Considering a new work-from-home career as a transcriptionist, or looking for a way to make a little extra money using your typing skills? Transcription work can be a great way to make money from home with just a computer, internet service, and the dedication to master a new craft.
Many transcription companies are happy to accept beginner transcriptionists, as well as other companies looking for more advanced skill sets and willing to pay for it. Almost anyone with a little determination and practice can make money online working as a transcriptionist.
What Is Transcription
Online transcription is the process of listening to audio files and transcribing (or writing/typing) them to text exactly as heard. This can be difficult for those who are not fast at typing or who are not great at listening. So you typically do need both of these skills to transcribe (or do you?).
Don’t forget that I have one crazy tip for online transcription. In fact, I’m using it right now and let me tell you it makes my life so much easier. It also makes transcribing amazingly simple – though still something that needs to be learned properly.
FREE Transcription Training:
Getting proper training before entering into transcription or any other field will not only ease your struggles but also improve your earnings quickly.
Keeping that in mind, I would like to introduce you to a FREE Transcription course before we head over to the list of companies that offer online transcription jobs.
I suggest you take a look at this FREE 7-Lesson General Transcription Mini-Course by an experienced transcriptionist named Janet Shaugnessy. Simply, this course is super helpful for beginner transcriptionists, just like you.
To get a clear idea of what is transcription is all about, will it fit you or not, and how to find a successful at home career in this field, this is the training you should be part of. If interested, check out this on Transcribe Anywhere website.
If you have any knowledge or experience in the Legal field and want to pursue Legal Transcription, then feel free to look at this FREE Legal Transcription Mini-Course.
Transcription Jobs to Make Money Online
Take a look at this list of different transcription companies, including the average pay and application requirements, and you’re sure to find several that are a good fit for your current typing skills.
seems to have a fairly easy-to-pass application process, making it a good option for a beginner transcriptionist with limited experience. The pay rate is low compared to some of the other companies, but you can promote up to higher-paid levels of work, including becoming a proofreader. There are no monthly commitments or obligations.
Scribie is unique because they provide an automated transcription along with each audio file, which you can then edit and correct. This can help to significantly cut down the amount of time it takes to complete each assignment.
Average Pay: $5-$25 per audio hour; plus a $5 bonus for every three hours completed per month.
Payment Method: PayPal
Payment Frequency: Upon withdrawal request, which will be honored within one business day.
Qualifications: Must pass Scribie’s transcription certification test.
focuses on providing confidential law enforcement and legal transcription services for local, state, and federal agencies. On their website, you’ll find a list of work opportunities for transcriptionists seeking work. You’ll apply for a specific job opportunity by submitting an application and resume, and then wait to hear from one of Net Transcripts recruiters.
Net Transcript jobs seem to require a higher level of specific background experience, along with a fairly large weekly commitment of editing 300 minutes of audio per week.
Average Pay: Dependent on the position
Payment Method: Direct deposit
Payment Frequency: Twice monthly
Qualifications: The candidate must be a US citizen and able to pass a background check and can commit to editing 300 audio hours weekly. Must have Windows 10 and an Infinity foot pedal.
has some of the least restrictive qualification requirements, along with decent pay rates, making it a great option even for beginning transcriptionists.
You’ll have complete flexibility in the jobs you pick and how much you want to work and they accept worldwide applicants. There are no equipment or software requirements other than your PC or other device and a set of headphones.
GoTranscript seems to have had an issue with people trying to buy and sell GoTranscript accounts, so they do require SMS and photo verification when you register.
Average Pay: up to $0.60 per minute of audio transcribed
Payment Method: PayPal and Payoneer
Payment Frequency: Weekly on Fridays
Qualifications: A 95% accuracy rate on GoTranscript’s transcription accuracy test.
Rev has hundreds of projects available for Revvers to claim and complete for income, with millions of minutes of audio and video files to be transcribed or captioned each month. They boast clients like Google, Buzzfeed, NBC, and Amazon.
With Rev, there are no restrictions on the number of projects that you can claim. The projects cover a huge variety of topics so you’ll never get bored and you get to preview each project before accepting it.
Average Pay: $0.30-$1.10 per audio/video minute of transcription; $0.54-$1.10 per audio/video minute of captioning; $1.50-$3.00 per audio/video minute of translating foreign language subtitles.
Payment Method: PayPal
Payment Frequency: Weekly
Qualifications: Must pass Rev’s English competency quiz and have a transcription or subtitle sample that you submit approved.
Allegis Transcription provides mostly legal and insurance transcription services to businesses and organizations. They have a very robust onboarding and training system including an application, interview, entrance assessment, and a one- to two-week quality development program in which you are matched with a coach to make sure your work meets Allegis’ standards.
Applying to Allegis would be a good fit if you are looking for a significant number of regular transcription work hours each week.
Average Pay: Average of $12 per work hour
Payment Method: Not provided
Payment Frequency: Weekly
Qualifications: Must have a Microsoft operating system and Microsoft Word, type 65 WPM minimum, however, 85+ WPM preferred. The candidate must be available to meet the 100-page minimum each week and have a foot pedal.
TranscrbieMe is a company well suited for beginner transcriptionists as they have few requirements other than having a computer with stable internet service and the ability to pass their entrance exam. However, there are opportunities to advance to higher-paying positions with their quality insurance and specialist teams.
The audio length of TranscribeMe jobs is only two to eight minutes long, with the requirement to do a minimum of one job per month. This makes work with TranscribeMe suitable for a potential side hustle.
Average Pay: $15-$22 per audio hour; average monthly earnings are $250
Payment Method: PayPal
Payment Frequency: Weekly on Thursdays upon withdrawal request; must have a minimum $20 account balance.
Qualifications: TranscribeMe’s entrance exam
Offers a wide variety of projects including oral history interviews, focus groups, financial forecasts, tech webinars, and more. You may be asked to transcribe using the context of audio, video, or handwritten material.
The company has been around since 1966 and their “claim to fame” is that they’ve been asked to transcribe six U.S. presidential oral histories. Transcriptionists interviewed from this company typically describe their work as interesting, varied, and in a good work environment.
Average Pay: $65 per audio hour, which translates to around $15 per work hour.
Payment Method: Checks and direct deposit
Payment Frequency: Weekly
Qualifications: Minimum typing speed of 80 WPM with 98% accuracy; can deliver files within 24 hours or less for an hour-long file.
Pioneer Transcription Services mainly does work with transcribing two-person interviews and needs transcriptionists who can work with video files and insert on-screen time stamps, as well as people who can transcribe from Spanish to English.
Once you’re accepted as a transcriptionist with Pioneer Transcription Services, you can log in whenever you’re available to work and claim assignments from the pool of listed jobs.
Average Pay: $1 per audio/video minute for general transcription; higher rates for legal transcription
Payment Method: Not provided
Payment Frequency: Not provided
Qualifications: Access to a transcription software of your choice and an Infinity foot pedal; must pass a short transcription test if selected based on your application.
Transcript Divas is based out of NYC and boasts a 200% guarantee on achieving 99% accuracy and meeting timelines. They provide academic, video, and legal transcription services. There have been some payment-related complaints by some transcriptionists. They say their payments arrived much later than the seven-day target timeframe.
Average Pay: Rates between $0.84-$2.06/audio minute, with an average of $1.15/audio minutes
Payment Method: PayPal or bank transfer
Payment Frequency: Must send an invoice for work completed; Target of being paid within seven days of receiving the invoice
Qualifications: Able to complete at least two hours of audio per week; computer with Windows 10; preference is given to those with transcription experience.
GMR Transcription is a company that provides both transcription and translation services. They are very upfront that no experience is necessary, but you will need a computer with MS Office, a foot pedal, and over-the-ear headphones.
Once you pass GMR Transcription’s strict transcription test you have the flexibility to pick the assignments you want, working as much or as little as you want. They seem to be a well-received company based on transcriptionists’ reviews.
Average Pay: Typically between $1,000 to $3,000 per month; $0.75 to $1.00 per audio minute
Payment Method: Direct deposit
Payment Frequency: Not provided
Qualifications: Must have MS office, a foot pedal, headphones, and pass a strict transcription test. However, no previous experience is required. U.S.-based applicants only.
FAQs About Transcription Jobs
These are some frequently asked questions when it comes to transcription jobs.
What Are Transcription Jobs?
A transcription job typically includes listening to an audio or video recording and converting it into a text document that accurately portrays the speakers’ words.
How Much Do Transcription Jobs Pay?
A transcriptionist’s pay rate is typically around $15 per work hour. An advanced or specialized transcriptionist can earn towards $25-$30 per work hour.
Which Transcribing Equipment and Tools Do I Need?
Most importantly you’ll need a computer, and preferably a PC since many transcription jobs require that you have Windows 10 and Microsoft Word. You’ll want an over-the-ear headset, as this is a requirement for many transcription jobs, as well as some basic transcription software.
Express Scribe is a popular option that costs less than $40, but there are also free options available online. An infinity foot pedal is a requirement for some jobs, and it helps speed up your work, allowing you to make money.
Which Skills Do I Need to Become a Transcriptionist?
To be a great transcriptionist, you should be skilled at attentive listening, sharp memory, fast typing speed with high accuracy, research skills, attention to detail, and grammar, punctuation, and spelling proficiency.
How Much Experience Do I Need to Have to Apply to Transcription Jobs?
There are quite a few transcription companies that do not require any formal experience. Typically you will have to pass a transcription test so you will need enough knowledge, practice, and skills to make that happen.
How Should I Set My Rate as a Transcriptionist?
A pay rate of $1.00 per audio minute is seen as an average rate for a transcriptionist. While you may accept less than this as a beginner, many transcriptionists believe that $45-$50 per audio hour is the least you should accept. More experience, especially in the medical and legal industries, can help you to command a higher rate.
FREE Transcription Training:
Getting proper training before entering into transcription or any other field will not only ease your struggles but also improve your earnings quickly.
Keeping that in mind, I would like to introduce you to a FREE Transcription course before we head over to the list of companies that offer online transcription jobs.
I suggest you take a look at this FREE 7-Lesson General Transcription Mini-Course by an experienced transcriptionist named Janet Shaugnessy. Simply, this course is super helpful for beginner transcriptionists, just like you.
To get a clear idea of what is transcription is all about, will it fit you or not, and how to find a successful at home career in this field, this is the training you should be part of. If interested, check out this on Transcribe Anywhere website.
If you have any knowledge or experience in the Legal field and want to pursue Legal Transcription, then feel free to look at this FREE Legal Transcription Mini-Course.
Final Thoughts
Transcription work can be a great way to make money from your home. There are transcriptionist positions available for you no matter if you’re looking for a side-hustle, full-time employment, or something in between.
The companies in this article are a good starting place as you look into transcription jobs that fit your skillset and experience. If you’re looking to get off to a quick start, consider applying to multiple companies so that you always have transcription work available to you when you want it.
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