Data entry skills: what they include and how to show them
Data entry is typing or transferring information into a system accurately, such as a spreadsheet, database or records system. O*NET lists data entry and database software among the technology skills for medical assistants, and spreadsheets and word processing for administrative assistants. Show tools and care, not speed claims you cannot prove.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Skill | Data entry |
| Source of the occupation data | O*NET OnLine (US Department of Labor), accessed 31 October 2026 |
| Occupations in this guide that list it | 3 |
| Where to learn more | Our career guides and the O*NET pages linked below |
What is Data entry?
Good data entry combines accuracy, attention to detail and working with the systems your employer uses. Reading comprehension and monitoring your own work for mistakes matter in the occupations O*NET lists.
Which jobs use it?
The occupation pages on O*NET OnLine list technology skills and top essential skills. These occupations from our career guides include this skill or closely related ones:
- Medical Assistants (O*NET 31-9092.00): data entry and database software, Microsoft Access and appointment scheduling software.
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (O*NET 43-6014.00): word processing, spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets) and document management.
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (O*NET 43-3031.00): spreadsheets, accounting software and database tools such as Microsoft Access.
O*NET examples are illustrative, not a requirement for every employer. Read the postings for the role you want.
How do I show it on a resume?
- Name the system or software: spreadsheet, database or records system.
- Say how you check accuracy, for example comparing entries to source documents.
- State a typing speed only if you have a recent test result.
- Mention handling private information carefully, without naming anyone.
See the administrative assistant resume example and medical assistant resume example for layout, and our guide to an ATS-friendly resume.
On LiveRec, employers who find candidates for a job see up to five of your skills on your card, with the ones that match the job first. Use the exact name of the skill, as in which skills to put on a profile.
Where can I learn it?
We link only official sources we could verify. The O*NET Skills Search shows skills and examples, and each career guide above explains typical education from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ask your employer or school what training it offers, then add what you complete to your profile.
Frequently asked questions
Which software is used for data entry? O*NET names Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Microsoft Access and data entry and database software for related occupations.
Should I list my typing speed? Only if you have a recent test result, and say the date. An unsupported number can hurt trust.
Can data entry lead to other roles? The same skills appear in administration, bookkeeping and medical assisting, as shown in our career guides.
Related guides
When you are ready, search jobs on LiveRec.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine, Medical Assistants, 31-9092.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/31-9092.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive, 43-6014.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-6014.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks, 43-3031.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-3031.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Skills Search: https://www.onetonline.org/skills/ (accessed 31 October 2026)