9 Best Online Transcription Jobs (And Secret Strategies to Succeed)

I have researched thousands of online jobs and discovered that transcription is one of the easiest ways to make that extra cash without too much hassle. I’m not saying you don’t need skills to apply for all the best online transcription jobs out there, but they don’t always require experience or an education to get started.

If right now, the thought in your head is : ‘I don’t have experience’. Don’t worry, because this article will show you step by step how to get started and succeed.

As long as you are determined and willing to learn, you’ll get the hang of it and you can land all the best paying online transcription jobs thanks to the high demand for transcribers right now.

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What is a Transcriptionist?

A transcriptionist is someone who listens to a recording or audio files and types out exactly what is said in the audio.

The audio files can be anything such as interviews, lectures, conference calls, podcasts and so on. There are various fields in the transcription industry, such as general, legal, or medical transcription.

Why do People Hire Transcriptionists?

Well think about a foreign TV show you watched recently, maybe a Korean drama series. Someone translated and transcribed the audio and made subtitles for you to read.

Or how about lectures or interviews where people speak fast, it enhances a viewer experience to have subtitles.

And what about people who can’t hear? They deserve an equal opportunity to watch and learn from audio, like everyone else. That’s why people hire transcriptionists!

If you’re a newbie, here’s what you need to know about transcription jobs:

It is a remote job
It requires practice and patience
It also requires a few basic transcription tools

What are the Requirements for Transcription Jobs?

You don’t need a college degree, but it helps if you have transcribing experience to secure a job with transcription sites that pay well. You need to possess more than just good grammar, spelling and fast typing skills.

Some extra skills include:

Cleaning up bad audio
Tracking multiple speakers in a single audio file
Timestamping a file and
other technical aspects.

All these skills will undoubtedly give you an extra advantage, if you are trying to secure the best paying transcription jobs.

Free and Paid Training to Become a Transcriptionist

If you want to get some experience and training under your belt, you can sign up for a:

Free course with Transcribe Anywhere

Alternatively, you can invest a little bit in this affordable course:

Learn Beginning to Advanced Transcription Skills.

Finally, if you are able to really invest in yourself, go for the:

The Transcribe Anywhere general course

It is a comprehensive course that trains you on the basics, gives you easy to use templates but also shows you how to find higher paid jobs.

Once you’ve completed the course, you can test yourself with GoTranscript Practice or Listen and Write before you start applying for the best online transcription jobs out there.

What Tools Do You Need to Become a Transcriptionist?

A desktop or laptop
A good internet connection
A transcription software like Express Scribe
The latest version of Microsoft Word
Headphones

If you want to make transcription as a full-time job, you can invest in some extra tools. While they’re not a necessity, these tools are a great help to help you work more efficiently.

Here’s a list of extra tools that will help you:

A foot pedal

Unlike the one for the drums, this foot pedal helps you to increase your typing speed and efficiency. You can play, pause, rewind and fast forward your audio with your feet. You can check these out:

A good quality headphone

This is a matter of personal preference but you’re going to work long hours and the last thing you need is noise, so here’s a list of recommended headphones:

How much can you get paid as a Transcriptionist?

It really depends on the kind of transcription work you are doing and the company you work for. You’ll definitely earn more if you can type faster but bear in mind, the best online transcription jobs prioritise quality over speed.

There’s no point submitting a bad transcription because the company will suspend your account if you make too many mistakes.

After researching all the various transcription jobs out there, it appears that a beginner transcriptionist can make between USD3 to USD11 per hour. An experienced transcriptionist can make between USD7.50 to over USD20 per hour.

Hot Tip:

If you can speak more than one language fluently, you’ll get more jobs
If you provide a flawless transcription on bad quality audio or audio with a heavy accent, you’ll get paid more

How to Get Started as a Transcriptionist

Understand the basic skills required to be a transcriptionist

Attentive listening
Fast and accurate typing
Fluent in English
Familiar with Microsoft Word or similar software
Know editing, grammar checking, and proofreading
Multitasking because you have to listen and type or manoeuvre your tools
Good time management because you will have multiple assignments

Understand the technical requirements to be a transcriptionist

Your desktop/laptop has to be somewhat new
Reliable internet speed
Transcription software provided by the companies
If you use a foot pedal, check if it’s compatible with the transcription software

Check your typing speed

Exactly how fast do I need to type?

At least 60 words to 75 words per minute. But the truth is, typing isn’t the main delay issue but audio quality, rapid-fire conversation, and Googling unfamiliar terms.

If you want to test how fast and accurate your typing is, try this free online typing test: 10fastfingers.com.

Aim for at least 65 words per minute and 100% accuracy. It’s a useful tool to score some of the best transcription jobs for beginners.

Check your grammar, and vocabulary

Do I need to boil the Thesaurus and drink it’s water?

Well, no, but you can take a little test with examenglish.com. It’s a good, simple multiple question site to brush up on your Grammar and vocabulary.

Practice transcribing files

To get the feel of doing transcription jobs and to help you decide if it’s your thing, you can practice on some of the best transcription websites for beginners such as GoTranscript.

Learn the transcription style guidelines

Learning this will help you pass the initial transcription test when you sign-up with a company. Once you understand their guidelines, you’ll know their expectations.

For example – what to do if you can’t hear the audio, if a word is mispronounced, how to transcribe verbatims and many more.

Apply for an entry-level transcription job

The starting pay is indeed low, but you gotta start somewhere!

7 Best Transcription Jobs Hiring Now

Now you know what it takes to be a transcriptionist, it is time to get paid!

Tons of companies claim they provide the top online transcription jobs but don’t waste time searching because here’s a list of the best online transcription companies to work for:

1.GMR Transcription

GMR Transcription offers some of the best paying transcription jobs for beginners. It has a high score on reviews and the highest rating for work-life balance.

Payment is made based on turnaround time, the number of speakers per file, and the quality of audio but rates aren’t disclosed until you’re hired.

Requirements:

Transcribe at least two hours of audio before you’re paid
Complete at least 4 hours of audio every month to continue working with GMR

Pay: Between USD7.50 to USD10 per hour.

2.Go Transcript

Go Transcript has editors who give positive reviews and constructive feedback, making it a well-liked company.

If you submit a perfect transcription, you can earn up to USD36 per hour.

Requirement:

You’ll be tested to transcribe non-native English speakers’ audio files

Pay: From USD6 per hour.

3. 3Play Media

When there are not many projects available, you have to quickly grab them because jobs at 3Play Media are claimed on a first-come-first-served basis.

They used to provide some of the top transcription jobs online but apparently, they have changed their rates.

Requirements:

You have to attend training
Typing 75 words per minute is a necessity

Pay: Project-based, equivalent to $10.00 to $30.00 per hour.

4.Daily Transcription

Daily Transcription welcomes entry-level transcribers who live in the USA or Canada only. The management provides a lot of support to its transcribers.

You only need to type 50 words per minute to be accepted but job security can be a bit unstable, as the number of transcribers is growing rapidly.

Requirement:

Do as many tests as you can with their free training video and style guides, to sharpen your skills

Pay: From USD7.50 to USD8.50 per hour.

5.Rev

Rev provides opportunities to move from Transcriptionist to Captioner and earn USD5.40 to USD11 an hour.

Note that this company receives many negative reviews due to the lack of support from its management and not many assignments.

Requirement:

Pass a 10-minute grammar test which ends with completing a sample transcription. If you fail, you can retake the test after 45 days

Pay: USD3 to USD11 per hour.

6.Dictate Express

Dictate Express uses voice recognition (VR) software to increase the typing speed of an audio file transcription.

You have to reach a minimum production of 45 audio minutes per day mainly related to law enforcement.

Requirement:

You have to pass four open-book tests: Spelling, comma use, confusing words, and a 4-minute audio transcription test. You can’t fail any of the tests if you want to proceed to the next one

Pay: Potentially USD9 per hour.

7. Transcription Wing

Transcription Wing is a general, legal and medical transcription company which pays better compared to other entry-level transcription companies.

Requirement:

Very strong comprehension of English

Pay: Around USD9 per hour.

8.Transcription Divas

Transcription Divas provides the highest paying online transcription jobs for experienced transcriptionists. They have very high standards.

Requirements:

A test and a phone interview

Pay: USD20.85 per hour, on average.

9.Ubiqus

Only US residents can apply to Ubiqus. As long as you have a decent computer, a good headphone and a strong internet connection, you’re good to go.

Requirement:

Some tests and experience, preferable one to five years. Otherwise, you have to explain why you are suitable for this job

Pay: From USD7 per hour.

When it comes to transcription jobs, it’s important to focus on the long game and realise, the more practice you have, the more money you make.

When you begin, don’t let the low pay put you off. Any job in the world requires you to start somewhere. With ample practice, you can move quickly from the lowest to the highest paying transcription jobs online.

The most important thing is to grow your experience before making more money. So, pick one or two companies from the list above, stick with them for a few weeks before spreading your wings to a few others that pay better.

9 Best Online Transcription Jobs (And Secret Strategies to Succeed)