Typing Speed Requirements by Job and Country
Typing requirements are set by each employer, but they cluster: government clerical standards sit around 40 WPM (the US federal test is 40 WPM over 5 minutes with 3 or fewer errors), admin roles ask 40–60 WPM, secretaries and chat agents 50–70, transcription 65–80+, and numeric data entry 8,000–12,000 keystrokes per hour.
By Abhishek · Reviewed by The Ai-TypingTest Editorial Team · Last reviewed
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40 WPM · 5 min · Copy
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Search, filter by country or format, and sort by speed. Every row links to a practice test preset to that format. Download the table as CSV (CC BY 4.0 — please credit and link).
| Duration | Errors | Basis | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal clerk / office automation (USAJOBS) | United States | 40 WPM | 5 min | ≤ 3 | Copy | Official / published |
| Federal secretary (OA), GS-0318 | United States | 40 WPM | 5 min | ≤ 3 | Copy | Official / published |
| California state Office Assistant (Typing)Certificate valid 4 years | United States | 40 WPM | 5 min, proctored | Net WPM | Copy | Official / published |
| State / county clerk-typist | United States | 35–45 WPM | Usually 5 min | Net WPM | Copy | Typical range |
| 911 dispatcher / call-takerOften with CritiCall | United States | 35–45 WPM | 1–5 min | Accuracy floor | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| 10-key / numeric data entry | United States | 8,000–12,000 KPH | 2–5 min | Net KPH | 10-key | Typical range |
| Data entry clerk | United States | 40–45 WPM | 3–5 min | Field accuracy | Copy + data entry | Typical range |
| Administrative assistant | United States | 40–60 WPM | 3–5 min | ~95% accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Executive assistant | United States | 55–65 WPM | 3–5 min | ~95% accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Receptionist | United States | 35–45 WPM | 1–5 min | Net WPM | Copy | Typical range |
| Live chat / remote support agent | United States | 50–70 WPM | 1–3 min | ~95% accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Virtual assistant | United States | 45–60 WPM | 1–5 min | High accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| General transcriptionist | United States | 65–80 WPM | Audio file | 98%+ accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
| Healthcare admin / medical office | United States | 45–60 WPM | 1–5 min | 90%+ accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Legal assistant / secretary | United States | 50–70 WPM | 3–5 min | 95–98% accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Paralegal | United States | 45–60 WPM | 3–5 min | High accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Court reporter (stenotype, NCRA RPR)Stenotype, not QWERTY | United States | 180–225 WPM | 3 × 5 min | 95% accuracy | Audio | Official / published |
| Staffing agency office placement (Prove It-style) | United States | 35–50 WPM | 1–5 min | Net WPM | Copy | Typical range |
| Administrator / clerical | United Kingdom | 40–60 WPM | 5–10 min | ~95% accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Medical secretary (NHS / private) | United Kingdom | 50–60 WPM | Dictated letter | High accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
| NHS admin / ward clerk | United Kingdom | 35–50 WPM | Varies | High accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Legal secretary | United Kingdom | 50–70 WPM | Dictation + copy | Very high accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Police / 999 call handlerSet by each force | United Kingdom | 25–35 WPM | Short | Accuracy on details | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Civil Service AO/EO (where tested)Most roles don't test typing | United Kingdom | 40–50 WPM | ~5 min | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Audio typist / transcriptionist | United Kingdom | 50–70 WPM | Audio file | High accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
| Data entry clerk | United Kingdom | 8,000–12,000 KPH | 3–5 min | Field accuracy | Data entry | Typical range |
| PA / executive assistant | United Kingdom | 55–65 WPM | 5–10 min | High accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Receptionist | United Kingdom | 30–45 WPM | Short | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Clerical (Canadian 5-minute test)Errors allowed rise with speed | Canada | 40 WPM | 5 min | Per-minute table | Copy | Official / published |
| 911 call-taker / emergency communicator | Canada | 35–45 WPM | Short | Accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Bilingual admin (EN/FR) | Canada | 35–45 WPM | 3–5 min each | Accents count | Copy | Typical range |
| Office administrator | Canada | 40–55 WPM | 5 min | Per-minute table | Copy | Typical range |
| Data entry / 10-key | Canada | 8,000–12,000 KPH | 3–5 min | Accuracy | Data entry | Typical range |
| Receptionist | Canada | 35–45 WPM | 5 min | Per-minute table | Copy | Typical range |
| Medical secretary / unit clerk | Canada | 45–60 WPM | Varies | High accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Legal assistant | Canada | 50–65 WPM | 5 min | High accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Court / tribunal transcription officer | Australia | 70 WPM | Varies | Very high accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
| APS admin (where tested) | Australia | 40–60 WPM | 3–5 min | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Administration officer | Australia | 40–60 WPM | 3–5 min | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Medical receptionist / secretary | Australia | 45–60 WPM | Varies | High accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Data entry operator | Australia | 8,000–12,000 KPH | 3–5 min | Accuracy | Data entry | Typical range |
| Receptionist | Australia | 35–45 WPM | Short | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Legal secretary | Australia | 50–65 WPM | Dictation + copy | Very high accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Triple Zero (000) call-taker | Australia | 30–40 WPM | Short | Accuracy on details | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Administrator / office support | New Zealand | 40–55 WPM | Short | Accuracy | Copy + data entry | Typical range |
| Medical secretary / typist | New Zealand | 50–60 WPM | Dictation | High accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
| 111 emergency call-taker | New Zealand | 30–40 WPM | Short | Accuracy on details | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Receptionist | New Zealand | 35–45 WPM | Short | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Data entry operator | New Zealand | 8,000–12,000 KPH | 3–5 min | Accuracy | Data entry | Typical range |
| Legal secretary | New Zealand | 50–65 WPM | Dictation + copy | Very high accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Personal assistant / team support | New Zealand | 50–60 WPM | Short | High accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Transcriptionist | New Zealand | 60–75 WPM | Audio file | 98%+ accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
| Clerical Officer (public service)Most competitions use online aptitude tests | Ireland | 35–50 WPM | Where tested | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Medical secretary (HSE / private) | Ireland | 50–60 WPM | Dictation | High accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
| Legal secretary | Ireland | 50–65 WPM | Dictation + copy | Very high accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Office administrator (private sector) | Ireland | 40–50 WPM | 5 min | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Receptionist | Ireland | 35–45 WPM | Short | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Data entry operator | Ireland | 8,000–12,000 KPH | 3–5 min | Accuracy | Data entry | Typical range |
| 999/112 emergency call-taker | Ireland | 30–40 WPM | Short | Accuracy on details | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Transcriptionist / audio typist | Ireland | 55–70 WPM | Audio file | High accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
How to read the table
- Speed is net words per minute unless shown in KPH (keystrokes per hour; 1 WPM = 300 KPH).
- Official / published rows quote a source we opened and checked; the link goes to it.
- Typical range rows summarise common job-posting language. They are a guide, not a rule.
- Format: copy (type a passage), audio (type from a recording), data entry (fill a form) or 10-key (numeric keypad).
By country
- United States typing tests — In the US, typing tests are set by the employer or agency, not nationally.
- United Kingdom typing tests — UK employers use two kinds of typing test: copy typing (typing a passage, usually for 5 or 10 minutes) and audio typing (typing from dictation).
- Canada typing tests — Many Canadian employers use a 5-minute onscreen typing test that allows more errors per minute as speed rises — 1 per minute at 29–44 WPM, 2 at 45–54 and 3 at 55–72.
- Australia typing tests — Australian employers set their own typing tests.
- New Zealand typing tests — New Zealand has no national typing test; employers and recruitment agencies set their own.
- Ireland typing tests — Ireland has no national typing standard.
Not sure what your number means?
Take a 5-minute test for a stable baseline, check your percentile, or use the requirement checker to compare your best score with a job. Scoring is explained on the methodology page.
Sources
- Clerk (Office Automation), GS-0303 — 40 WPM, five-minute sample — USAJOBS (checked October 18, 2026)
- Secretary (Office Automation), GS-0318 — qualified typist requirement — USAJOBS (checked October 18, 2026)
- Typing certification — CalHR requirements — CalCareers (CalHR) (checked October 18, 2026)
- 10-key typing (decimals and operators) test — TestGorilla (checked October 18, 2026)
- Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) — skills test speeds — National Court Reporters Association (checked October 18, 2026)
- NHS Jobs — search admin and medical secretary adverts — NHS Jobs (checked October 18, 2026)
- Civil Service Jobs — Administrative Officer and Executive Officer adverts — GOV.UK (checked October 18, 2026)
- Canadian Typing — General (5 minutes, onscreen): errors per minute by speed — SHL / IBM Kenexa catalogue (checked October 18, 2026)
- APSJobs — Australian Public Service vacancies — Australian Public Service Commission (checked October 18, 2026)
- NZ Government Jobs — Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission (checked October 18, 2026)
- publicjobs.ie — Clerical Officer competitions — Public Appointments Service (Ireland) (checked October 18, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Most office jobs that state a requirement ask for 35–50 WPM with 95%+ accuracy. Government clerical standards cluster at 40 WPM; secretarial and transcription roles ask 50–80+.
40 WPM on a 5-minute sample with 3 or fewer errors, for USAJOBS postings that require a qualified typist.
Rows marked “Official / published” quote a source we checked and link to it. “Typical range” rows reflect common posting language — always confirm in the job advert.
Almost always net WPM, which deducts errors. Quote net WPM on a CV or résumé.
Yes — a CSV of every row is at /typing-requirements.csv. Please credit Ai-TypingTest.com and link back.
Quarterly, and whenever a reader reports a change. The review date is shown at the top.