Typical typing speed targets by job
There is no single national standard, and every employer sets its own bar. These are the ranges that come up again and again in job adverts and typing tests in Kenya, across Africa and in remote work:
| Job | Common speed target | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| General office and admin | 35 to 45 WPM | 95% or more |
| Data entry (text) | 40 to 50 WPM | 97% or more |
| Data entry (numbers and forms) | 8,000 to 12,000 KPH | 98% or more |
| Secretary, PA, receptionist | 45 to 60 WPM | 97% or more |
| Transcription | 60 WPM or more | 98% or more |
| Customer support chat and BPO | 40 to 55 WPM | 95% or more |
WPM is words per minute; KPH is keystrokes per hour, used mostly for number-heavy work. If you are not sure how they relate, read What is WPM?
Accuracy matters as much as speed
Employers care about clean data. A typist who enters 50 WPM with errors in every few lines creates more work than one who types 40 WPM cleanly. That is why most job tests either report net WPM (speed after errors) or set a minimum accuracy, and many fail candidates who drop below it no matter how fast they are.
Tutype reports net WPM: only correctly typed characters count toward your speed. If you can hit your target on Tutype's timed test, you are measuring yourself the strict way.
How job typing tests usually work
- Timed passages. You copy a paragraph for one to five minutes. The score is your net WPM and accuracy.
- Numeric or form entry. You key in numbers, codes or records from a list, scored in KPH and errors.
- Audio transcription. You type what you hear, scored on accuracy and time taken.
- Practical tasks. Format a letter, fill a spreadsheet or tidy a document in a set time.
Whatever the format, the same thing wins: typing without looking at the keyboard, so your eyes stay on the source text.
How to reach the target before you apply
- Take a timed test to get your starting point. Take it two or three times and note the average.
- If you look at the keys or type with a few fingers, start with the touch typing course. It is the biggest single speed gain.
- Practise real work text in the Work and Office course: emails, forms, numbers and documents.
- Practise 10 to 15 minutes a day rather than one long session a week.
- Retest once a week. Expect gains of a few WPM at a time.
For a full plan, see How to increase your typing speed.
A word on typing job offers
Real employers test your typing; they never charge you to apply. If an offer asks for a registration or activation fee, it is almost certainly a scam. Read How to spot online typing job scams before you sign up anywhere.