Jobs Similar to Word Processors and Typists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to word processors and typists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are File Clerks, Office Clerks and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.
Word Processors and Typists: $49,280 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Word Processors and Typists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | File Clerks | 84% | $43,600−12% | High school |
| 2 | Office Clerks, GeneralSame group | 82% | $45,010−9% | High school |
| 3 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 82% | $47,540−4% | High school |
| 4 | Data Entry KeyersSame group | 81% | $41,340−16% | High school |
| 5 | Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 81% | $55,570+13% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Correspondence Clerks | 80% | $46,800−5% | High school |
| 7 | Billing and Posting Clerks | 80% | $48,500−2% | High school |
| 8 | Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | 80% | $38,630−22% | High school |
| 9 | Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksSame group | 80% | $49,2300% | High school |
| 10 | Court, Municipal, and License Clerks | 79% | $48,700−1% | High school |
| 11 | Medical Records Specialists | 79% | $51,140+4% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 78% | $50,670+3% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks | 78% | $58,260+18% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Receptionists and Information Clerks | 78% | $38,010−23% | High school |
| 15 | Tax Preparers | 78% | $54,920+11% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Compliance Officers | 77% | $80,730+64% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | 77% | $50,610+3% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | 77% | $76,590+55% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | 77% | $58,650+19% | High school |
| 20 | Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | 77% | $62,370+27% | Training or associate |
- 1File Clerks
84% similar · $43,600 (−12%) · High school
- 2Office Clerks, General
82% similar · $45,010 (−9%) · High school · Same group
- 3Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
82% similar · $47,540 (−4%) · High school
- 4Data Entry Keyers
81% similar · $41,340 (−16%) · High school · Same group
- 5Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
81% similar · $55,570 (+13%) · Training or associate
- 6Correspondence Clerks
80% similar · $46,800 (−5%) · High school
- 7Billing and Posting Clerks
80% similar · $48,500 (−2%) · High school
- 8Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
80% similar · $38,630 (−22%) · High school
- 9Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
80% similar · $49,230 (0%) · High school · Same group
- 10Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
79% similar · $48,700 (−1%) · High school
- 11Medical Records Specialists
79% similar · $51,140 (+4%) · Training or associate
- 12Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
78% similar · $50,670 (+3%) · Training or associate
- 13Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
78% similar · $58,260 (+18%) · Training or associate
- 14Receptionists and Information Clerks
78% similar · $38,010 (−23%) · High school
- 15Tax Preparers
78% similar · $54,920 (+11%) · Training or associate
- 16Compliance Officers
77% similar · $80,730 (+64%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
77% similar · $50,610 (+3%) · Training or associate
- 18Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
77% similar · $76,590 (+55%) · Training or associate
- 19Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
77% similar · $58,650 (+19%) · High school
- 20Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
77% similar · $62,370 (+27%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than word processors and typists.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for word processors and typists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where word processors and typists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- File Clerks (94)
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (84)
- Medical Transcriptionists (82)
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (82)
- Billing and Posting Clerks (80)
- Correspondence Clerks (80)
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks (79)
- Receptionists and Information Clerks (78)
- Telephone Operators (78)
- Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (77)
Questions about jobs like word processors and typists
What jobs are most similar to word processors and typists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are File Clerks (84% similar), Office Clerks (82% similar), Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (82% similar), Data Entry Keyers (81% similar) and Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (81% similar).
Which jobs like word processors and typists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Compliance Officers ($80,730, +64%; usually a bachelor's degree), Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants ($76,590, +55%; usually training or an associate degree) and Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents ($62,370, +27%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with word processors and typists ($49,280). Without more preparation than word processors and typists usually need: Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.