Mid-Level

Data Keyer

Data Keyers enter, verify, and correct data into systems that organizations depend on — forms, transactions, surveys, scanned documents — moving information from paper or unstructured input into structured records. The work tends to be steady, accuracy-focused, and quietly central to operations that need clean data.

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
Job markets for Data Keyers
Employment concentration · ~296 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Data Keyer

Most days mix data entry, verification, and quality work — keying records from forms, scanned documents, or recordings into databases or operational systems, performing double-entry verification, correcting flagged errors, and supporting workflow throughput. You're often working in healthcare, insurance, government, finance, or specialty data-processing organizations, and the volume and accuracy targets shape daily work.

What tends to be harder than people expect is the sustained accuracy pressure and physical demands. Repetitive motion strain, eye fatigue from screen work, and accuracy quotas are real, and error rates above thresholds can affect performance reviews. The role is shifting: automation has reduced volume in many sectors, with growth in specialized accuracy work (medical claims, regulated forms, OCR verification).

People who tend to thrive here are detail-oriented, comfortable with repetition, accurate under sustained pace, and quietly proud of clean records. If you want career velocity in tech, this is a different kind of work. If you like steady, focused work with clear quality metrics and a foothold into broader administrative or specialty data roles, the position offers durable employment in many sectors.

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.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Data Keyers (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.
Exploring the Data Keyer 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 ListeningMonitoringTime ManagementWritingCritical ThinkingSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingCoordinationActive Learning
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-9021.00

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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.