*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the full disclosure here. 

Online Transcription Jobs for Beginners

Online transcription jobs are getting highly popular these days because it is one of those work from home jobs that is easy to master.

If you are someone that has accurate typing and listening skills, then this side hustle can earn you an extra $1,000 – $3,000 a month, depending on your hours of work and level of experience.

Let us cover a few basic questions you may have before I list out 20 online transcription jobs from home – suitable for beginners.

The first few jobs on the list are available to a worldwide audience and the ones further down are limited to those living in the US.

 

What is online transcription?

Transcription is converting a set of audio or video files into text.

You will be given a set of pre-recorded audio files to listen and convert into written text documents.

It is important that you have a computer with a high-speed internet connection, a headset and foot pedal to help you work faster.

Online transcribing does not require you to have any previous experience or educational background.

There are a few online courses that help you learn what it takes to be a transcriptionist, but the key is to be a fast and accurate typist. This is a skill that does come with practice.

 

How do I Start Working as a Transcriptionist?

Most online jobs for transcribers do not require you to have experience. However, getting a better understanding of what the job involves gives you the confidence to begin.

This free transcription starter course will fill you in with some basic details of becoming an online transcriptionist.

Here are some skills required if you want to succeed in this career.

  • Have a good command of English. If you are not fluent in English you can also find foreign language transcription jobs.
  • Listening skills and accurate typing skills. And have the ability to interpret conversations.
  • Desktop or laptop with a good internet connection.
  • Headset and foot pedal.
  • The latest version of your web browser.
  • And finally, patience, because you may be given audios that are of poor quality, voices with strong accents or a recording with a noisy background. Having said this, these difficult audios do pay better.

 

Are Transcriptionists in Demand?

Yes, and that’s because of the increase in the number of online content.

A vast majority of video and audio material need to be converted into a written document, so jobs are not scarce. And it’s not just transcription work for blogs, films or the entertainment industry, below are a few industries where transcription work is much needed.

  • Educations institute to transcribe interviews and oral research projects
  • Business and companies – board meetings, staff training and conference calls
  • Market research – to transcribe phone calls and research lectures
  • Companies might need you to transcribe seminars and meetings
  • Journalists for transcribing interviews

 

How much do online transcriptionists make?

On average transcriptionists can earn $45,000 and over per year.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Janet Shaughnessy of Transcribe Anywhere in this post.

She goes into detail about the job description and salary of a transcriptionist. She is an expert in this field and also ahs a free training for aspiring transcriptionists.

Enroll in TranscribeAnywhere’s FREE mini transcription Course

 

How much does a beginner transcriptionist make?

If you are just starting out, a beginner transcriptionist can make $18 an hour and this can go up to $28 with experience – according to this website.

You can also increase your rate of pay by branching out into other fields of transcription like legal and medical transcription.

If you are keen on starting with the basics, I highly recommend you check out her general transcription course that equips you with everything you need to become an online transcriptionist.

Let’s take a look at 30 transcription jobs from home that are perfect for beginners looking to begin this new career.

ONLINE TRANSCRIPTION JOBS

30 Transcription Companies Hiring

1. Way with Words

Launched in 2002, Way with Words provides transcription services globally. This transcribing company is suitable for beginners to apply.

They are looking for English first language speakers from South Africa, the United Kingdom, countries in the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

You can work either full time or freelance earning between $0.45 – $1.73 per audio minute.

 

2. Go Transcript

This is the best place to find beginner freelance transcription jobs that is available worldwide.

They have a Trust Pilot rating of 9.5/10. They pay up to $.60 per audio or video minute.

You do not need experience or be a fast typist to apply. Its the perfect place to find work as a new transcriber.

Payments are processed via PayPal or Payoneer weekly on a Friday.

 

3. Happyscribe

They are looking for transcribers from all over the world, who are looking for remote transcription work.

You will get the opportunity to transcribe for a wide range of industries including academic studies and YouTube videos.

Payments are made every two weeks through Wise.

 

4. Scribie

This transcription company hires transcribers worldwide, with a pay rate of up to $25/audio hour.

Payments are made via PayPal. Here is the online application form to apply.

 

5. Audio Transcription Center

No experience is required to work with Audio Transcription Center.

Work as a freelance transcriptionist, transcribing oral history interviews, focus groups, financial forecasts and tech webinars.


Swagbucks Make extra money by browsing the web, watching videos, playing online games and testing new products - clothing, food, cosmetics and more! Its free to join. Sign up for your chance to get a $5 Swagbucks bonus.
 

They require you to have a minimum typing speed of 75wpm, and submit a resume and cover letter to apply through their website.

 

6. SpeechPad

SpeechPad is a good starting point for new transcribers, as they accept beginners.

They require you to have an accurate typing speed of 40 words per minute.

New transcribers earn $.25/minute while experienced transcribers earn $1/minute. Payments are made via PayPal every Tuesday and Friday.

 

7. Daily Transcription

At daily transcription, you will get to transcribe work in the entertainment, academic and corporate industries.

Their pay rates are quick high, starting at $.75 per audio minute. Top transcriptionists earn up to $950 a week.

You must reside in the US or Canada to apply and be over 18 years of age.

 

8. FFTranscription

Their pay starts from $0.40 per audio minute. They accept transcribers worldwide and pay by PayPal.

Once you fill out their application and take their test you will know if you are accepted within 48 hours.

 

9. GMR Transcription

You can find work in legal, business, audio and video transcription.

No experience is required to join and you can earn between $1,000-$3,000/month. You can apply here and complete a transcription test as part of the application process.

 

10. Tiger Fish

TigerFish jobs are available to those living in the US and must be 18 years and over. As a beginner, you can earn $8-$10 per hour transcribing.

 

11. TranscribeMe

As a general transcriptionist with TranscribeMe you can earn $15-$22 an hour.

Rates go higher with experience and you earn more as a legal and medical transcriptionist. You get paid weekly via PayPal.

 

12. Appen

Appen hires beginner transcribers from all over the world.

Appen offers a wide range of work from home jobs including translation, speech evaluation and social media evaluation work. Check here for all the latest job openings.

 

13. Rev

Work as a freelancer with Rev and get paid weekly via PayPal. Pay range is between $.36 to $.65 per audio minute.

Once you sign up you must take a grammar quiz and submit a transcript sample to begin your application process. You will be notified if you are approved, within 48 hours.

 

14. Casting Words

Is available worldwide, you will need to be over 18 years to apply and have a PayPal account to be paid.

You can earn up to $1 per audio minute. Apply here to begin.

 

15. Same Day Transcription

They are looking for experienced transcriptionists in the US.

They prefer those that have experience doing healthcare transcription work, they are a company that have research-oriented transcription jobs available.

 

16 Quicktate

At Quicktate you will be given short recordings like voicemail messages or longer tasks like transcribing conference calls, phone calls and memos. As part of the sign-up process, they will conduct a background check and ask for references.

 

17. Bam!

They have general transcription jobs available in various fields including finance, real estate, academic and environmental sectors. An application can be done via their contact page.

 

18. CrowdSurf

CrowdSurf offers freelance work for new and experienced transcriptionists. You can work from anywhere and get paid by direct deposit or PayPal.

 

19. SpeakWrite

They are currently hiring only those living in the US and Canada. Their eligibility requirements include a typing speed of 60 words per minute and you must have previous work experience.

 

20. Verbal Ink

They are a division of Ubiqus that offer freelance transcription work.

They not only do English language transcription but also offer foreign language transcription jobs. You will need to apply with your resume here.

 

21. Terescription

They offer transcription work for production studios. Although they are not currently hiring, you may want to sign up with them and be notified when there is work available.

 

22. Accutran Global

They are currently hiring Canadian transcribers, but do keep checking as they also have openings for transcribers in the US. They also hire real-time stenographers and voice writers.

 

23. Birch Creek Communications

They only have job openings for general transcription work.

Majority of the work is corporate transcription and they pay per audio minute which ranges from .40 to 1.75/audio minute. The rate of pay increases with the level of accuracy.

 

24. Ditto Transcripts

Apart from general transcription work. they are also looking for experienced transcriptionist who are interested in medical, legal, financial and law enforcement transcription. Financial, legal and law enforcement transcription pay the most, between $0.80-$1.10/minute.

They are currently looking for applicants based in the US.

 

25. Net Transcripts

They also offer law enforcement transcription services in addition to translation services.

At Net Transcripts they have a careers page where you can take a look at available positions and new job openings.

 

26. Kendall Creek Communications

They offer legal transcription work in Social Security, Veteran Affairs and Immigration.

They pay by the page, ranging from .75/page to 1.75/page. Work is available during weekdays and the turn around time for legal transcription work is 2-5 days.

 

27. Dict8

This is a UK based transcription company who are looking to hire experienced medical transcriptionists.

 

28. Ubiqus On Demand

They are job openings for transcriptionists, in both English and foreign languages.

Check out their website and apply via email with your resume and cover letter in either Microsoft word or PDF form.

 

29. eScribers

For those interested in legal transcription jobs, you can apply with eScribers.

They have useful tips for beginner transcriptionists and have also laid out their eligibility requirements for candidates.

 

30. Transcript Divas

Transcript Divas have an online application form where you can apply. They offer an average pay rate of $1.15 per minute, which can go as high as $2.06 per minute of recording.

 

Expanding your career

Another closely related work from home job to transcription work is, online proofreading.

As a transcriber, you can branch out to become a proofreader to increase your earning potential.

Proofreaders work online correcting grammatical errors and checking sentence structure.

This is a skill you already possess as a transcriber. Every time you are transcribing a file you are typing out an error-free document, which is also one of the main skills needed to be a virtual proofreader.

You can find work proofreading books, blogs, social media content and other online material. Read how this stay-at-home mom makes money from home as an online proofreader with three kids at home.

 

Extra Money Making ideas:

1. Earning money from online survey sites can be time-consuming, but there is one very popular and legit website that pays up to $50 a survey. I put Survey Junkie to test and was able to quickly earn $45 in PayPal cash. Survey Junkie is only available to those living in the US, Canada and Australia with over 9 million members making money from home.

2. Another way to get PayPal money or free gift cards is by using Swagbucks. Sign up for free and install this Swagbucks chrome extension to use for your internet search and get paid points. Redeem them for cash or gift cards at Amazon, Walmart, Target and thousand other retailers.

Here are more ways to make quick money from home.

Want to find online typing jobs from home? Check out 20 online transcription jobs from home.

Transcription from home