Typing Speed Requirements for Jobs: What Employers Actually Want

By TypeForge · June 2025 · 6 min read

Typing speed requirements are one of the most concrete, measurable hiring criteria out there — and failing a typing test is one of the most avoidable reasons to lose a job opportunity. Here's exactly what different careers require, and how to make sure you're ready.

WPM Requirements by Job Type

Job Role	Minimum WPM	Ideal WPM	Difficulty
General office / admin	45	60–70	Achievable
Data entry clerk	60	75–90	Moderate
Customer service / live chat	65	75–85	Moderate
Medical transcriptionist	70	80–100	Moderate
Legal secretary	70	80–90	Moderate
Executive assistant	70	80–100	Moderate
Court reporter (steno)	225	260+	Specialist
Captioner / CART provider	180	200+	Specialist

💡 Most office jobs that list "typing required" are looking for 55–70 WPM with 95%+ accuracy. If you're at 60 WPM with clean accuracy, you qualify for the vast majority of keyboard-heavy roles.

Accuracy Matters as Much as Speed

Most employers test both WPM and accuracy simultaneously. A score of 80 WPM with 90% accuracy is often worth less than 65 WPM with 99% accuracy — especially in data entry and medical/legal roles where errors have real consequences.

The standard benchmark most employers use: minimum 95% accuracy at whatever WPM they require.

What Happens During a Job Typing Test

Most employment typing tests are 3–5 minutes long and involve copying a passage of text. You'll be scored on net WPM (gross WPM minus error penalty) and accuracy percentage. Some tests are administered through platforms like Criteria Corp, Kenexa, or ProveIt.

Read the instructions carefully — some tests penalize backspacing
Warm up for 5 minutes before the real test
Type at a pace you can sustain — don't sprint and crash
Focus on accuracy first; speed follows

How to Prepare in 2 Weeks

Take a baseline test on TypeForge today
Identify your gap — how far are you from the job's requirement?
Practice 20 minutes daily, focusing on the test duration (3 or 5 min)
Run at least one full-length practice test every day in the final week
Test the day before to confirm your score — then rest

Don't Let a Typing Test Be the Reason You Don't Get the Job

Unlike interviews, typing speed is entirely within your control. Two weeks of focused practice is enough to close most gaps. Start now, not the night before.

Check Your WPM Now →