Who's on the clock?

Data Entry Keyers vs General Office Clerks

Side by side: how much of the shift AI and robots touch, pay, outlook and training.

Time card for data entry keyers: 4h 18m of an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsTime card: Data Entry Keyers →

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Data entry keyers or general office clerks: which will AI change more? AI and robots touch more of the day for general office clerks: 4h 30m of an 8-hour shift, against 4h 18m for data entry keyers. General office clerks earn more, a median of $45,010 against $41,340.

The two jobs share related skills, including reading comprehension, so moving between them is realistic for many people.

Data Entry Keyers
4h 18mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsLess AI time
  • 3h 42mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 4h 18mAI mostly does it alone
  • 0mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$41,340
U.S. workers
127,000
Outlook to 2035
-25.5%
Openings a year
7,700
Typical preparation
High school diploma, some training
See the full time card →
General Office Clerks
4h 30mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robots
  • 3h 30mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 3h 57mAI mostly does it alone
  • 33mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$45,010
U.S. workers
2.5 million
Outlook to 2035
-6%
Openings a year
249,000
Typical preparation
High school diploma, some training
See the full time card →

Data Entry Keyers

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Read source documents such as canceled checks, sales reports, or bills, and enter data in specific data fields or onto tapes or disks for subsequent entry, using keyboards or scanners. 4h 18m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Compare data with source documents, or re-enter data in verification format to detect errors. 1h 4m
  • Compile, sort, and verify the accuracy of data before it is entered. 50m
  • Locate and correct data entry errors, or report them to supervisors. 43m

General Office Clerks

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate or explain information, take orders, and address complaints. 1h 1m
  • Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages. 47m
  • Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities. 41m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer. 47m
  • Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers. 34m
  • Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail. 27m

Swap in a different job Highlighted numbers are the higher of the two. Hours are estimates from each job's time card.