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.

Data Entry Clerk

65

Business and Management

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO65%moving to95%
THE DOOR, NOWC
THE DOOR, 20 YRSE
STARTING PAYnot published
MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIEDA real score, but the moat is not yet classified. No claim either way.
AI already does a lot of this work
AI can already do a large share of the day-to-day tasks in this job. We have not yet classified what, if anything, structurally protects it, so we make no claim either way about a moat. Learn the tools, and build the judgement that stays human.

The role

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.

Daily responsibilities

  • Enter data accurately from forms and documents
  • Update and maintain databases and spreadsheets
  • Check records for errors and fix them
  • Sort and organise incoming information
  • Run simple reports or searches
  • Keep files and records secure
  • Follow data protection rules
Careermash

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AI EXPOSURE = the share of a job's day-to-day tasks AI can already do today, from the same exposure engine used across this site (Anthropic labour market research, 2026, observed real-world AI usage by occupation). Higher means more exposed. It is a measurement of now, not a prediction. THE DOOR = how hard the job is to get into, grade A (easy) to E (extremely hard), from each career's published forecast (OpenAI, "The AI Jobs Transition Framework", Richmond 2026, CC BY 4.0). A card marked MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIED has a real exposure score but no entry yet in our moat register, so we make no claim about what structurally protects it. Scorecard grades and verdicts are Careermash editorial judgment: we show forecasts as forecasts and own our conclusions. Salary and pathway figures are each career's own published profile. Careermash is a service provided by What School Ltd.

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