# Data Entry Keyers

> Operate data entry device, such as keyboard or photo composing perforator. Duties may include verifying data and preparing materials for printing.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/data-entry-keyers
- SOC code: 43-9021.00
- Career family: Office and administrative support
- Median annual pay: $41,340 (10th percentile $31,200, 90th percentile $58,790)
- Projected growth: Decline, -25.5%
- Openings a year: 7,700
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 34 |
| Investigative (I) | 22 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 3 |
| Enterprising (E) | 11 |
| Conventional (C) | 100 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 93/100)
- Processing Information (importance 88/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 85/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 82/100)
- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 80/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 78/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 78/100)
- Performing Administrative Activities (importance 73/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 71/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Monitoring, Time Management, Writing, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Active Learning, Coordination

## Knowledge

English Language, Administrative, Customer and Personal Service, Law and Government, Public Safety and Security, Mathematics, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Education and Training, Economics and Accounting

## Also called

Adjusto-Writer Operator, Automatic Operator, Braille Operator, Braille Transcriber, Braille Typist, Card Puncher, Card Punching Machine Operator, Check Processor, Claims Support Specialist, Cold Type Composing Machine Operator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Operations Support and Assistant Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5204) (CIP 5204, 758 colleges)
- [Graphic Communications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1003) (CIP 1003, 390 colleges)
- [Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1106) (CIP 1106, 120 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Bellevue University-Nebraska](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bellevue-university-nebraska-206) | Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | $67,452 | $83,581 | $19,499 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | Graphic Communications | $52,902 | $79,432 | $17,000 |
| [Loyola Marymount University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loyola-marymount-university-1550) | Graphic Communications | not reported | $76,522 | not reported |
| [Ringling College of Art and Design](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ringling-college-of-art-and-design-2233) | Graphic Communications | $47,561 | $75,213 | $27,000 |
| [Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-provo-byu-utah-302) | Graphic Communications | $36,018 | $73,941 | not reported |
| [University of Minnesota-Duluth](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-minnesota-duluth-2960) | Graphic Communications | $45,291 | $61,062 | $23,250 |
| [Valdosta State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/valdosta-state-university-3105) | Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | $42,670 | $60,715 | $25,991 |
| [University of Wisconsin-Stout](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-stout-3091) | Graphic Communications | $42,668 | $59,621 | $22,639 |

## Related careers

- [File Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/file-clerks): $43,600 median pay
- [Word Processors and Typists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/word-processors-and-typists): $49,280 median pay
- [Office Machine Operators, Except Computer](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/office-machine-operators-except-computer): $40,960 median pay
- [Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mail-clerks-and-mail-machine-operators-except-postal-service): $39,280 median pay
- [Office Clerks, General](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/office-clerks-general): $45,010 median pay
- [Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/postal-service-mail-sorters-processors-and-processing-machine-operators): $58,470 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.