Career profile · live from the Careermash careers engine
Career profile

Data Entry Clerk

A data entry clerk types and updates information into computer systems and spreadsheets, keeping records accurate and organised. It is steady, desk-based work that suits people who are careful, fast on a keyboard and happy with focused, detailed tasks.
No degree needed for many routesApprenticeship routeEntry routes with no formal quals
Apprenticeship route
0
AI impact
how much AI is reshaping it
Robin · your guide
Curious about being a data entry clerk? Here's the honest picture - what you'd really do, what you'd earn, and every way in. No need to decide anything yet.

What you'd actually do

The job is entering data from forms, invoices or other sources into databases, checking for errors, and keeping records tidy and up to date. Accuracy and concentration matter most, as mistakes can cause problems down the line, and a good typing speed helps you get through the volume.

It is usually office or home-based with regular weekday hours, though some roles are shift or temporary, and pay commonly starts around the minimum or low end. The work can be repetitive and sit-down, so the ability to stay focused and spot small errors is key.

You can often start with no formal qualifications and learn on the job, or come in through a business administration apprenticeship. Good computer skills and reliability are what employers look for, and it can be a stepping stone into wider admin or office roles.

1Enter data accurately from forms and documents
2Update and maintain databases and spreadsheets
3Check records for errors and fix them
4Sort and organise incoming information
5Run simple reports or searches
6Keep files and records secure
7Follow data protection rules

Degrees that lead here via Business and Management

Apprenticeships that lead here

How to get in - your routes

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Career data: role, pay and progression profiles built for Careermash's careers engine; AI-impact estimates from Anthropic's observed AI-usage telemetry and OpenAI's AI Jobs Transition Framework. Course data: HESA / Discover Uni, including Graduate Outcomes, LEO and the National Student Survey. Apprenticeships: IfATE-published standards, approved only.

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