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Salary comparison

Word Processors and Typists vs. Office Clerks, General: Who Earns More?

Word Processors and Typists out-earn Office Clerks, General by $4K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Word Processors and Typists land at $49,280 and Office Clerks, General at $45,010. The education gap is real: word processors and typist programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while office clerks, general programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Word Processors and Typists is Colorado ($57,550); for Office Clerks, General it's District of Columbia ($55,040).

Word Processors and Typists
Office Clerks, General
Median salary
$49,280
$45,010
Hourly rate
$23.69/hr
$21.64/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$36,810
$30,310
Senior level (90th %)
$65,150
$64,680
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
35,010
2,464,940
Job growth (10-year)
-36.1%
-6.7%
Category
Office & Admin
Office & Admin
Top-paying state
Colorado
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Word Processors and Typists median pay.

State
Word Processors and Typists
Office Clerks, General
Colorado
$57,550
$53,550
California
$56,380
$48,460
Massachusetts
$53,740
$49,940
Oregon
$52,420
$49,910
Minnesota
$51,550
$47,840
New Jersey
$49,520
$48,570
Connecticut
$49,250
$48,280
District of Columbia
$49,180
$55,040
New York
$48,400
$45,890
Maryland
$47,110
$47,270
Rhode Island
$47,040
$47,830
Virginia
$46,130
$46,410
Washington
$46,110
$50,500
Illinois
$45,490
$45,730
Arizona
$42,070
$46,420

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Word Processors and Typists or Office Clerks, General?

Word Processors and Typists earn more nationally. The median is $49,280 for Word Processors and Typists versus $45,010 for Office Clerks, General, a difference of $4K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Word Processors and Typists or Office Clerks, General?

Office Clerks, General has the better 10-year outlook at -6.7% projected growth, compared to -36.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Word Processors and Typists or Office Clerks, General?

Word Processors and Typists typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Office Clerks, General requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Word Processors and Typists get paid the most?

Colorado is the top-paying state for Word Processors and Typists at $57,550/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Word Processors and Typists vs. Office Clerks, General pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Colorado, Word Processors and Typists earn $57,550 vs. $53,550 for Office Clerks, General. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Word Processors and Typists salary breakdownView →Full Office Clerks, General salary breakdownView →Best cities for Word Processors and Typists by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Office Clerks, General by take-home payExplore →How to become a word processors and typistsGuide →How to become a office clerks, generalGuide →