Places of Employment and Working Conditions
Word processors work throughout the country in firms that provide business services, educational institutions, health care facilities, law offices, and government agencies.
Word processors work in offices and must sit for long hours.
Recent studies have shown that there can be physical and mental health hazards for word processors. They may experience musculoskeletal strain, eye problems, and stress. Women may risk pregnancy complications, miscarriages, and birth defects.
Word processors usually work 37 to 40 hours a week. There are a variety of work arrangements for word processors. Many hold temporary jobs or work part-time.
Qualifications, Education, and Training
Word processors need to have spelling, grammar, and punctuation skills. They should have familiarity with office procedures and different types of standard office equipment. Most employers prefer to hire applicants who are high school graduates.
Word processing can be learned in high schools, community colleges, business schools, home study schools, or by using self-teaching aids.
Potential and Advancement
Employment of word processors is expected to decline through the years to come due to the productivity that has resulted from the increasing use of automated office equipment. In spite of this decline, there will still be thousands of job openings as workers leave the profession to retire or transfer to other occupations. However, many of these vacant positions will not be filled at all. The overall outlook for this position is bleak.
Word processing positions are often filled by workers who are beginning their first job. Often these positions serve as steppingstones to higher-paying jobs. Word processors often become secretaries, statistical clerks, or stenographers. They may also become the supervisor in a word processing department.
Income
Salaries of word processors tend to be highest in transportation and public utilities and lowest in retail trade, finance, insurance, and real estate. The highest-paying region of the country is the West. Overall, the median salary of all word processors was $38,710 in 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Additional Sources of Information
For information about job opportunities in word processing, contact the nearest office of the state employment service.
