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Careers›Roles›Data Input Clerk
Mid-Level

Data Input Clerk

Keystroke by keystroke, you turn forms, documents, and records into clean digital data, fast and accurate, so the rest of the organization can use it. High-volume keying where every entry has to be right.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
R
I
E
S
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Data Input Clerks
Professional Services · 18%Administrative Services · 18%Healthcare · 11%Wholesale & Distribution · 7%Financial Services · 7%Education · 6%
Job markets for Data Input Clerks
Employment concentration · ~296 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Technology
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Data Input Clerk

The work runs through reading source documents and keying their contents into systems quickly and accurately, often to a quota, mostly at a desk. Speed and accuracy pull against each other, so the rhythm is steady and focused, and a lot of the job is sustained concentration through long, repetitive stretches.

What people underestimate is how mentally tiring sustained, fast accuracy is, and how repetitive the work can feel. The pay tends to run modest, the work is largely solo, and a careless keystroke can create errors that ripple outward. Automation and scanning are shrinking the field, pushing it toward verification work.

It tends to fit someone fast, accurate, and content with quiet, focused routine. If you need variety or social interaction, the repetition and isolation can wear. But if you can hold concentration and take satisfaction in steady, clean work, and want a low-barrier entry, the role tends to suit, batch after batch.

What people in this role value
SupportModerate
RelationshipsLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
IndependenceLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$112K+9%
Professional Services$101K-2%
Energy & Utilities$88K-15%
Wholesale & Distribution$85K-17%
Government$80K-22%
Compared to Technology average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Data Input Clerks (SOC 43-9021.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Technology →
Data Input ClerkData CollectorData TranscriberComputer AideRecords ClerkMail List ProcessorBraille TranscriberPerforator OperatorComputer TypesetterEncoderData KeyerKeypuncherTeletypistVaritypistTeleprinterCard PuncherBraille TypistComputer ClerkEncoding ClerkTeletype ClerkCheck ProcessorBraille OperatorSimplex OperatorKeypunch OperatorPerforator Typist+1 more
Exploring the Data Input Clerk career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$30K–$57K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
135K
U.S. Employment
-25.9%
10yr Growth
10K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$80K$77K$74K$71K$68K201920202021202220232024$68K$80K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningMonitoringWritingTime ManagementSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingCoordinationActive Learning
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
43-9021.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

directorData Operations Director$171KmidData Collector$48KseniorSenior Data Collector$48KmidData Transcriber$42KseniorSenior Data Transcriber$42KmidComputer Aide$41K
View all Technology roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.