What Are Data Entry Jobs? A Guide to Salary, Skills and Job Hunting

If you have great keyboarding skills, a penchant for accuracy, and the ability to work under deadline, data entry may be a solid career to consider. A job in data entry can take you into a variety of industries, since employers across many sectors hire for these positions.

Wonderinghow to get a data entry job? First, it’s worth noting thatdata entry jobsare commonly available in an independent consultant structure, but they are also available as full-time, part-time, or freelance positions.

In lots of cases, data entry jobs can offer tremendous work-from-home flexibility. If you’re wondering how to become one of the FlexJobs members who’ve foundjob search success in data entry, read on.

FlexJobs is asubscription service for job seekersthat features flexible andwork from homejobs. With an A+ rating from theBetter Business Bureau, the monthly subscription costs allow us to fully vet and verify all of thejobs on our site—ensuring that customers have a safe and positive job searching experience.

What is a Data Entry Job? Definition & Meaning

What is Data Entry?Data entry is the process of entering information or updating records in a database or computer system.What does a data entry clerk do?Data entry professionals use computers and data processing programs to input information. Data entry job descriptions may also include transcribing data from recordings or phone conversations. While most data entry duties are handled electronically, paper documentation may be used as well, depending on the employer.

Data Entry Skills, Job Requirements and Experience

Typically, many employers require only a high school diploma or GED equivalent for job applicants seeking tostart a data entry career. However, in some cases (often depending on the industry) a bachelor’s degree may be required. Academic qualifications will be made clear prior to a potentialdata entry job interview. You may be required to take adata entry test, which measures the accuracy of the data you input. Using data processing software is often a prerequisite as well, so many employers look for candidates who are proficient with platforms like Microsoft Office or the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program.

Outside of technology, candidates with the following characteristics can put themselves ahead of the pack. Thesedata entry skills要d benoted in your cover letter:

Organization
Self motivation
Attention to detail
Ability to work independently or as part of a team
Polite and courteous
Deadline-oriented

If you’re wonderinghow to become a data entry professional, the good news is that there are many employers that hire forentry-level data entry jobs, making it a great way to get on-the-jobdata entry training and experience. As for thejob outlook for data entry, figures from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics project a growth rate of 3% over a 10-year period ending in 2026.

Data Entry Salary: How Much Do Data Entry Jobs Pay?

According to PayScale,hourly wages for data entryjobs range from $11 to about $17 per hour, with the higher pay rates going to candidates with the most skills and experience. On average, the pay is $14.41 per hour.

Other factors that may determinepay for a data entry clerkinclude whether the job requires other tasks like customer service or administrative office duties. In the hospitality and travel sectors, for example, a data processor may also be required to keep track of client bookings and reservations, including schedule changes and cancellations.

Finding Legitimate Data Entry Jobs

Valid data entry jobs do indeed exist but know that you shouldn’t have to pay for them with a startup fee or other investment.FlexJobs posts legitimate data entry jobsnearly every day. Every data entry position found at FlexJobs has been thoroughly vetted by a FlexJobs researcher and is offered by a reputable employer.

To spot apotential data entry scam, be wary of listings that involve:

Paying an administrative fee or for training
Processing rebates
Purchasing business kits
Promoting affiliate marketing

Browse Legitimate Data Entry Jobs

Companies That Hire for Data Entry Jobs

Data entry can be an ideal role for people who want work flexibility. Since most data entry responsibilities can be handled with a personal computer, manyemployers hiring for data entry jobsseek work-from-home professionals. Data entry jobs can also offer work flexibility in the form of part-time, temporary, or freelance opportunities.

FlexJobs hasdata entry jobs posted from a broad range of companies,包括:

Types of Data Entry Jobs: Common Data Entry Job Titles

There are a fewdifferent types of roles for data entry jobs. The duties can vary from one industry to another, and employers may add other (related or non-related) general office responsibilities to the job. Some of the types of data entry jobs are:

Data Entry Clerk

This job involves basic inputting of information, either numeric or alphabetic, from one format to another, usually via keyboarding.

Data Entry Keyer

This role enters or scans figures or data into computer software systems, often from other documents such as hard copies or paper documents.

Transcriptionist

Transcription jobsare usually word-based (versus numbers-driven) and involve listening to recordings and transcribing the information into reports or other word documents.

Word Processor/Typist

Basic typing is a key duty in this job, including entering information for text documents, correspondence, and reports.

Types of Data Entry: Industries that Hire Data Entry Jobs

Medical and Health

These employers can include hospitals, medical centers, and diagnostic labs and clinics.

Administrative

An office setting (or a home office) is a typical setting for many data entry professionals. For some positions, answering the phone or performing general receptionist duties may be part of the job.

Accounting and Finance

Financial institutions hire for data entry jobs that deal with tax preparation, auditing, corporate finances, payroll, and accounts payable.

Government and Politics

From public record-keeping to elections, local and state governments, as well as the federal government, often hire accurate data entry professionals.

RetailandSales

Inventory, online sales, collection, and logistics can play major roles in retail and sales, and employers in these industries hire for flexible data entry jobs.

职业道路前进的数据条目

Once you’ve established a good understanding of how to land a data entry job, and decided it’s a career you’d like to stick with, there are a few strategies for moving forward—andup the career ladder.

If you’re at the entry level and have only a high school degree, continue your education with a focus on subjects like information technology, data science, or business or office technology. Consider earning adata entry certification, an associate’s degree or racking up academic credits in an online study course that dovetails with your career aspirations as a data entry professional.

As you progress in your data entry career, consider advancing to a supervisory position, or transitioning to a position as a data entry analyst or data analyst. Both jobs usually require a college degree; excellent analytical skills; the ability to establish and maintain databases; oversight of quarterly or annual data reporting; and great communication skills.

If you’re ready to start searching fordata entry jobs, FlexJobs can help! Data entry is one of the most flexible careers in today’s job market, and that’s why we constantly add new ones to our database. Check them out and connect with your next opportunity.