Editing Data entry clerk (section)

{{Short description|Profession}}
{{Globalize|date=July 2024}}
[[File:Data-entry-clerk.jpg|thumb|A data entry clerk]]
A '''data entry clerk''', also known as '''data preparation and control operator''', '''data registration and control operator''', and '''data preparation and registration operator''', is a member of staff employed to enter or update [[data]] into a computer system.<ref>{{cite web
|quote=We are looking for a Data Entry Clerk to type information into our database
|url=https://resources.workable.com/data-entry-clerk-job-description
|title=Data Entry Clerk job description template|date=2015-12-11
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|quote=Data entry is now accomplished via a system of terminals or other input devices
|title=Technology and Its Impact on Employment
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yIl9gEUmwFoC
|date=1990}}</ref> Data is often entered into a computer from paper documents<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/DataEntryClerk.aspx |title = Data entry clerk}}</ref> using a [[Keyboard (computing)|keyboard]].<ref>{{cite web 
|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-data-entry-clerk.htm
|title=What is a Data Entry Clerk?}}</ref> The keyboards used can often have special keys and multiple colors to help in the task and speed up the work.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.michigan.gov/careers/0,1607,7-170-46398-64343--,00.html 
|title=Data Entry Clerk  |website=Michigan Jobs Portal}}</ref> Proper [[ergonomics]] at the workstation is a common topic considered.<ref>{{cite journal  |title=Motivating Ergonomic Computer Workstation Setup |journal = International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics|volume = 18|issue = 1|pages = 27–33|date=2012   |author=S. O. Sigurdsson
|pmc = 3985273|pmid = 22429527|doi = 10.1080/10803548.2012.11076912}}</ref><ref>{{cite web   |title=Office Ergonomics   |website=WA.gov   |url=https://www.lni.wa.gov/IPUB/417-133-000.pdf   |access-date=2018-11-23   |archive-date=2018-05-16   |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516231317/http://www.lni.wa.gov/IPUB/417-133-000.pdf   |url-status=dead   }}</ref><ref>{{cite web  |website=UQ.edu.au
|url=https://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/attachments/workplace-hs/HUPP2.20.2computerworkstations.pdf
|title=Computer Workstations: Design & Adjustment}}</ref>

The data entry clerk may also use a mouse,<ref>{{cite journal
|title=Carpal tunnel syndrome and the use of computer mouse and keyboard
|author=J. F. Thomsen |journal=BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 
|date=2008|volume=9 
|issue=1 
|page=134 
|doi=10.1186/1471-2474-9-134 
|doi-access=free 
|pmid=18838001 
|pmc=2569035 
}}</ref><ref>Cut&Paste/Copy&Paste Data Entry jobs were listed as a category on Indeed.com, a jobs site. There were 244 entries on Aug. 10, 2018 - compared to about 1300 of the type/keyboard types of jobs. {{cite web
|quote=244 Copy Paste Data Entry jobs available on Indeed.com
|url=https://www.indeed.com/q-Copy-Paste-Data-Entry-jobs.html
|title=Copy Paste Data Entry Jobs, Employment}}</ref> and a manually-fed scanner may be involved.<ref>{{cite book
|quote=Information can be automatically fed, or manually fed into a business accounting ... standard personal computers or workstations running applications; scanning devices for standardized data entry ...
|title=Professional Accounting Essays and Assignments
|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1312069317  |isbn=978-1312069312
|author=Miracel Griff  |date=2014}}</ref>

Speed and accuracy, not necessarily in that order, are the key measures of the job.<ref name=Speed.v.Accuracy/>