cover keyboard |
| 40-49 WPM | Looking at keyboard | Blind typing drills, 15 min/day |
| 50-59 WPM | Weak ring/pinky fingers | Finger-specific exercises |
| 60+ WPM | Inconsistent rhythm | Metronome practice (120 BPM) |
Role-Specific Typing Speed Targets
For Students
40 WPM is acceptable, but 50–60 WPM makes note-taking, essay writing, and assignments much easier. At 60 WPM, you can complete a 2000-word essay in ~35 minutes of pure typing.
For Writers & Bloggers
Around 50 WPM is comfortable; 60+ WPM lets you capture ideas quickly and write long pieces more efficiently. Many professional writers type 70-90 WPM.
For Programmers & Developers
50 WPM is more than enough because thinking and problem-solving matter more than raw typing speed. Most programmers type 40-60 WPM.
For Data Entry Professionals
Below 50 WPM (e.g., 41, 47 WPM): Not yet competitive. 50–60 WPM: Entry-level to competitive. 60–70 WPM: Strong professional level. 70–80+ WPM: Opens premium roles.
Accuracy Matters More Than Speed
| Raw Speed | Accuracy | Effective Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 60 WPM | 100% | 60 WPM |
| 60 WPM | 98% | 58 WPM |
| 60 WPM | 95% | 57 WPM |
| 60 WPM | 90% | 54 WPM |
| 60 WPM | 85% | 51 WPM |
Key Takeaway
50 WPM at 98% accuracy is better than 60 WPM at 85% accuracy. Always maintain 95%+ accuracy while building speed.
Conclusion
Your typing speed directly impacts your career opportunities and daily productivity. At 40 WPM, you meet minimum professional standards. At 50 WPM, you're above average and competitive for most office jobs. At 60 WPM, you're in the top 20-25% and qualify for professional data entry, transcription, and executive roles.
Even "odd" speeds like 37, 41, 47, 53, or 57 WPM fit clearly into these categories. With focused practice over 2-3 months, you can realistically improve by 10-15 WPM, which will:
- Qualify you for a wider range of office jobs
- Significantly improve your daily productivity
- Make you competitive for specialized roles
- Save 100+ hours per year in typing time
Take the Next Step
Practice 30-45 minutes daily on TypingTestGo, track your progress weekly, and aim to reach your next milestone in 4-8 weeks. Consistency beats intensity.