Yes. 50 WPM is around the average typing speed and faster than 47% of typists. It meets the requirement for most administrative, customer service and federal clerk-typist jobs.
50 WPM is at the average level and faster than 47% of the 168,000 typists measured in the largest typing study. Take the test above to see your own percentile and a full diagnosis.
What 50 WPM means in practice
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Level | Average |
| Faster than | 47% of typists |
| Characters per minute | 250 |
| Keystrokes per hour | 15,000 |
| Words per hour | 3,000 |
| Time to type a 500-word essay | 10.0 minutes |
| Time to type a 2,000-word report | 40 minutes |
Is 50 WPM good?
Yes. 50 WPM is around the average typing speed and faster than 47% of typists. It meets the requirement for most administrative, customer service and federal clerk-typist jobs.
Jobs where 50 WPM meets typical requirements
Within reach (up to 65 WPM)
How to get from 50 to 60 WPM
- Race a pace caret set 5 WPM above your average.
- Train punctuation and numbers.
- Take one 5-minute test a day for stamina.
Compare speeds
Frequently asked questions
Is 50 WPM good?
50 WPM is average and faster than 47% of typists. It meets the 40 WPM requirement used for federal clerk-typist jobs.
How many words per hour is 50 WPM?
50 WPM is 3,000 words per hour, or about 15,000 keystrokes per hour.
How long does it take to go from 50 to 60 WPM?
Most people gain about 10 WPM in 3 to 6 weeks of focused daily practice. Training your slowest keys and letter pairs speeds this up.