According to Houston Chronicle, a good "words per minute" or WPM speed is generally considered to be over 40 WPM when compared to the general population average of 38 to 40 WPM. However, professional typists type considerably faster at a rate of 65 - 75 WPM or higher on average.
Some jobs that have a considerable amount of typing involved in job duties require a minimum typing speed in order to qualify for the position. One can evaluate individual typing speed by taking a test online before applying to these positions. The Guinness Book of World Records notes that the fastest typing speed is held by Barbara Blackburn, who peaked at a top WPM speed of 212 in 2005.
