With these machines, data entry operators only have to enter the information the machine could not read. In some offices, keyers also operate printers and tape readers as well perform some clerical duties. Data Entry Operators is a specialty of the CIS occupation Typists and Word Processors. For information, see the Typists and Word Processors occupation. Data Entry Operators is in the Business, Management, and Finance Career Cluster.
Wages vary according to training, experience and location.
Entry level wages may be lower. There were 8,500 people employed as data entry keyers, excluding composing data keyers, in Indiana in 1998. An additional 170 people were employed as composing data keyers. It is estimated that between 1996 and 2006, about 84 jobs per year for data entry keyers and about 1 job per year for composing data entry keyers will need to be filled in these occupations. These numbers include new jobs and jobs resulting from the replacement of current workers.