Are Online Transcription Jobs from Home Real?
Online transcription jobs from home have been given a bad rap in the past. Some of these opportunities were little more than scams. Others paid really low wages for transcribing jobs. As a result, transcription work is often overlooked as a quick – and steady way to make money online. Moreover, General transcription is one of the few work-from-home industries that welcomes newcomers with little to no experience. Though the pay can be pretty low starting out, experienced transcriptionists can easily earn a full-time income from home.
Working as a transcriptionist is a great way to make money from home. Whether you’re looking for a full-time job or just a few hours per week to bring in somesome extra money, transcribing can be a good option. A transcription job will usually allow you to work very flexible hours. Most transcription jobs will allow you to work as an independent contractor. Typically, you’ll be able to have control over the days and hours that you work, and how much you work. Some companies will have minimums or specific requirements that you’ll need to meet.
Starting a transcription career can be a little confusing and overwhelming. There are different types of transcription. Some require training and some don’t. You may or may not need to purchase transcription equipment. Let’s take a closer look at this work from home opportunity.
What is a Transcriptionist?
The process of converting a live audio or it’s recording into text or document format is called transcription or transcribing. A transcriptionist is the person who converts the audio file into text format. Depending upon the industry they serve, transcriptionists can perform medical, legal, or general transcription.
Interested in Learning more about Transcription Jobs?
If you are new to this opportunity, then I suggest you take this FREE TRANSCRIPTION COURSE. It can give you an excellent idea of what exactly transcription work entails. Also, how much you can earn and why this could be the right job for you. There are paid courses that you can consider if you are serious.
Either way, it could be a great starting point for you to learn about this exciting and lucrative work-at-home career.
What Do You Need to Get Started as a Transcriptionist?
Transcription work involves listening to recorded audio files and typing out what you hear. You can actually get started from home right away, if you have a computer and stable internet. Most of the companies that hire newbies are more laid-back in their equipment requirements. Really, you’ll only need to have a computer and a high-speed internet connection to start working.
To be efficient as a home-based transcriptionist, you will need a reliable computer. The choice between a laptop and desktop is a personal choice. It may be beneficial, however, to have both. You will need a recording system as well as a printer, and other office equipment. You will want a comfortable desk and chair that makes working long hours tolerable. However, as you advance, you may need some additional tools to be successful at transcribing and land better contracts.
Transcription Tools for Beginners
- Comfortable Headphones – A good pair of headphones will speed up you transcription work and output. You will frequently be working with difficult audio. By using headphones, you can hear words and conversations that are hard to detect with ordinary speakers.
- Desk and Keyboard – A quiet, comfortable place to work is very important. Also, an ergonomic keyboard is an advantage to avoid pain in your wrists and forearms. These simple basics become more and more important as you land more transcription work and spend more time at your keyboard.
- Proper Chair – An ergonomic chair provides your neck and back with support and comfort. Having a chair with adjustable height is also a great idea so that you can properly position yourself.
- Foot Control Pedal – A foot pedal helps you play, rewind, and fast forward the audio while you are typing. Instead of using your hands, you can simply press the levers with your feet to rewind the audio as you type. This will save you a lot of time while working.
- Word Processing Software – You’ll need to install word processing software like WordPerfect or Microsoft Office. Both programs are necessary and you should know how to use them to become more flexible and better at your transcription work. Many laptops and computers come with this software already installed.
- Other Software – Many transcribers additionally use tools like Express Scribe software. This is a free download that connects your foot pedal to your computer. It lets you control audio playback speed and comes with many other features. Things like variable speed playback, multi-channel control, playing video, file management, and more.
Can Transcription Work Be a Side Job?
Transcription can be an ideal side job for someone who has extra time. Although it is important to only take on the amount of work you can accomplish in the amount of time you have available. Most transcription jobs have deadlines. That means you can’t stop in the middle of something and come back to it when convenient. You have to finish what you start – and deliver it on time. However, many jobs can be finished in a relatively short amount of time. Either way, you must schedule your time properly so that your finished assignments are available on time.
Are Transcription Jobs Easy?
The job sounds easy enough, right? But just like any other job, what’s easy for one person won’t be for another. For example, sometimes the files you listen to will be very poor quality, making it difficult to understand what’s being said. And other times, you might find yourself trying to interpret unclear dialogue spoken in poor English or with a thick accent.
The work is also quite repetitive. You will have to listen to the same audio over and over again to be sure you have transcribed it perfectly. If you don’t like repetition, transcription might not be the line of work for you. Over time, it will get easier and you’ll get better and better. But at first it can be really intimidating. You may decide transcription just isn’t for you. But if you’re determined to stick out, you’ll likely find it’s something you can master with enough practice.
Is There a Better Opportunity to Make Money Online or from Home?
How Much is the Pay for Online Transcription Jobs from Home?
Depending on your skill level and expertise, you can expect to earn anywhere from $15 to $45 an hour as an at home transcriptionist. In the beginning, your pay will be on the low end of the scale. The more clients and experience you get, the higher your pay will be. When you start to prove your skill and earn a reputation for timely, quality service, you will be able to charge higher rates. Those who specialize in legal and medical transcription can make an even higher wage per hour.
The exact amount you earn as a transcriptionist will depend on the company you’re working for, how much work is available and your speed at typing and transcription skill level.
Another thing to note is that when doing transcription work, you are often paid per audio hour. For example, you may see a company advertising a pay rate of $60 per audio hour. But, this does not mean you will be making $60 an hour. It just means that you will make $60 for transcribing an hour of audio. That could take you quite a while depending on how complicated the audio is to decipher and how experienced you are.
When being paid per audio hour, most experienced transcribers consider anything below $45-50 an audio hour to be a very low rate of pay. There are also some companies that will pay per page. A low rate per page rate is usually anything less than $1 per page.
Online Transcription Jobs from Home for Beginners in 2020
Transcribe Me – General Transcription Work
TranscribeMe is a web based service provider that converts any kind of audio content into highly accurate text. This includes Single- and Multi-Speaker content, and all major European and Eastern languages are supported. The company is looking for transcribers to convert audio content into text. Basically, all you have to do is listen to an audio file and type the content in a word processor or software interface. The audio may be from a single speaker, a conversation between two people, or what’s been said in a group meeting or conference call. You also add footnotes, i.e. applause, laughing, chuckles ect.
Open to Beginners
This is a transcription site open to beginners with no experience. The work is available worldwide if you are a good English speaker. The pay is around $20 per audio hour. Pay is via Paypal. You have to fill out an online form with your general details. A high school degree is the minimum requirement and you must be fluent in English with good grammar and punctuation. The same goes for any other language that is supported by TranscribeMe. There will be a grammar test and you will have to perform a few transcriptions of audio content. Once you pass the tests, which are not too difficult, you can start working for TranscribeMe immediately. In case you do not pass the test in the first try, they will give you a chance to take the test again after a period of 24 hours.
Flexible Schedule
The company does not require transcriptionists to work a set number of hours. The company pays around $20 per audio hour, and does not require any specialized transcription equipment to getting started. Of course, you need a “reasonable computer” that has Google Chrome and a reliable internet connection. You’ll be paid weekly by PayPal for the work you complete.
TranscribeMe is one of the more popular options for transcribing jobs. Especially for beginners, as getting started is pretty easy. TranscribeMe does not require previous experience. When you are working for TranscribeMe you will be transcribing short audio clips (usually 2-4 minutes long) from a variety of different industries. Pay ranges from $15 to $22 per audio hour. The average transcriptionist earns $250 per month, with top earners making up to $2,200 per month. You’ll be paid by PayPal weekly. There is no cost to apply with TranscribeMe. Transcribers get paid 33 cents per audio minute or $20 per hour. There is a $2 per hour bonus if you transcribe the file accurately and additional editing is not necessary. You will get paid on every Tuesday via Paypal. The payout threshold is $10.
The good news is: TranscribeMe accepts transcribers with and without experience. Payments are made weekly via Paypal.
The bad news is: This site does pay on the lower end when it comes the industry norm for most transcription companies. Many applicants say their skills test is hard to pass.
Quicktate & iDictate – General, Medical & Legal Transcription
Quicktate is a transcription company supporting a variety of services and apps that convert short audio or video recorded speech into the written word. Both Quicktate and its partner, iDictate also offers services for longer transcription projects which include medical reports, conference calls and other legal files. The pay rate is a per word basis in lieu of a standard per audio minute or per audio hour pay scale. They pay you $0.00025 per word for general transcription work. Legal transcription jobs pay $0.00025 per word. Medical transription jobs pay $0.005 per word. As a transcriber, you can earn minimum of $5 to $7 per hour. If you don’t like decimals, the pay works out to 1/4 cent per word for general and legal transcription. The pay is 1/2 cent per word for medical transcription.
Automatic Promotion
As you gain experience, you can be automatically promoted to work for their partner company iDictate – where you can earn higher rates. Quicktate pays approximately one cent for every four words transcribed, while iDictate pays two cents for every four words transcribed. You can work as much or as little as you want, and they pay weekly by PayPal. The transcription work includes transcribing audio files, voicemail messages, legal files, medical files, conference calls, etc. The work is flexible, and you can log in whenever you want. The requirements are good spelling and punctuation knowledge. Background experience in transcription is always a plus. In any event, you will need to take a series of tests before getting hired for this company.
Quicktate is open to hiring complete beginners. You do have to take a skills test in order to be considered for work. Quicktate is open to considering applicants outside the United States. They do run a background check on new applicants, and this costs $15. Payments are made weekly with Paypal.
AccuTran Global – General and Medical Transcription
This company has both transcriptionist jobs and occasional data entry roles. They hire for general and medical transcription projects. The requirements are a minimum typing speed of 60 wpm, good English skills and knowledge of the medical field is preferred. The pay is around $0.005 per word. The hours are flexible, and you need to take a transcription test after applying online.
You will need to pass a transcription test to be considered. Accutran Global is not ideal for parents or caregivers who are responsible for others. When you accept an assignment, you are expected to finish claimed work ASAP. In other words, you cannot have any distractions that delay your turnaround times.
This company also hires beginners as well as part-time Transcribers to work from home in the US. You must be very fluent in English. Pay is via Paypal or check.
Allegis – Insurance Claims Transcription
Allegis Transcription is a transcription company that operates primarily in the property and casualty insurance market. They’ve been transcribing recorded statements in the insurance industry for more than 20 years. Rather than relying on in-house transcribers, they hire independent contractors. This is beneficial for both Allegis, and for freelancers who perform online transcription work from home. Allegis doesn’t list a specific pay rate on their website because rates are proportional to the client contract. The amount you can earn with Allegis depends on how fast and how accurately you can transcribe. According to the company director, the pay per hour can range from $13 to $17.
Allegis is always looking for skilled transcribers to join their team. Most of the transcription jobs they offer online is for insurance and legal industries. Payments are made every Friday via direct deposit or mailed check.
Casting Words – General Transcription Work
This US company offers online transcription jobs for newbies. The pay is around $1.20 per audio minute for a bad quality audio sound, and $0.60 for a good quality audio sound. Pay varies based on a few factors like the type of job, the level you’ve reached, and the grade that you receive for the work. The higher the grade for accuracy, the more you’ll be paid. Payments are made once per week by PayPal.
Casting Words hires freelancers from the U.S., Canada, and a long list of other countries. Signing up is easy. Some applicants will be required to take a transcription test, but others may not need to take the test. Once you’re approved you will be able to see available jobs in the dashboard, and you can take as much or as little work as you want.
GoTranscript – General Transcrition Jobs
GoTranscript hires workers from all around the world, and no transcription experience is needed. You will need to pass a test to get started, but if you fail the test you can try again in a few days. There is no word-per-minute typing speed requirement. You can earn up to $0.60 per audio minute for both audio and video files. Payments are made weekly via PayPal. Average earners make $150 per month with top earners bringing in $1,215 per month.
eScribers – Legal Transcription Work
This company is regularly hiring experienced legal transcribers, and they tend to have lots of work available to keep you busy. You must be able to type at least 70+ WPM to qualify. They are open to US residents, but cannot hire people residing in Massachusetts at this time. Payments are made weekly via direct deposit to your bank account.
Daily Transcription – General Corporate, Legal, and Academic Transcription Jobs
This US company welcomes new Transcribers to work remotely from home. You can log in and out to complete the work. The rate of pay is $.75 to $1.10 per minute of video transcribed for general transcription with other fields such as translation, CCSL and captioning paying higher. Open to the US and Canada, the company pays weekly via check. Daily Transcription provides corporate, legal, and entertainment transcription with same day turnaround times (hence the name!). There are no guaranteed hours or amount of work available, but they are always looking for transcriptionists at all experience levels as long as they are reliable. Work is available on an as-needed basis. To get started, you just need to submit a short form and then head over to their testing page.
Daily Transcription claims to pay higher rates than other companies, starting at $0.75 – $0.85 per audio minute. Their top transcriptionists make $250 – $950 per week (which is a really wide range). Payments are made weekly by check. As part of the application process, you’ll need to pass a skills assessment test, as well as a transcription test. They do not require transcription experience, but you must be able to type at least 50 words per minute. Daily Transcription works a little bit differently than some other companies. You’ll sign up for slots on their schedule, and you’ll be assigned work based on that schedule. Like other companies, they do not guarantee a specific amount of work will be available. You’ll be transcribing audio files from the entertainment, corporate, and legal industries, as well as some academic institutions.
SpeechPad
This US transcription company offers typing jobs for newbies. The pay is $0.10 to $0.40 per audio minute. Payments are sent out every two weeks via PayPal. The pay is considered low. But, this can be a good option for beginners to learn and advance to better paying alternatives.
Rev – General Transcription
You’ll need to pass a grammar quiz and submit a transcription template prior to claiming assignments from Rev. But, once accepted, transcribers can work as much or as little as they like. Rev pays 36 to 65 cents per audio minute, which works out to about $22 to $39 per audio hour.. The company pays weekly weekly by PayPal and doesn’t require any special equipment apart from a computer with a reliable Internet connection.
As a Rev transcriptionist, you will be working mostly on general transcription. The company hires both beginners and individuals with experience from anywhere in the world. The requirements are good command of English grammar and punctuation and the ability to follow guidelines. You need to follow their Style Guide and take an online assessment test. Once you successfully pass the test, you get recruited.
Rev offers transcription for audio files and videos. Payments will vary depending on what you are doing. Generally, it works out to $0.40 – $0.75 per audio minute. According to Rev, the average transcriptionist earns $245 per month, with top earners reaching $1,495. Payments are made once per week by PayPal.
In summary, the requirements are strong English skills, a computer, and a dependable internet connection. You will have to pass a skills test before they will consider you for work. Rev pays weekly via Paypal for all audio files transcribed the previous week.
SpeakWrite – General, Legal, Corporate Transcription Work
SpeakWrite is one of the best transcription companies to work for, but you’ll need a little bit of experience. They have a well-established customer base that includes legal, government, law enforcement, and private sector clients. As a transcriptionist for SpeakWrite, you’ll be paid $0.005 – $0.006 per word. Average earners make $300+ per month with top earners exceeding $3,000 per month. Payments are made twice per month by direct deposit or check. In order to work for SpeakWrite, applicants must pass a test with a minimum of 60 words per minute with at least 90% accuracy. You will also need at least one year of transcription experience, and you must pass a background check. Once you’re approved you will choose your own shifts and then work will be assigned to you during your shifts. You’ll need to schedule at least 15 working hours per month.
1-888-Type-It-Up
You can work for 1-888-Type-It-Up even if you live outside of the U.S. One of the reasons to consider working for 1-888-Type-It-Up is the possibility to earn higher pay. They pay transcriptionists $30 – $180 per audio hour. They aim to pay at least $60 per audio hour ($1 per audio minute) and higher when possible. Rates vary depending on what the client requires. You are paid twice per month by PayPal. In order to get started, you need to pass a test by transcribing a short audio file. Speed is not a part of the test. They don’t have a minimum words-per-minute requirement. They are only concerned with your accuracy. One of the downsides is that you will need to pay a $35 application fee. However, they acknowledge that the application fee reduces the number of applicants, so you’ll have less competition if you apply.
1-888-TYPE-IT-UP pays among the best starting rates for online transcription jobs from home. You must be a U.S. resident and fill out a short questionnaire to be considered. When they are hiring, you will be contacted and asked to take a short transcription test. If you pass, you can be hired on as a contractor. Keep in mind, it might be weeks or months before you are invited to test. If you think you might be remotely interested in this opportunity, get your application in as early as possible.
Speechpad – General Transcription Jobs
Speechpad is another solid company to consider. You can earn $0.25 – $2.50 per audio minute (or $15 to $150 per audio hour). Payments are made twice per week by PayPal, and it’s free to sign up. But, before you can start working you’ll need to pass a transcription and a grammar test. As a worker, you’ll have a rating, and the rating impacts the jobs for which you will be eligible. The higher your rating, the more openings and opportunities become available. There are also possibilities to qualify for rush jobs and captioning jobs that can bring higher pay. There is no minimum that you are required to work. Also, there is flexibility in choosing the specific jobs that you want to take.
Scribie – General Online Transcription
Scribie is where many aspiring typists go when they first look for transcription jobs online. There is a waiting list of thousands (yes, thousands!). They hire worldwide and pay via PayPal. The pay rate is $10.00/audio hour. If you complete three hours of audio in a month, you get a bonus $10.00. There are pros and cons to Scribie. The cons are the low pay. Even as far as transcription jobs online for beginners goes, they pay pretty low. But on a positive note, there are no cash out limits and no commitments. You can work as much or as little as you want, when you want.
You don’t need experience to get started, but you will need to pass a test. With Scribie, you’ll be working on short files, 10 minutes or less. Scribie does not assign work to you. You’ll be able to preview the available jobs and decide which ones you want to take. Scribie is known to be one of the lower-paying companies in the industry. By working for them you can earn $5 – $25 per audio hour. There are also small monthly bonuses available ($5 for every 3 hours completed). You can withdraw earnings to your PayPal account at any time.
This is a company that hires for general transcription. They are one of the lowest-paying companies. If you’re accepted, you may want to just see it as supplemental income. Scribie pays weekly via Paypal.
Casting Words – General Transcription Work
Casting Words hires freelancers from the U.S., Canada, and a long list of other countries. Signing up is easy. Some applicants will be required to take a transcription test, but others may not need to take the test. Once you’re approved you will be able to see available jobs in the dashboard. You can take as much or as little work as you want. By working for Casting Words you will be paid $0.085 to over $1 per audio minute. Pay varies based on a few factors like the type of job, the level you’ve reached, and the grade that you receive for the work. The higher the grade for accuracy, the more you’ll be paid. Payments are made once per week by PayPal.
Final Words: Online Transcription Jobs from Home…
So, there you have it. 20 Companies that offer online transcription jobs from home – for beginners even! Remember, sign up for one (or both) of the Free Mini Courses at TranscribeAnywhere.
If you are new to transcription, these courses can give you an excellent idea of what exactly transcription work entails. Also, how much you can earn and why this could be the right job for you. There are paid courses that you can consider if you are serious. You’ll get a much better understanding of what it takes to start a transcription career and whether it’s the right path for you.
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8 thoughts on “Online Transcription Jobs from Home: Best Transcription Work for 2020”
I have heard of this type of job over the years but did not know what it actually was. Thanks so much for the breakdown that is a great help. It seems like a great way to make money from home.
Thanks Norman. Many make transcription their lifelong career.
You have provided more than adequate information for those who wish to earn additional income or more with this type of work. Your detailed research and numerous contacts will be helpful for those entering this field. Thank you and all the best.
Thanks Joseph. Transcription sometimes gets a bad rap. There are legitimate opportunities.
Hello, this is all very interesting, but I just lost a very much loved online legal transcription job last month because of this stupid California Assembly Bill No. 5.
Annie: Maybe you should wait for the dust to settle – or find a transcription job situated outsied of California. The most immediate implication of AB5 is that it turns independent contractors into employees. The impact for gig companies is the test which says that anyone performing work for a company that is the same as the business of that company is presumed to be an employee. Under the new bill, if employers begin classifying gig workers as employees, it means these workers will be entitled to a minimum wage, expense reimbursements, employee benefits, rest breaks, and the other benefits afforded to employees under California state law. In that sense, the bill creates a level playing field between those working in the gig economy and those hired as regular employees.
There are potential downsides too. If gig workers are treated as employees because of this, will they be expected to adhere to a new set of standards regarding how they perform their work? For example, one major appeal of being a driver for a ride-sharing or delivery company is the ability to choose when and when not to work. As an employee, a former gig worker may lose that choice.
The signing of California AB5 into law affects many, but not all, businesses that rely on gig workers in California. More than 50 professions and types of businesses are exempt, including insurance agents, attorneys, real estate agents, and certain types of business-to-business contractors and referral agencies. Companies that are not exempt will have to take a closer look at how they classify employees and independent contractors to ensure that they’re not violating the terms of the bill. Good luck!
Thanks for sharing your information
Happy to help! Online transcription has gotten a bad rap. Yes, there are some dodgy employers out there. It is a shame the rest of the imdustry has to suffer. I know many work from homers that got their first online paychecks from online transcription jobs. Good Luck!