What Is a Good Typing Speed? WPM by Age, Job and Level

2026-10-18 · 5 min read

"Good" depends on what you need typing for. Here is how typing speed is measured and what the numbers mean in real life.

How WPM is calculated

Words per minute (WPM) counts every five correctly typed characters as one word, divided by the minutes you typed. Raw WPM includes mistakes; accuracy is the share of keystrokes that were correct. You can check yours in our free typing speed test.

Typing speed levels

Under 20 WPM: beginner, still looking at the keys.
20–35 WPM: learning; muscle memory is forming.
35–50 WPM: around the adult average.
50–70 WPM: fast, professional typing.
70–90 WPM: faster than about 95% of people.
90+ WPM: competition level.

Average typing speed by age

Children aged 10–12 typically type 15–25 WPM. Teenagers who type daily often reach 30–45 WPM. Adults average 38–45 WPM, while people who learned touch typing usually type 55 WPM or more.

What speed do jobs expect?

General office and admin work: 40–50 WPM.
Data entry: 50–60 WPM with high accuracy.
Transcription and legal secretaries: 65–80 WPM.
Programmers: speed matters less than accuracy, but 50+ WPM helps.

Many employers ask for proof. Pass a 60-second test with 90% accuracy and download a free typing certificate for your CV.

Accuracy matters as much as speed

A 70 WPM score at 85% accuracy is worse than 60 WPM at 98%. Aim for 95% or higher before chasing speed.

How to raise your speed

Start with touch typing lessons, practise your weak keys and play typing games for ten minutes a day. Most learners gain 10–20 WPM in a month. See also 12 ways to type faster.