Average Typing Speed: What the Typical Person Types
· 6 min read
The average typing speed for adults is around 40 words per minute (WPM). Most people who type regularly for work fall between 35 and 60 WPM, while trained touch typists reach 65-90 WPM and the fastest competitive typists exceed 150 WPM.
Live statistics from TypingAcademy
These numbers come from verified tests taken on TypingAcademy and update automatically.
Average typing speed by age
Typing speed grows quickly through school and peaks in the twenties and thirties, when most people type daily for work or study.
| Age | Average WPM |
|---|---|
| 7-9 | 10-15 |
| 10-12 | 15-25 |
| 13-15 | 25-35 |
| 16-18 | 35-45 |
| 19-35 | 40-50 |
| 36-55 | 35-45 |
| 55+ | 30-40 |
Age itself matters less than practice. A 60-year-old who learned to touch type on a typewriter often types faster than a 20-year-old who never learned proper technique.
Average typing speed by job
| Profession | Typical WPM |
|---|---|
| Students | 30-40 |
| General office workers | 40-50 |
| Administrative assistants | 50-70 |
| Customer support (chat) | 45-60 |
| Programmers | 50-80 |
| Transcriptionists | 65-90 |
| Court reporters (stenotype) | 200+ |
See what typing speed you need for different jobs for more detail.
Average typing speed by experience
| Level | WPM | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner (hunt-and-peck) | 15-30 | 85-92% |
| Intermediate | 30-50 | 92-96% |
| Proficient touch typist | 50-70 | 96-98% |
| Advanced | 70-100 | 97-99% |
| Elite | 100+ | 98%+ |
Average is not the same as good
Average describes what most people type today, and most people never learned to touch type. If you're wondering what speed you should aim for, read what is a good typing speed - for most jobs it's 50-60 WPM.
How does my speed compare?
Take a one minute typing test to find out, then enter your score in the typing speed comparison to see your percentile and how you compare with job requirements and age groups.
If you're below average, don't worry - typing is one of the most learnable skills there is. Read our guide on how to type faster and start the free touch typing course.