In an office, data-conversion operation, or specialty data-entry function, you type or key data into systems — entering source documents, transcribing records, processing forms, and the keyboard-intensive work that data-conversion projects depend on.
Most days run on a steady cadence of keyboarding work — source documents to enter, forms to process, transcription from various source formats. The clerk works at a dedicated keying station, often with productivity metrics that track keystrokes per hour and accuracy rates. Keying volume and accuracy rates are the operating measures.
The reality is that dedicated keyboarding work has narrowed substantially as OCR, voice-to-text, and automated data capture have reduced the need for manual data entry. The role persists in specific contexts: legacy systems requiring manual data entry, specialized transcription work, data-conversion projects that include handwriting or non-standard source materials, and some government or insurance operations that still rely on manual keying for specific functions.
It fits people who are fast and accurate typists, patient with repetitive work, and comfortable with productivity metrics. Typing certifications, data-entry credentials, and industry-specific training anchor advancement. The trade-off is the contracting employment field as automated capture replaces manual keying across most industries and the modest pay typical of data-entry positions in remaining contexts.
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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.
Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths
View all Admin & Office roles →In an office, data-conversion operation, or specialty data-entry function, you type or key data into systems — entering source documents, transcribing records, processing forms, and the keyboard-intensive work that data-conversion projects depend on.
Median pay for a Keyboarding Clerk is about $41K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $30K to $61K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Monitoring, and Writing.
Most people in this role hold a postsecondary certificate.
Employment in this field is projected to decline about 15.9% through 2034, with roughly 78,980 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Technical Records Specialist, Index Clerk, and Clerk.
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