8 Best Online Transcription Jobs for Beginners (2022)

Did you know that professional transcribers can transcribe 80 to 100 words every minute? If they were to earn $0.50 per word transcribed, that would equal to $40-50/hour! Follow along as we cover the best online transcription jobs for beginners in 2022.

Transcribing is the process of converting audio files into a written format for businesses and other clients. You listen to various content, from lectures to podcasts, and type it out. It’s as simple as that!

Transcription services is one of the simplest ways to earn money online. There’s little to no requirements beyond typing speed, making it perfect for beginners, students, or those who want to start work ASAP.

TranscribeMe

TranscribeMe is rated as one of the best transcription websites to work for. All you need to begin is a computer and a reliable internet connection.

They pay much more than other general transcription job sites, at an impressive rate of $15 to $22/hour. Their top monthly earners net upwards to $2,200 per month. What could you do with that kind of money? Pay off rent stress-free? Go on more vacations?

TranscribeMe pays individuals that specialize in medical or legal backgrounds more, as well. If that’s an area of expertise, make sure to sign up today.

You will learn about new industries and marketing, improving your knowledge and skills that can be put onto a resume. This means that you’re not only making money online but cultivating more credentials to find future opportunities.

Unlike some other platforms, it’s also completely free to join. There’s no registration fee, and you decide your own hours. This means that you can transcribe a few minutes of audio per day or hours if you want to bring in higher income.

TranscribeMe will put you through a quick exam to test your skills and ensure you’re eligible to become a transcriber first. If you’re accepted, you can look forward to plenty of work and regular PayPal payouts.

CastingWords

CastingWords is a fantastic transcription company work with. They are one of the few companies that hire beginners for transcription work, with limited requirements for experience. Furthermore, they have a good payout schedule and will have copious amounts of work for you to do.

You can sign up via email or Facebook. You will need to give some personal information, including your PayPal email to work with them.

Once you’re accepted, the platform lists all of the available transcription services jobs. These include interviews, round tables, and more. The time of the audio and pay rate is listed alongside, so you know exactly what to expect.

Your performance is scored after every assignment you complete, too. This helps users push up the ranking system that CastingWords created, allowing them to access to higher-earning jobs and bonuses. On average, their gigs pay $0.30-$0.90/minute.

Daily Transcription

Working with DailyTranscription gives you the flexibility to work when and where you want. Imagine kicking back at a Starbucks as you earn money transcribing audio. That can be a reality.

Assignments are sent to transcribers like you daily, and payments are made weekly. This means that you will have more than enough gigs to complete and won’t be waiting around for your money.

Rates start at $0.75-0.85/minute, which is much higher than some sites. Their platform includes a feedback system, coaching, and other resources to take your skills to the next level, as well.

They specifically look for stay at home mothers, fathers, part-time teachers, students, or experienced writers. Ideally, you have an eye for detail and like to polish everything off to perfection. DailyTranscription also welcomes all skill levels, from novices to experts.

You can apply today, and go through a skills assessment and transcription test to get accepted.

Rev

Rev hires freelancers as transcribers, translators, sub-titlers, and more. If you have skills around language, they’re a good platform to add to your rotation.

They send out payments every week via PayPal, and the average monthly earnings are $245. That could be your next car bill or tuition payment. Their highest paying earners also net approximately $1,495 per month!

You can begin by signing up here. Fill out your information and take a quick grammar and transcription test afterward. You will get a notification within 48 hours of your approval.

There are hundreds of jobs to choose from on their platform. This keeps things interesting, as you will have a variety of audio files to transcribe into written English.

There are lectures, podcasts, interviews, and more that users can choose from. Work as much or as little as you want. Swamped with school or work? No problem, dial back your transcription work and ramp it back up when you have time. You’re in control.

There are heaps of freelancers just like you that are enjoying making money on Rev, so what are you waiting for?

Scribie

Working with Scribie gives you access to one of the best home-based jobs you can do. They pay from $5 to $25 an hour in USD. The files you transcribe are typically short, and no more than 10 minutes. Users receive a two-hour turnaround time for each file, so you won’t feel stressed and pressured.

To make your job even easier, Scribe gives transcribers a free automated transcript that speeds up the typing process drastically.

There is a $5 monthly bonus you will gain for every three hours of transcription you complete, too. There’re no obligations to perform any amount of work, and there are no withdrawal minimums. You work how you like and get paid when it’s convenient for you.

However, there are some requirements you should fulfill before trying to apply, including:

• Being fluent or very good with English
• Good listening skills
• A verified PayPal account to receive payments
• Computer and reliable internet connection
• Headphones

GoTranscript

To keep up with growing orders, GoTranscript is looking for transcriptionists like yourself to help transcribe audio files. They pay up to $0.60/minute, and the average user brings in $150 per month. Their top earners enjoy an impressive $1,125 in monthly income.

You can work from home and get paid on a weekly basis when you choose GoTranscript. Their team will give you regular feedback, improving your skills and making you a better transcriber. They also have a responsive customer support team to help you with anything you need.

Focus Forward

Focus Forward hires freelancers from all around the world and pays at a rate of $0.40 per minute. There are higher-paying gigs you can gain access to the longer you work with them.

You can begin the application process by visiting here and downloading the applicant test. You will need to complete it, and then upload it to gain approval. They will know within 48 hours whether you’ve been accepted or not.

SpeakWrite

SpeakWrite is always on the search for fast writers to become transcriptionists on their platform. The average user earns $300 or more per month, and their top earners bring in over $3,000! That’s equivalent to a full-time job in most places around the world.

With over 65,000 different clients, there will be no shortage of assignments for you to complete, either. Some online transcription jobs for beginners don’t have much activity, but you won’t have to worry about that with SpeakWrite.

Now, there are some requirements. Firstly, you must be a legal Canadian or US citizen that is fully fluent in English. Unfortunately, they are not hiring international transcribers, and you must have a typing speed of at least 60 words per minute with 90% accuracy or more.

They are looking for typists that are experienced with Microsoft Word because you will need to type, format, and edit content quickly. There are also varying assignment requirements, such as:

• Legal transcriptionists must have worked for two years in a legal firm within the last five years performing legal transcription. They must also possess a working knowledge of agreements, court hearings, depositions, etc.
• Spanish applicants must be fluent in Spanish, and able to translate verbatim at the same time as transcribing.
• General transcription applicants will need one year of experience transcribing and word processing in an office environment.

If you meet these standards, you will also need items such as a printer, good sound card, foot pedal to playback audio, and varying software like Adobe Reader. It can seem like a long list but consider it an investment. If you earned half of what the top earners make, that’s still an amazing $1,500 per month.

Final thoughts

Fast typers and bilingual individuals can make great money transcribing audio. You will be transcribing things like podcasts, interviews, and legal proceedings if you have the background to do so.

Transcriptionists set their own hours, work from home, and get the live a flexible lifestyle. Some of the assignments will only take a few minutes of your time, as well. This makes it a very efficient way to make money in your downtime between class or when you come home from work.

So, don’t wait any longer. Sign up for a few of the online transcription websites on this list to maximize your opportunities and income.