Guides / Benchmarks
What Is the Average Typing Speed? WPM Benchmarks by Level
Published June 24, 2026
The average typing speed for adults is about 40 words per minute (WPM) with roughly 92% accuracy. That number is useful as a baseline, but it hides wide variation by job, age, and whether someone uses touch typing.
Average WPM by skill level
- Beginner: 20–30 WPM
- Average adult: 35–45 WPM
- Office professional: 50–65 WPM
- Advanced clerical: 70–85 WPM
- Professional typist: 90+ WPM
Why benchmarks matter
Employers, schools, and certification programs use WPM to screen candidates. Knowing where you stand helps you set realistic goals instead of guessing.
How to measure accurately
Use the same test length and word list each time. A free typing test with a 60-second duration is the most common standard.
FAQ
Is 50 WPM good? Yes — 50 WPM is above average and sufficient for most office jobs.
Does accuracy affect WPM? Yes. Adjusted WPM counts only correct characters, which is what most employers use.
Related guides
- What Is a Good Typing Speed? WPM Targets for Work & School
What counts as a good typing speed? See WPM targets for students, office jobs, remote work, and competitive typing.
- Average Typing Speed by Age: Kids, Teens & Adults
Compare average typing speed by age group — elementary students through retirees — and set age-appropriate WPM goals.
- Typing Speed Statistics: WPM Data & Trends
Typing speed statistics for office workers, students, and remote teams — plus how WPM benchmarks shifted with hybrid work.
- Net WPM vs Gross WPM: What Employers Actually Measure
Understand net WPM vs gross WPM, how errors reduce your score, and which metric hiring typing tests use.