Typing speed bands
| Speed | Level |
|---|---|
| 100+ WPM | Elite — competitive and professional typists |
| 70–99 WPM | Fast — well above most office workers |
| 50–69 WPM | Above average |
| 35–49 WPM | Average for regular computer users |
| Under 35 WPM | Getting started or hunt-and-peck typing |
These are practical reference bands. Speeds on mobile phones are usually well below keyboard speeds.
What speed do jobs expect?
Office and data-entry jobs commonly ask for 40–60 WPM with high accuracy. Transcription and captioning roles often expect 70 WPM or more. Programmers rarely need extreme speed — accuracy with symbols matters more.
How to move up a band
Learn touch typing so every finger has fixed keys, and stop looking at the keyboard. Practice 10–15 minutes a day rather than an hour once a week. Keep accuracy above 97%: accuracy is the foundation speed is built on. Most people who switch from hunt-and-peck to touch typing drop in speed for a few weeks, then pass their old speed for good.