Guide to Data Entry Jobs: Skills, Salary, and More

Data entry jobs are an attractive option in today’s job market. If this is your first time exploring these roles, you might have just found your ideal career. Why? For starters, data entry jobs are available in nearly every industry, making it easy to blend in with your interests and passions. Not to mention, data entry jobs generally offer quite a bit of flexibility.

Whether you’re exploring a new career path or looking to flex your skills in a work-from-home job, remote data entry roles might be the perfect fit. We’ve gathered some details to help you understand the scope and potential of remote data entry jobs. Read through this guide to explore the various types of positions, industries hiring, and earning potential.

Let’s start by ensuring we’re on the same page when we’re talking about data entry jobs.

What Is Data Entry? (Data Entry Job Description)

If you’ve wondered what the world of data entry is all about, you’re not alone. The role has quite a few variations, so it’s easy to be a bit unsure of the exact definition. Data entry is, essentially, about feeding new information into databases or updating existing records—a digital form of organization, if you will. A data entry clerk is more than just a typist, though. You’d be a bit more like a digital librarian.

Data entry spans many different industries, so there’s no precise definition that covers every nuance of the roles you’ll see. You might organize customer information for a large healthcare network, enter research and survey results for a Fortune 500 company, or update inventory records for a large ecommerce brand.

Sometimes, it’s all digital, but other times, you might be digitizing audio material or handwritten notes. Despite the variety, there are a few niches within the data entry field that you can focus on. Honing your skills, resume, and personal brand in one of the following areas can help you catch a recruiter’s attention.

3 Common Data Entry Job Titles

Data Entry Clerks

As a data entry clerk, you will enter data into a specific software or database. This could include details like customer information, sales data, and inventory.

Transcriptionist Jobs

Listen to audio narration and convert it into written text as a transcriptionist. You’ll need fast and accurate typing skills and have the option to work in various fields, such as medical, legal, and business.

Typist Jobs

In typing jobs, you’ll often be tasked with creating correspondence, filling out reports, and entering data to maintain compliance with various documents.

Data Entry Skills: What Do You Need to Know for Data Entry Jobs?

Let’s talk about what it takes to land a job in data entry. The majority of data entry jobs are reasonably accessible without requiring a degree. However, some academic and specialized roles might ask for a bachelor’s degree. The job description should list these requirements, so you’ll know if the role is a good fit before you apply.

Beyond your academic qualifications and mastering the organization’s data-processing software, a few data entry skills can help you stand out, such as:

Attention to detail
Organization
Self-discipline
Time management

With that in mind, if the role seems like a great fit, explore the salary potential to ensure a career in data entry is within your target salary range.

Data Entry Salary: How Much Do You Make in a Data Entry Job?

It’s natural to be curious about what your paycheck would look like in a data entry role. Let’s dig into the specifics. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hourly pay in this field swings between $13 and $25, depending on a few key things. If you’ve got a robust set of skills and some experience under your belt, you’re likely to be on the higher end of that scale. On average, you might be looking at around $18.26 per hour.

It’s not quite that cut-and-dry, though. Sometimes, it’s about the extra duties and skill set you bring. Consider the overlap in customer service or admin jobs. For instance, in the hospitality and travel world, a data entry role might involve juggling client bookings, handling schedule changes, or dealing with cancellations. These additional responsibilities can play a big part in determining your salary.

What Companies Are Hiring for Data Entry Jobs?

Beyond the flexibility of remote work, data entry jobs support a variety of industries. You’ll be able to find full-time or part-time data entry jobs that blend your interests with your ideal work-life balance. For example, you might find a role in healthcare, helping to manage patient records and billing information. Or, you can work for a nonprofit that supports a cause you’re passionate about.

Have a head for numbers? The accounting field relies on data entry for accurate financial recordkeeping. And in the government sector, data entry roles are crucial for maintaining public records and handling administrative tasks.

Each industry offers unique challenges and experiences, making data entry a versatile career choice. Consider a brief list of companies that offer data entry jobs to further your career research:

Carta Healthcare
Datavant
New York Life
UnitedHealth Group
University of Colorado Boulder
Wesleyan University

Avoiding Data Entry Job Scams

Unfortunately, when navigating the job market for work-from-home data entry jobs, you have to be mindful of job scams. But rest assured, legitimate work-from-home jobs are out there. Just know they won’t cost you a dime to start. No startup fees or investments are required. If you’re finding roles that suggest you need to create a new data entry job with an investment, it’s most likely a scam.

Along with requesting money, some other signals that a job posting is a scam include requests to purchase business kits, process rebates, or promote affiliate marketing. To stay safe during your job search, focus on verified job boards, like the one here at Remote.co and our sister site, FlexJobs. Real people verify all of the listings on these sites before they’re posted to ensure you have a safe job search.

Explore Data Entry Jobs from Home

As you can see, the world of data entry jobs is full of flexible and diverse opportunities. If you’re searching for “data entry jobs near me,” consider remote, work-from-home jobs. Regardless of your areas of interest, there’s a remote data entry job waiting to help you build a rewarding and flexible career.

If you’re ready to take a closer look at remote data entry roles that are currently hiring, explore the current listings here on Remote.co and on FlexJobs. With a database that is updated daily with legitimate jobs in over 50 career categories, FlexJobs has something for everyone. Start your search today!