Average Typing Speed by Age and Profession

Why 40 WPM gets quoted so often

For adults using a physical keyboard, 40 WPM is a common reference point because it describes usable everyday typing. It doesn't describe everyone. People who never learned touch typing may sit closer to 25 to 35 WPM, while comfortable touch typists often land around 60 to 80 WPM.

Average speed by skill level

Average typing speed by age

Average typing speed by profession

Compare the same kind of test

Typing speed changes with the text. Common words are easier than quotes, and quotes are easier than code, numbers, or unfamiliar names. If you want a fair comparison, use the same test type and look at several runs rather than one score.

Accuracy belongs in every benchmark

A benchmark without accuracy is incomplete. A 65 WPM score at 98% accuracy is more useful than 80 WPM at 88%. In real work, corrections are part of the time cost.

How to compare yourself

If you're below average, focus on home row and not looking down. If you're average, build accuracy and rhythm. If you're already fast, practice harder material: punctuation, numbers, and job-like text.

How to test yourself fairly

1. Use the same test length each time, such as 60 seconds.
2. Take three runs and compare the middle score, not the best score.
3. Record accuracy with WPM, because speed without accuracy is misleading.
4. Retest on another day before deciding you've improved or declined.

Why your average matters more than your best

A best run shows what you can do when everything lines up. Your average shows what you can rely on. For school, office work, data entry, and customer service, the reliable number is usually more important than the personal record.

The benchmark to use for real work

For everyday writing, use your normal-text average. For office or support work, test with punctuation and capitalization. For data entry, add numbers and short fields. For programming, plain WPM is only a rough signal because symbols, indentation, and editor habits matter.