What is the average typing speed?

The average typing speed for adults is 40–50 WPM (words per minute) with around 92% accuracy. People who type regularly for work tend to average 55–65 WPM. This is based on data from typing tests across millions of users on major typing platforms.

What is a good typing speed for office work?

For most office roles, 55–65 WPM with 95%+ accuracy is considered proficient. Administrative assistants and data entry clerks are often required to demonstrate at least 40–60 WPM. Positions requiring heavy transcription or fast documentation may require 70–80 WPM.

How fast do most students type?

High school students average 35–45 WPM. College students, who type more frequently for assignments and notes, tend to average 45–60 WPM. Students who have taken formal keyboarding classes often reach 60–80 WPM.

Is 70 WPM a good typing speed?

Yes. 70 WPM is above average and qualifies for the vast majority of office jobs. At 70 WPM with 97% accuracy, you are a genuinely efficient typist. Most professional typists (writers, developers, assistants) fall in the 65–85 WPM range.

What is the fastest typing speed ever recorded?

The Guinness World Record for fastest typing is held by Barbara Blackburn, who reached a peak speed of 212 WPM on a Dvorak keyboard. For QWERTY keyboards, competitive typists regularly exceed 150–180 WPM in competition settings.

Average Typing Speed: WPM Benchmarks by Age, Job & Skill Level

Reading time: approximately 7 minutes

The average typing speed for an adult is 40–50 words per minute (WPM). That is the number most studies and large-scale typing test datasets converge on for people who type regularly but have never received formal training. However, "average" hides a wide range — a teenager playing games types very differently from an accountant who processes invoices all day, and both type very differently from a competitive typist.

This guide breaks down typing speed benchmarks by age group, profession, and skill level so you can understand exactly where your score stands — and what it would take to move up.

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Average typing speed by skill level

The most useful frame for understanding WPM is not age or job title — it is skill tier. These tiers reflect real-world capability:

1–30 WPM

Beginner

Hunt-and-peck typing, looking at the keyboard constantly. Typical for people who rarely type or are just starting touch typing lessons.

31–50 WPM

Below average

Some keyboard familiarity but no systematic training. Common among older adults or infrequent computer users.

51–70 WPM

Average to proficient

The broad middle range. Meets the minimum for almost all typing-adjacent job requirements.

71–90 WPM

Above average

Skilled typists. Writers, developers, customer support professionals. Ideas reach the screen with minimal friction.

91–120 WPM

Advanced

Dedicated practice or years of high-volume typing. Top-tier professional performance.

120+ WPM

Expert / competitive

The top few percent. Competitive typists, speed typists, and a rare subset of professionals.

Average typing speed by age

Age affects typing speed primarily through exposure and training, not physical capability. Younger people today have grown up with keyboards and smartphones, which gives them a head start — but older adults who type for work often surpass younger casual users.

Age Group	Average WPM	Notes
Under 13	15–30	Still developing motor skills
13–17	35–45	Heavy phone use helps rhythm
18–24	45–55	College-age, frequent typers
25–35	45–60	Peak work-typing exposure
36–50	40–55	Wide variance by career type
51–65	35–50	Often trained typists from earlier era
65+	25–40	Speed decreases, accuracy often stays high

Average typing speed by profession

Job requirements vary enormously. Here are typical ranges for common roles:

Profession	Typical WPM	Minimum Required
Data Entry Clerk	60–80	40–50 WPM
Administrative Assistant	55–75	40–60 WPM
Customer Support Agent	50–70	40–45 WPM
Software Developer	55–85	No formal minimum
Journalist / Writer	65–95	No formal minimum
Legal Secretary	70–90	65–80 WPM
Medical Transcriptionist	70–100	65–75 WPM

How to improve your typing speed

Most people improve significantly within 2–4 weeks of deliberate daily practice. The key principles:

Get your baseline with a 60 second typing test.
Focus on accuracy first. Speed follows naturally once muscle memory is clean.
Practice daily for 10–15 minutes rather than occasional long sessions.
Use multiple test modes — timed, word count, quotes, and code each train different skills.
Track your progress on the Stats page to stay motivated.

Read the full guide on how to improve typing speed for a complete step-by-step plan.

Frequently asked questions

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