How to Put Typing Speed on Your Resume (With Examples)

Typing speed is a legitimate professional skill worth listing on a resume — but only if you list it correctly. Done right, it signals efficiency, professionalism, and readiness for roles that depend on written output. Done wrong, it looks like padding. Here is the definitive guide on how to do it right.

Should You Include Typing Speed on Your Resume?

Not everyone should list their typing speed. The decision depends on your speed, the role, and whether you can back the claim up.

List it if: - You are applying for a role where typing is a core function — data entry, transcription, customer service, administrative support, virtual assistance - The job listing specifically mentions a WPM requirement - You type at 55 WPM or above with 95%+ accuracy - You have a verified certificate to support the claim - You are applying for remote work where typing speed is more closely scrutinised

Don't list it if: - You type below 50 WPM — this signals below-average speed and will hurt more than help with most employers - The role has no significant typing component (e.g. trades, physical labour, most sales roles) - You don't have a way to verify the number if asked

The 55 WPM floor is a useful rule of thumb. Below that, most employers view typing as a basic functional skill rather than a competitive advantage. At 65 WPM and above, it becomes a genuine differentiator — particularly in fields where the average office worker types 40–50 WPM.

What WPM Is Worth Listing?

To put it plainly:

Below 50 WPM: Don't list it. Work on it first.
50–59 WPM: Only list if the job requires it and you meet their stated minimum.
60–74 WPM: Worth listing for most typing-intensive roles. Solid and credible.
75–89 WPM: Strong — clearly above average. List with confidence.
90+ WPM: Genuinely impressive. List prominently and make sure you can demonstrate it.

Accuracy matters as much as speed for most roles. A speed figure without an accuracy qualifier tells an employer half the story. Always list them together.

Where to Put Typing Speed on Your Resume

Typing speed belongs in the Skills section of your resume — not buried in job descriptions, not in your summary statement, and not as a standalone bullet point under a previous role. It is a technical skill, and that is where technical skills live.

Standard Skills section format:

> Typing: 72 WPM / 97% accuracy (Verified — Typingverified Certificate)

If you have a link to your certificate:

> Typing: 72 WPM / 97% accuracy · Verified Certificate

For roles where it's a primary requirement (data entry, transcription):

Consider placing it near the top of your Skills section rather than at the bottom, so it's immediately visible to the recruiter scanning the page.

How to Mention It in Your Cover Letter

If the job listing specifies a WPM requirement, address it directly in your cover letter. This removes any ambiguity and shows you read the requirements carefully.

Example for a data entry role:

> "I type at 72 WPM with 97% accuracy, verified by third-party certificate, and comfortably exceed the 60 WPM minimum listed in the role description."

Example for a live chat customer service role:

> "My typing speed of 72 WPM allows me to manage multiple simultaneous chat conversations without customers experiencing delays — which I understand is critical in this role."

Example for a virtual assistant role:

> "With verified typing at 72 WPM and 97% accuracy, I can handle correspondence, document creation, and scheduling tasks quickly and without errors."

Tailor the framing to what the employer actually cares about. A data entry manager cares about volume and accuracy. A customer service manager cares about response speed. A VA client cares about reliability. The underlying number is the same — the way you contextualise it for the reader is what makes it land.

What Not to Do

Don't inflate your speed. "90 WPM" when you tested at 72 WPM will be exposed the moment you sit for an employer's live typing test during the interview process. Many roles — particularly in transcription, data entry, and customer service — include a typing assessment as a standard part of hiring. List only what you can consistently demonstrate under test conditions.

Don't list speed without accuracy. Speed without accuracy context is incomplete and slightly suspicious to experienced recruiters. They know that someone typing 90 WPM with 85% accuracy produces less usable output than someone typing 72 WPM with 98% accuracy. Net WPM — which factors in errors — is the number that actually matters in professional contexts.

Don't list it if you can't reproduce it under pressure. Your casual typing speed and your test speed can differ significantly, especially when you know someone is watching. If your comfortable typing speed is 75 WPM but your test speed under pressure drops to 58 WPM, list something in the high 50s — and work on closing the gap before your interview.

Don't use vague language. "Fast typist" or "strong typing skills" without a number is meaningless and will be ignored. Recruiters want a number. Give them one.

How a Certificate Changes Everything

Self-reported typing speed on a resume is easy to fabricate, and experienced recruiters know it. Plenty of candidates round up by 10–15 WPM or more. A verified certificate issued by a third-party platform changes the dynamic entirely.

A certificate demonstrates: - That your speed was measured under standardised test conditions - That the score was independently verified, not self-reported - That you took the preparation seriously enough to earn a credential - That the number is defensible if you're asked to demonstrate it

When you list "72 WPM / 97% accuracy (Verified — Typingverified Certificate)" next to a non-certified candidate listing "~80 WPM (self-estimated)", recruiters consistently give more weight to the verified figure — even if the unverified number is higher. Specificity and verification signal honesty. Vagueness and self-estimation signal the opposite.

Include a link to your certificate directly on your resume or in your email signature if applying digitally. Most modern resume formats support hyperlinks, and a live link to a verified certificate is one of the cleaner ways to demonstrate a specific skill claim.

Preparing for the Interview Typing Test

If you list typing speed on your resume, assume you will be asked to demonstrate it. Here is how to prepare:

Practice under test conditions. Don't just practice casually. In the week before an interview, take multiple 60-second and 3-minute timed tests under realistic conditions — sitting upright, on unfamiliar hardware if possible, with the pressure of a clock.

Know your realistic floor. Your average across ten timed tests is a more reliable indicator than your best single result. List a speed you can hit consistently, not your personal record.

Bring your certificate. If you have a printed resume, print the certificate or have it accessible on your phone. If applying digitally, have the link ready to share.

Earn your verified typing certificate and strengthen your resume →