Is 85 WPM Good?
Worldwide Percentile: 99.9th Percentile (Top 0.1%) • Global Average: 41.4 WPM
Quick Verdict: Is 85 WPM a Good Typing Speed?
Pro EliteYes, 85 WPM is considered very good and fast. At 85 WPM (~425 CPM), you type faster than 99.9% of all computer users worldwide (putting you in the top 0.1%). This qualifies you for virtually all office, management, and transcription employment standards.
Is Your Typing Speed Good?
Yes, 85 WPM is a pro elite typing speed (Top 0.1% globally).
Yes, 85 WPM is considered very good and fast. At 85 WPM (~425 CPM), you type faster than 99.9% of all computer users worldwide (putting you in the top 0.1%). This qualifies you for virtually all office, management, and transcription employment standards.
1. How Does 85 WPM Compare Globally?
Typing at 85 words per minute translates to approximately 425 keystrokes per minute and 1.42 words typed every single second. Compared against global demographic data from millions of standardized typing sessions, this speed puts you firmly in the 99.9th percentile. At 85 WPM, typing speed is measured using the standard definition of 5 keystrokes per word (including spaces and punctuation). This means typing at this speed generates 425 keystrokes every minute.
85 WPM easily exceeds the requirements for middle school, high school, and university coursework, allowing essays and exams to be typed effortlessly.
2. Jobs You Can Get With 85 WPM
Typing speed is a standard hiring filter across corporate, technical, legal, and healthcare industries. Here is your qualification status across common occupations:
| Career / Occupation | Required WPM | Your Score (85 WPM) |
|---|---|---|
| General Office / Administrative | 40 WPM | ✓ Exceeds |
| Customer Support Specialist | 45 WPM | ✓ Exceeds |
| Data Entry Specialist | 55 WPM | ✓ Exceeds |
| Executive Assistant / Paralegal | 60 WPM | ✓ Exceeds |
| Software Engineer / Tech Writer | 60 WPM | ✓ Exceeds |
| General Transcriptionist | 70 WPM | ✓ Exceeds |
| Medical Scribe | 75 WPM | ✓ Exceeds |
| Legal Transcriptionist | 80 WPM | ✓ Qualifies |
| Court Reporter / Stenographer | 180 WPM | Below (95 WPM needed) |
Verify Your Actual Speed
Test your live WPM and accuracy under real 60-second test conditions.
3. Explore Other Typing Speed Benchmarks
Compare how 85 WPM stacks up against other common speed milestones:
Frequently Asked Questions: Is 85 WPM Good?
Verified answers to common questions about typing 85 words per minute, percentiles, and job standards.
1 Is 85 WPM a good typing speed?
Yes, 85 WPM is considered very good and fast. At 85 WPM (~425 CPM), you type faster than 99.9% of all computer users worldwide (putting you in the top 0.1%). This qualifies you for virtually all office, management, and transcription employment standards.
2 What percentile is 85 WPM?
85 WPM is in the 99.9th percentile worldwide. This means you type faster than 99.9% of computer users, ranking in the top 0.1% globally.
3 How many characters per minute (CPM) is 85 WPM?
85 WPM is equivalent to approximately 425 characters per minute (CPM), or 1.42 words every single second, assuming the standardized measurement of 5 characters per word.
4 What jobs can you get with 85 WPM?
With 85 WPM, you exceed the speed requirements for data entry (55–65 WPM), corporate office administration (40–50 WPM), software development (50–60 WPM), and qualify for high-speed transcription and medical scribe positions.
5 How can I improve my speed from 85 WPM to 100 WPM?
To progress from 85 WPM to 100 WPM: (1) Maintain strict 10-finger touch typing on the home row; (2) Prioritize 96%+ accuracy over speed; (3) Read 2–3 words ahead to eliminate hesitations; (4) Practice daily 1-minute and 2-minute sprints.