What Is a Good Typing Speed? Average WPM by Age & Profession
Typing speed is measured in words per minute (WPM), where one “word” is standardized as five characters including spaces. So if you type 200 characters in a minute, that’s 40 WPM. But what actually counts as good?
The short answer
- Average typing speed: 40 WPM
- Good typing speed: 50–60 WPM
- Very good: 70–90 WPM
- Professional level: 90–120+ WPM
Anything above 40 WPM puts you ahead of the average computer user. Want to know where you stand right now? Take our free Typing Speed Test — it measures both your WPM and your accuracy in real time.
Average typing speed by age
| Age group | Average WPM |
|---|---|
| Kids (6–11) | 15–25 |
| Teenagers (12–16) | 30–40 |
| Adults (17–45) | 38–45 |
| Older adults (45+) | 30–40 |
Teenagers and young adults tend to score highest because they grew up with keyboards, but the biggest factor is simply practice — not age.
Typing speed by profession
Some jobs come with explicit WPM requirements:
- Data entry clerks: 60–80 WPM is usually expected
- Transcriptionists: 75–100 WPM
- Medical/legal transcription: 80+ WPM with very high accuracy
- Programmers: speed matters less than accuracy, but 50+ WPM helps
- Writers and journalists: 60–70 WPM keeps up with thought flow
Why accuracy matters more than raw speed
A 90 WPM typist with 85% accuracy is often slower in practice than a 60 WPM typist at 99% accuracy, because fixing errors costs more time than typing carefully in the first place. Most typing tests, including ours, penalize errors — so aim for 97%+ accuracy first, then build speed.
How to improve your typing speed
- Learn touch typing. Stop looking at the keyboard. Your fingers should rest on the home row (ASDF and JKL;) and each finger should own its keys.
- Practice a little every day. Ten minutes daily beats one long weekly session.
- Fix your worst keys. Most people have 3–5 keys that cause the majority of their errors. Targeted practice on those pays off fast.
- Don’t rush. Speed follows accuracy. Type at a pace where you make almost no mistakes and speed will rise naturally.
- Test yourself weekly. Track your progress with the Typing Speed Test and watch your WPM climb.
Frequently asked questions
Is 40 WPM good? It’s exactly average. It’s perfectly fine for everyday use, but if you type for a living, aim for 60+.
Is 100 WPM rare? Yes — roughly the top 1% of typists sustain 100+ WPM with high accuracy.
How long does it take to improve? Most people can add 10–20 WPM in a month of daily 10-minute practice sessions.
Ready to find your number? Test your typing speed now — it’s free, takes 60 seconds and shows your WPM and accuracy instantly.