After accuracy, speed is the most important quality of a good data entry specialist. Traditionally, words per minute (WPM) has been the standard metric for measuring typing speeds. A good rule of thumb is to look for a typing speed somewhere in the neighborhood of 55-80 words per minute (WPM). Touch typing, the ability to type without looking at the keyboard, is important not only because it allows workers to type more quickly, it also allows them to catch (and fix) errors much more reliably.