Are you looking for a legitimate online opportunity that allows you to work from the comfort of your own home?
Do you have a knack for paying attention to the smallest details?
Are you a fast and accurate typist, or perhaps even a seasoned writer looking for a new venture?
If any of these descriptions sound like you, then becoming a transcriptionist who works from home is something you can easily do!
In this guide, we will explore the dynamic domain of online transcription jobs.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced transcriptionist, this article will provide valuable insights, top job recommendations, and essential tips to help you kickstart your online transcription job.
So, if you’re eager to transform your language skills into an extra source of income and are excited about working remotely, let’s dive right in!
Table of Contents
What is Transcription?
Transcription jobs are often part-time, don’t demand extensive prior experience, and it’s a great entry point for numerous remote work enthusiasts.
Transcription is basically taking what someone says and turning it into written words.
The ones who do this are called transcriptionists, and they’re pretty good at listening and writing things down accurately.
This comes in handy in jobs like healthcare, law, and media.
In the healthcare world, it helps doctors’ words about patients get written down neatly.
In the legal, it ensures everything said in court is well documented in writing.
And in the media game, transforms spoken words in interviews and videos into text for things like captions and subtitles.
But it’s not just limited to those areas. Schools and businesses also use transcription to convert recordings into written documents.
To be a top-notch transcriptionist, you’ve got to understand the specific language used in these fields and be spot-on in writing down exactly what’s being said.
It’s like building a bridge between spoken language and written words.
What You Need To Become A Transcriptionist?
Starting online transcription jobs can be a great entry into the world of work-from-home opportunities. You might need the right tools and skills to begin working as a transcriber. Let’s take a closer look
Good Listening Skills
The most crucial skill for a transcriptionist is the ability to listen carefully. In transcription jobs, the audio you’ll work with can differ widely in terms of quality, accents, pace, and difficulty. You’ll need to decipher spoken words accurately, catching every detail.
Typing Speed and Accuracy
When you work as a transcriber, your typing speed is really important. When you transcribe, one audio file can turn into hundreds or even thousands of words.
To do well, you should be able to type at least 40-60 words per minute for most online transcription jobs. If you can type even faster, you’ll usually earn more money. But remember, it’s super important to be accurate, even if you’re typing fast.
Quality Headphones
Invest in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. They help you hear audio more clearly and focus on the spoken words without background distractions.
Transcription Software
Familiarize yourself with transcription software. Different companies may use different tools, so being tech-savvy is a bonus.
Grammar and Punctuation Skills
You should have a good grasp of grammar and punctuation to ensure the written text is clear and coherent.
Specialized Knowledge (Industry-Specific)
Depending on the field you choose to work in, you might need specialized knowledge. For medical or legal transcription, for instance, you’ll need to understand industry-specific terminology.
How To Find The Best Online?
1. Rev
Rev hires freelancers for a variety of services, including Audio Transcription Services, AI Audio Transcription, Closed Caption Services, English Subtitle Services, and Live Captioning for Zoom.
With over 750,000 customers worldwide, including TCM, PBC, Viacom, and CBS, Rev stands out as one of the top sources for online transcription jobs.
They are constantly seeking freelance transcriptionists with strong English proficiency and a keen eye for detail, making it an excellent remote job opportunity for freelance writers.
To land a transcription job with Rev, you need to pass a basic grammar test and provide a quick transcription sample – and then you’re all set, you don’t even need any past experience. The payment process is straightforward; they pay you on a weekly basis through PayPal.
2. Daily Transcription
Daily Transcription hires freelancers including transcriptionists, captioners, interpreters, and subtitlers from the US, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand.
They focus on transcription in various fields, including entertainment, corporate, legal, and academic content. Whether you’re just starting out or an experienced transcriptionist, they provide training and timely feedback from their team.
Their starting rates are notably higher than their competitors at $0.75 to $0.85 per audio minute, with the potential to earn up to $250 to $1100 per week, similar to what top transcribers make.
To get started, all you need to do is pass a basic grammar and transcription test in your area of expertise.
3. TranscribeMe
TranscribeMe offers a wide range of services, including Transcription, Translation, Machine Transcription, AI Datasets, and Data Annotation, catering to various industries such as legal, medical, and educational.
It’s particularly well-suited for entry-level freelancers as the requirements are quite basic for the industry.
TranscribeMe provides a base pay rate ranging from $15 to $22 per audio hour and offers training along with an easy-to-follow style guide.
The compensation is not a bit low, typically less than $20 per hour of audio for beginners. Nonetheless, Crowdsurf can be an ideal option for earning some extra money if you have a few spare minutes during your day, similar to online survey platforms.
This makes it an excellent choice for those just starting in transcription. You have the flexibility to work from home and transcribe shorter 2 to 4-minute audio clips instead of longer interviews.
4. CrowdSurf
CrowdSurf is a company that offers transcription jobs you can do from your own home. They work with lots of freelancers to provide transcription and captioning services when needed.
With CrowdSurf, you get to work comfortably from your home, and you can go at your own speed. There are no strict rules, and you get paid as you finish your tasks. How much you earn depends on how good you are at work and how much you do.
The tasks can be really short, like 5 to 30 seconds of audio, and you get paid between $0.03 to $0.02 for every minute of media, plus extra bonuses.
You need to have strong proofreading skills and English fluency (I guess that is quite understood by now). Transcribers need to pass an initial assessment before taking transcription gigs.
5. Quicktate
QuickTate employs freelance transcriptionists to convert voicemail messages, memos, letters, legal documents, medical files, and various audio recordings into written text.
While a certain level of English fluency is necessary, Quicktate also offers opportunities for foreign language transcription.
What sets QuickTate apart is that it doesn’t require any prior transcription experience, making it an excellent remote job without experience.
Quicktate pays 25 cents for every 100 words you type for general or legal transcription. For medical transcription, they pay 50 cents for every 100 words. You get paid every week through PayPal.
6. eScribers
eScribers is one of the larger legal transcription and court reporting companies in the US.
They offer remote legal transcription, proofreading, and stenographic reporting opportunities. Specializing in legal and medical transcription, they are a trusted choice for those seeking work-from-home jobs.
You’ll work as an independent contractor in these roles, and payments are made via direct deposit on a weekly basis.
eScribers is open to beginners, making it a great starting point for those without prior experience looking to begin a work-from-home job.
7. SpeakWrite
SpeakWrite hires freelance transcriptionists who commit to at least four hours of weekly work. They provide rapid transcription services to businesses, law firms, and insurance companies. You must be a legal resident of the U.S. or Canada to apply to SpeakWrite, with the exception of California.
To apply, you’ll need to pass a typing test with a speed of 60 words per minute (WPM) and an accuracy of 90%. Transcriptionists are required to have at least one year of experience.
According to their website, you get paid around $5 for every 1,000 words you transcribe, which is roughly six to seven minutes of audio. Some shifts even offer a 10% bonus. The company says most transcriptionists make about $450 a month, with top earners raking in $3,400.
8. GMR Transcription
GMR transcription hires US-based general transcribers and Spanish translators.
They are open to applicants without prior transcription experience. However, they have a stringent grading policy to ensure 99% accuracy for their clients.
To join, you’ll need to pass a test and transcribe a minimum of 2 hours of audio as a skills demonstration. The good news is, there are no fees for testing or registration to consider.
According to their website, GMR Transcriptionists and translators usually make anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 per month, depending on their transcription skills and the kind of work they choose.
9. GoTranscript
Starting your transcription career at GoTranscript is a pretty straightforward process – you’ll need to take and pass their test to get started. Of course, it sounds simpler than it often is, but they help you out by providing guidelines that set out what they’re looking for.
Once you’re in, you can check out their job listings, pick from available projects, and get paid for the ones you complete and are accepted for.
According to the website, most people earn around $150 monthly, while their top editors can make over $1,000 per month. Payments can go up to $0.6 per minute of audio or video. They use PayPal or Payoneer for payment every Friday.
Online Transcription Jobs: A Great Remote Job Opportunity
We hope this guide on places to find Online Transcription Jobs has provided you with valuable insights into the world of transcription work and the potential earnings it offers, especially for those just starting their freelancing journey.
Transcription is a field that welcomes beginners without experience or formal qualifications.
It’s an ideal choice for parents seeking flexibility as you can work in short bursts at your convenience.
While initial pay rates may be low, there’s ample room for growth as you sharpen your skills, increase your typing speed, and delve into specialized areas.
