What is the average typing speed?
The global average typing speed is 40–44 WPM for casual typists. Among professional office workers it rises to 55–65 WPM. Among people who learned formal touch-typing, the average is 75–85 WPM.
These averages come from multiple sources including academic studies, hiring platform data (LinkedIn, Indeed), and typing test platforms. The numbers have risen over the past 20 years as typing becomes a core daily skill from childhood.
| Population | Avg WPM |
|---|---|
| Global average (all users) | 41 WPM |
| Professional office worker | 55–65 WPM |
| Data entry / admin specialist | 65–80 WPM |
| Medical transcriptionist | 65–75 WPM |
| Software developer | 60–70 WPM |
| Competitive typist (top 1%) | 120+ WPM |
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Quick Answer
The global average is 40–44 WPM for casual typists. Professional office workers average 55–65 WPM. Touch typists who trained formally average 75+ WPM.
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