Data Entry Clerk Salary Guide: What You Can Earn in 2025 and How to Maximize Your Pay

The median annual wage for Data Entry Clerks sits at $39,850, translating to roughly $19.16 per hour [1]. The BLS projects a -25.9% decline in data entry employment through 2034, representing a loss of approximately 36,700 positions — yet the occupation still generates an estimated 9,500 annual openings due to retirements and turnover [8]. That combination of shrinking headcount and steady replacement demand means one thing: the clerks who land those openings will be the ones whose resumes clearly demonstrate speed, accuracy, and specialized software skills. Your resume is your first data entry test — and hiring managers treat it that way.

Key Takeaways

• National median salary for Data Entry Clerks is $39,850 per year, with top earners reaching $56,930 at the 90th percentile [1].
• Location matters significantly — clerks in high-cost metros and states like Massachusetts, Washington, and Connecticut can earn well above the national median [1].
• Industry selection is a powerful lever — professional, scientific, and technical services firms and finance-sector employers tend to pay data entry professionals more than retail or nonprofit organizations [1].
• Certifications and specialized software skills (database management, EHR systems, advanced Excel) can push your earnings from the 25th percentile into the 75th percentile range without a job title change.
• Negotiation power exists even in clerical roles — accuracy rates, typing speed benchmarks, and familiarity with industry-specific platforms give you concrete leverage during salary discussions.

What Is the National Salary Overview for Data Entry Clerks?

The BLS reports a total national employment of 135,280 Data Entry Clerks, with a mean (average) annual wage of $42,070 [1]. But averages can mislead. The percentile breakdown tells a more useful story about where you might land based on your experience, skills, and employer type.

10th percentile: $30,100 per year [1]. This is the floor — typically reflecting brand-new hires in low-cost regions, part-time positions converted to annualized figures, or roles at small organizations with minimal budgets. If you are earning near this level, you likely have room to negotiate upward within your first six to twelve months by demonstrating reliability and accuracy.

25th percentile: $34,900 per year [1]. Clerks at this level generally have some experience or work in mid-range markets. You might be handling straightforward alphanumeric entry with standard software like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Moving beyond this bracket usually requires either a geographic shift or adding a specialized skill — medical coding terminology, legal document formatting, or database administration basics.

Median (50th percentile): $39,850 per year [1]. Half of all Data Entry Clerks earn more than this, and half earn less. At the median, you are likely a competent, full-time clerk with a year or more of experience, solid typing speed (typically 60+ WPM with high accuracy), and comfort navigating at least one enterprise system — think SAP, Oracle, or a proprietary CRM.

75th percentile: $47,260 per year [1]. This is where specialization starts to pay off. Clerks earning at this level often work in higher-paying industries (finance, healthcare, government), handle sensitive or complex data sets, or carry additional responsibilities like quality assurance checks, training junior staff, or light reporting. Some have earned certifications such as the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) credential, which signals verified proficiency to employers.

90th percentile: $56,930 per year [1]. Top-tier earners typically combine deep industry expertise with advanced technical skills. They may function as lead data entry specialists, manage small teams, or work in niche fields — clinical trial data management, financial compliance documentation, or federal government records processing. At this level, the role often blurs into data analyst or database administrator territory, and your resume should reflect that expanded scope.

The $26,830 gap between the 10th and 90th percentiles [1] demonstrates that this occupation rewards skill development and strategic career choices more than many people assume for a role that requires only a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training [7].

How Does Location Affect Data Entry Clerk Salary?

Geography is one of the most immediate levers you can pull to increase your data entry earnings. BLS data shows significant variation across states and metropolitan areas [1].

High-paying states tend to cluster in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. States like Massachusetts, Washington, Connecticut, and California consistently report median wages above the national figure, driven by higher costs of living and stronger demand from industries concentrated in those regions — biotech in Boston, tech in Seattle, finance in Hartford and New York [1]. A Data Entry Clerk in the Boston-Cambridge metro area, for example, can expect to earn meaningfully more than the $39,850 national median simply due to market dynamics [1].

Lower-paying states are often in the South and rural Midwest, where cost of living is lower and employer budgets reflect regional economic conditions. States like Mississippi, Arkansas, and West Virginia typically report wages closer to the 10th and 25th percentile ranges [1]. However, the cost-of-living adjustment can make these wages stretch further in practice — a $34,000 salary in rural Arkansas may afford a comparable lifestyle to $45,000 in suburban Boston.

Remote work has changed the equation. Many data entry positions now offer partial or full remote arrangements [4] [5]. This creates an opportunity: if you live in a low-cost area but work remotely for an employer headquartered in a high-cost metro, you may capture a significant portion of the geographic premium without the corresponding expenses. When browsing job listings on platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn, filter for remote positions and compare their posted ranges against your local market [4] [5].

Metro areas with concentrated demand — particularly those with large healthcare systems, financial services hubs, or government agencies — tend to offer both higher wages and more openings. Washington, D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles consistently rank among the top metros for data entry employment volume and compensation [1].

When evaluating a job offer, always calculate the real wage by comparing the salary against a cost-of-living index for that specific metro area. A $44,000 offer in Dallas may leave you with more disposable income than a $50,000 offer in San Francisco.

How Does Experience Impact Data Entry Clerk Earnings?

The BLS classifies Data Entry Clerk as requiring no prior work experience and only short-term on-the-job training [7]. That low barrier to entry means your starting salary will likely fall near the 10th to 25th percentile range — roughly $30,100 to $34,900 per year [1].

Years one through two are about building speed, accuracy, and software fluency. Most employers expect new hires to reach proficiency within weeks, but clerks who consistently exceed accuracy benchmarks (99%+ accuracy rates) and maintain typing speeds above 65 WPM position themselves for raises during annual reviews. By the end of year two, you should be approaching the median of $39,850 [1] if you are working full-time in a reasonably competitive market.

Years three through five represent the specialization window. This is when certifications start to matter. Earning a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification, learning SQL basics for database querying, or gaining proficiency in industry-specific platforms (Epic for healthcare, Bloomberg Terminal for finance) can push you into the 75th percentile at $47,260 [1]. Employers value clerks who can do more than type — they want people who understand the data they are entering and can flag inconsistencies.

Beyond five years, the career path typically forks. Some clerks move into supervisory roles, training coordinators, or quality assurance positions. Others transition laterally into data analysis, administrative coordination, or records management. Those who stay in data entry and reach the 90th percentile ($56,930) [1] usually hold specialized knowledge that makes them difficult to replace — familiarity with regulatory compliance data, classified government records, or complex medical coding systems.

Which Industries Pay Data Entry Clerks the Most?

Not all data entry jobs are created equal. The industry you work in can shift your salary by thousands of dollars, even for identical daily tasks.

Professional, scientific, and technical services firms tend to offer some of the highest wages for data entry roles [1]. These organizations — consulting firms, research labs, engineering companies — handle complex, high-stakes data that demands precision. Errors can compromise research integrity or regulatory filings, so employers pay a premium for accuracy and discretion.

Finance and insurance is another high-paying sector [1]. Banks, insurance carriers, and investment firms process enormous volumes of sensitive financial data. Clerks in these environments often work with proprietary software, handle personally identifiable information (PII), and must comply with strict data security protocols. That added responsibility and compliance burden translates to higher compensation.

Healthcare and social assistance offers strong wages, particularly in hospital systems and large clinical networks where clerks enter patient records, insurance claims, and lab results into electronic health record (EHR) systems like Epic or Cerner [1]. Familiarity with HIPAA regulations and medical terminology makes you significantly more valuable in this sector.

Government agencies — federal, state, and local — provide competitive wages along with robust benefits packages [1]. Federal data entry positions, in particular, follow the General Schedule (GS) pay scale and often include locality pay adjustments that boost base salary in high-cost areas.

Retail, accommodation, and food services generally sit at the lower end of the pay spectrum for data entry roles [1]. The data tends to be less complex, the compliance requirements lighter, and the margins tighter — all of which compress wages. If you are currently in one of these industries, targeting a lateral move into healthcare, finance, or government is one of the most efficient ways to increase your earnings without additional formal education.

How Should a Data Entry Clerk Negotiate Salary?

Many data entry professionals assume clerical roles leave no room for negotiation. That assumption costs them money. Even in hourly or entry-level positions, employers typically build a $2,000 to $5,000 buffer into their posted ranges, and they expect some candidates to ask for more [13].

Before the conversation, build your case with data. Pull the BLS percentile figures for your state and metro area [1]. Check current listings on Indeed and LinkedIn to see what competitors are offering for similar roles [4] [5]. If the offer is $35,000 and BLS data shows the median in your metro area is $41,000, you have a factual, non-confrontational basis for requesting an adjustment [1].

Quantify your skills. Data entry is one of the few roles where performance is directly measurable. Know your typing speed (WPM), your accuracy rate, and the specific software platforms you are proficient in. A candidate who can say "I type 75 WPM with 99.5% accuracy and I am proficient in SAP, Salesforce, and advanced Excel including VLOOKUP and pivot tables" presents a stronger case than someone who simply says "I'm a fast typist." These concrete metrics function like a portfolio — they give the employer evidence that you will ramp up quickly and reduce error-related costs.

Leverage certifications and specialized knowledge. If you hold a Microsoft Office Specialist certification, have completed coursework in database management, or possess industry-specific knowledge (medical terminology, legal document formatting, financial compliance protocols), name those credentials explicitly during negotiation. Each one reduces the employer's training investment and justifies a higher starting rate.

Negotiate beyond base pay. If the employer cannot move on salary — common in government roles or unionized environments — shift the conversation to remote work flexibility, additional PTO, professional development stipends, or a guaranteed review timeline. According to Indeed's salary negotiation guidance, candidates who negotiate total compensation rather than base salary alone often secure significantly better overall packages [11].

Timing matters. The strongest negotiating position comes after a written offer but before you sign. At that point, the employer has already invested time and resources in selecting you — they are motivated to close. A polite, well-researched counter-offer rarely results in a rescinded offer. Frame your request positively: "Based on my research and the skills I bring, I'd like to discuss whether $42,000 is possible" works better than "I need more money."

What Benefits Matter Beyond Data Entry Clerk Base Salary?

Base salary tells only part of the compensation story. For Data Entry Clerks, several benefits categories can add 20-30% to your total compensation and deserve careful evaluation during the offer stage.

Health insurance is often the single most valuable benefit. Employer-sponsored plans can be worth $6,000 to $15,000 annually depending on coverage level (individual vs. family) and the employer's contribution percentage. Government and large corporate employers typically offer the most generous health benefits, while small businesses and staffing agencies may offer limited or no coverage.

Retirement contributions — particularly 401(k) matching — represent free money. An employer that matches 4-6% of your salary effectively adds $1,600 to $2,400 per year at the median salary level [1]. Federal government positions offer the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with matching contributions, which is one reason government data entry roles remain attractive despite sometimes-lower base wages.

Remote work and schedule flexibility carry real financial value. Eliminating a daily commute can save $3,000 to $8,000 per year in gas, transit, parking, and vehicle maintenance. Many data entry positions now offer hybrid or fully remote arrangements [4] [5], and this flexibility is worth factoring into your total compensation calculation.

Paid time off (PTO) varies widely. Some employers offer two weeks; others offer four or more. At the median hourly rate of $19.16 [1], each additional PTO week is worth roughly $766 in paid time away from work.

Professional development stipends and tuition reimbursement can fund certifications (like the MOS credential) or coursework that accelerates your career progression. If an employer offers $1,500 annually for professional development, that benefit pays for itself many times over if it helps you move from the 50th to the 75th percentile in earnings [14].

Key Takeaways

Data Entry Clerk salaries range from $30,100 at the 10th percentile to $56,930 at the 90th percentile, with a national median of $39,850 [1]. The occupation is contracting — the BLS projects a 25.9% decline through 2034 [8] — which means competition for remaining positions will intensify. The clerks who earn the most are those who combine fast, accurate keyboarding with specialized industry knowledge, relevant certifications, and strategic location or remote work choices.

Your resume is the first place to demonstrate those differentiators. Highlight your typing speed, accuracy metrics, software proficiencies, and any industry-specific expertise. A well-crafted resume that quantifies your data entry performance gives you leverage in both the hiring process and salary negotiation.

Resume Geni can help you build a data-entry-focused resume that showcases your measurable skills and positions you for the higher end of the pay scale. Start with a template designed for administrative and clerical roles, and customize it with the specific metrics and keywords hiring managers search for [12].

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Data Entry Clerk salary?

The mean (average) annual wage for Data Entry Clerks is $42,070, while the median annual wage is $39,850 [1]. The mean runs slightly higher than the median because top earners in specialized industries and high-cost metros pull the average upward. When evaluating your own compensation, the median is generally a more useful benchmark because it represents the true midpoint — half of all clerks earn more, and half earn less. Your specific salary will depend on your location, industry, experience level, and technical skill set.

How much do entry-level Data Entry Clerks make?

Entry-level Data Entry Clerks typically earn near the 10th to 25th percentile, which translates to approximately $30,100 to $34,900 per year [1]. The BLS notes that this occupation requires only a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training, with no prior work experience necessary [7]. Starting wages vary by region and employer, but most new hires can expect to reach the median range within one to two years by building speed, accuracy, and familiarity with enterprise software platforms used by their employer.

What is the highest-paying state for Data Entry Clerks?

States in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest — including Massachusetts, Washington, Connecticut, and California — consistently report the highest wages for Data Entry Clerks, often exceeding the national median of $39,850 by a significant margin [1]. However, these states also carry higher costs of living, so the real purchasing power of those wages may not be as dramatic as the raw numbers suggest. Always compare salary figures against a cost-of-living index for the specific metro area before making relocation or job-change decisions based on geography alone.

How can I increase my Data Entry Clerk salary?

The most effective strategies are specializing in a high-paying industry (healthcare, finance, government), earning relevant certifications like the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) credential, and developing proficiency in enterprise software such as SAP, Salesforce, Epic, or advanced Excel functions [1]. Clerks who combine fast typing speeds (65+ WPM) with 99%+ accuracy rates and industry-specific knowledge position themselves for the 75th percentile ($47,260) and above [1]. Targeting remote positions with employers in high-cost metros while living in a lower-cost area is another practical approach to boosting effective compensation.

Do Data Entry Clerks get benefits?

Yes, most full-time Data Entry Clerk positions include benefits, though the quality and scope vary significantly by employer type. Government agencies and large corporations typically offer comprehensive packages — health insurance, retirement plan matching, paid time off, and sometimes tuition reimbursement. Smaller companies and staffing agencies may offer limited benefits or none at all for contract and temporary positions. When evaluating offers, calculate the total compensation value of benefits alongside base salary; a strong benefits package can add 20-30% to your effective annual compensation beyond the base wage of $39,850 at the median [1].

Is data entry a good career long-term?

The BLS projects a 25.9% decline in data entry employment through 2034, with a net loss of approximately 36,700 positions [8]. Automation and optical character recognition (OCR) technology are reducing the need for manual data entry in many industries. However, the occupation still generates roughly 9,500 annual openings due to retirements and workers transitioning to other roles [8]. Data entry can serve as a solid entry point into administrative and data-focused careers, but long-term earning growth typically requires building skills that lead to adjacent roles — data analysis, database administration, records management, or office coordination.

What typing speed do employers expect for Data Entry Clerks?

Most job listings on Indeed and LinkedIn specify a minimum typing speed of 40 to 60 words per minute (WPM) for data entry positions, with many preferring 60+ WPM [4] [5]. However, speed alone is not enough — employers weigh accuracy equally or more heavily, since correcting data entry errors is costly and time-consuming. Competitive candidates typically demonstrate both high speed and a sustained accuracy rate of 98% or above. Practicing with online typing tests and documenting your verified WPM and accuracy scores gives you concrete metrics to include on your resume and reference during salary negotiations.