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Data entry clerk

Also called data steward, data-entry clerk, statistical clerk

Data entry clerks update, maintain and retrieve information held on computer systems. They prepare source data for computer entry by compiling and sorting information, process customer and account source documents by reviewing data for deficiencies and verify entered customer and account data.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects18 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.General and keyboard clerksWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,100 (Bulgaria) to €5,200 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · General and keyboard clerksWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 4 in 10 train through vocational routes.General and keyboard clerksWill AI change it?StronglyLevel 6 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Data entry clerks · ILO

What you'd do

Data entry clerks · ILO
  • Receiving and registering invoices, forms, records and other documents for data capture
  • Entering numerical data, codes and text from source material into computer-compatible storage and processing devices
  • Verifying accuracy and completeness of data and correcting entered data, if needed
  • Operating bookkeeping and calculating machines
  • Importing and exporting data between different database systems and software
Maintain data entry requirementsUse word processing softwarePerform data cleansingApply information security policiesProcess data+ 1 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Very repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Data Entry Keyers"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as general and keyboard clerks in the EU
6.61m8.91m8.7m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
1,798,000 replacing leavers 200,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
General and keyboard clerks18
All jobs29
Right now
3 of 27 countries report a shortage of data entry clerks, 12 a surplus.
Data entry clerks · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,100 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,200 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among clerical support workers in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Clerical support workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in software and applications development and analysis is the usual route.

Highest qualification of general and keyboard clerks (EU, 2025)
Degree 35%Vocational 43%General secondary 15%Basic schooling 7%
Fields that teach it
Software and applications development and analysis · Database and network design and administration
Vocational route, EU
4 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Strongly

AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.70 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 5 tasks
Entering numerical data, codes and text from source material into computer-compatible storage and processing devices0.74
Receiving and registering invoices, forms, records and other documents for data capture0.72
Importing and exporting data between different database systems and software0.70
Verifying accuracy and completeness of data and correcting entered data, if needed0.69
Operating bookkeeping and calculating machines0.66

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for data entry clerks. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).