15 Best Transcription Jobs

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If you’re looking for a flexible work-from-home job that doesn’t require being on the phone or having set hours, try transcription. There are many online companies offering transcriptionist jobs.

You can earn real money doing online transcription from the comfort of your home. Set your own hours and work as much or as little as you want each week.

If you are taking care of kids or elderly parents, doing transcription can be a great way to make money from home.

Here’s what you need to find transcriptionist jobs and make money working from home.

How Much Do Online Transcriptionists Make?

Person typing on their computer at home making money

According to PayScale, transcriptionist make on average of $15.13 per hour.

However, ZipRecruiter puts the national average at $28 per hour and mentions that they have seen hourly wages as high as $72 per hour.

How much you make as a transcriptionist depends on several factors. One of the most important ones is how quickly you type – the faster you are at transcribing, the better your hourly rate.

Other factors include English proficiency, the rate a company will pay and how much work is available.

Most companies that accept beginners pay a lower rate. Once you have transcriptionist experience, you can apply for higher paying jobs.

Do you want to become a transcriptionist? Check out Transcribe Anywhere which has a free mini course that helps equip you with the necessary skills to become a successful transcriptionist.

Top Places to Find Transcriptionist Jobs

There are many companies that offer transcription jobs. Most companies will require you to take a short transcription test prior to accepting you. They use the test to gauge your typing accuracy and attention to detail before assigning you work.

As mentioned, companies that hire beginner transcriptionists don’t pay as well. Build your transcriptionist experience and use it to get higher paying jobs.

1. 1-888-TYPE-IT-UP

1- 888-TYPE-IT-Up is one of the highest-paying transcription companies according to their site. They are currently hiring transcriptionists, including beginners.

Their lowest pay rate is $30 per audio hour and can go as high as $180 per audio hour. The minimum age to apply for work is 14; applicants under 18 will need a parent or guardian to provide a PayPal account.

This company offers work for transcriptionists located both in the U.S. and outside. If you are outside the U.S., you can transcribe for their non-U.S. clients. They pay transcriptionists twice a month via PayPal.

2. Allegis Transcription

Allegis specializes in transcription for the insurance and legal industries. They work with some of the largest providers in the country and have a sizable and steady workflow of transcription jobs.

To become a transcriptionist, you will need good grammar and style and the ability to type 75 words per minute at minimum. There’s a 100-page weekly minimum and the ability to meet quality assurance standards consistently.

While their current job listings are for legal and experienced transcriptionists, they hire beginners so check the website for updates.

3. BabbleType

BabbleType offers opportunities for transcriptionists, editors, and translators. They produce transcription for market research projects that demand completeness, accuracy, and reliability.

Working for the company requires high skill in language, listening ability and familiarity with more sophisticated transcript formats. They only hire native English speakers from the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Transcriptionists are paid weekly and payment is calculated on a time basis. You can set your own work schedule and work as much or as little as you like.

4. CastingWords

CastingWords hires transcriptionists from around the world at all skill levels. As a freelance transcriptionist, you will transcribe, edit, and complete short jobs online at your own pace. Work as much or as little as you want when you want.

To get you will need PayPal. How much you get paid depends on how well you do. Each job has an average pay listed, but your actual compensation will depend on how your work is graded.

There is no test to qualify, but your job options will be limited until you submit work and get graded.

5. CrowdSurf

CrowdSurf focuses on creating video captions for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and second language viewers. They offer short transcription tasks available day and night, giving you the flexibility to work anywhere and anytime.

To join the company, you will need to create a Work Market account. This is how you will get your tasks and get paid. You will need to pass a brief assessment to join the CrowdSurf group and start working.

Get paid when you complete the work at the end of each day.

6. Daily Transcription

Daily Transcription provides services to the entertainment, corporate and legal industries, and academic institutions. You can create your own schedule and work anywhere and anytime you want. Assignments come to you and you are paid weekly by check.

Starting rates for transcriptionists are $0.75 – $0.85 per audio minute. According to the site, top transcriptionists make anywhere from $250 – $950 a week.

Professional, novice, and beginner transcriptionists are encouraged to apply.

You will be expected to pass a skill assessment test and an actual transcription test.

To apply you will need to have a strong mastery of English, typing skills of at least 50 words per minute, excellent listening skills and the ability to meet strict deadlines.

You must live in the U.S. or Canada to apply as a transcriptionist.

They will consider candidates outside the United States and Canada for subtitling/captioner and translation jobs if they are proficient in a second language.

7. GMR Transcription

GMR Transcription provides transcription and translation services for writer, students/professors, and businesses. They work with government institutions, non-profit organizations, universities, and corporations.

According to their website, transcriptionists and translators earn between $1,000 and $3,000 per month, depending on their skills and the work they take on.

They have job openings for general transcriptionists or Spanish transcriptionists and translators. There is no experience necessary.

If you are a certified translator, you can set your own rates and pick what assignments you take.

8. GoTranscript

GoTranscript is a web-based transcription and translation company. According to their website, they pay up to $0.60 per audio or video minute. You can expect to earn $150 per month on average with top monthly earnings in the $1,200 range.

They always have open freelance transcription jobs and accept beginners. All you need to work is a computer and an internet connection. You will get paid weekly via PayPal once you complete all work.

Choose your own projects and work as much or as little as you want with no set hours.

There is no set residence location to get hired. All you need is good English skills. There are no set typing speed requirements although they allow six hours to transcribe 10 minutes of an audio or video file.

You will need to pass a transcription test to get started.

9. Hollywood Transcriptions

Hollywood Transcription provides transcription services for the entertainment, academic, legal and corporate industries. To be hired as a transcriptionist, you need to have attention to detail and accuracy, adhere to strict deadlines, and be responsible.

All transcribers must type at least 65 word per minute, own a digital foot pedal and transcription software. You need not purchase the equipment until you are hired.

All transcriptionists are located in the U.S. and must be fluent in English with excellent spelling and grammar skills. No experience is need to apply as long as you meet the requirements above.

10. Quicktate

Quicktate provides transcription for many different mediums.

Here are some examples:

  • Voicemail messages
  • Memos
  • Letters
  • Legal files
  • Medical files
  • Recordings of phone calls
  • Conference calls
  • Other audio files

The company also audits, summarizes, evaluates, and analyzes audio recordings and phone conversations.

You will need to pass a quiz and typing test and a background check before you get hired. There is a $20 fee for the background check, which you agree to pay when applying. Even though there is a fee, this is a legitimate company.

To get hired as a contractor, you will need accurate spelling and punctuation skills and the ability to follow instructions.

You will need to pass a typing quick for each language or specialty you are interested in such as English, Spanish, French, medical, and so on. You cannot have any convictions of a felony or misdemeanor on your record.

Select your own hours and work as much or as little as you want with jobs available around the clock. The company hires transcriptionists from both inside and outside the United States.

11. Rev

Rev offers online audio transcription, video captions and document translation services for immigration, legal, academic, and personal needs.

According to their website, you can earn $245 per month on average and payout is weekly via PayPal.

To get started, you will need to fill out your name and email and take a grammar and transcription test. They will let you know within 48 hours if you’re approved to work as a freelancer.

You can work from anywhere in the world with no set hours. This is one of the most popular companies for freelance transcriptionist jobs.

12. Scribie

Scribie offers transcription services for interview, webinars, podcasts, sermons, focus groups, lectures and videos. They provide general transcription services and specialized transcription for academic, legal and business industries.

There is no experience required. To apply, you need good communication skills, proficiency in spoken and written English and excellent comprehension of American, British, Australian and Indian accents.

Pay is $5 to $25 per audio hour and they hire freelancers from all over the world. Payouts are via PayPal.

13. Tigerfish

Tigerfish offers transcription services for a wide variety of materials, including single subject interview to focus groups, documentary film footage, corporate research projects, police interrogations, depositions, and more.

To transcribe for Tigerfish, you must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. You will need to pass a transcribing test using the Tigerfish style guide to be considered.

14. Transcribe.com

Transcribe.com offers audio-to-text and video-to-text transcription services. You must be based in the United States. Previous experience in the transcription industry with a good comprehension of the English language are recommended. They have openings for transcriptionists and transcription editors. All you need to work is a computer, an internet connection and experience with transcription hardware and software. Payments are made via PayPal.

15. TranscribeMe

TranscribeMe offers transcriptionists jobs to anyone in the world. According to their site, they have the industry’s best rates, with earnings starting at $15-$22 per audio hour and average monthly earnings of $250.

Transcriptionists with specialized background in medical and legal earn higher rates.

You will work on transcribing short, one to two minute clips, not long interviews. There is no experience required but you will need to pass an exam to prove accuracy with transcribing audio and following style guidelines. Payouts are made via PayPal on a weekly basis.

Summary

Becoming a transcriptionist is a flexible way to earn money from anywhere. It’s a great job if you want flexibility so you can travel, study or take care of a child or an elderly relative.

To get started, make a short list of companies and fill out applications and taking tests. Once you get started, continue to polish your skills and apply for more advanced positions. It’s a great way to earn money on your own terms.


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