When I first started looking for money-making opportunities, online typing jobs were all the rage.
- Inbox Dollars - Get paid to check your email. $5 bonus just for signing up!
- Survey Junkie - The #1 survey site that doesn't suck. Short surveys, high payouts, simply the best.
- Nielsen - Download their app and get paid $50!
Unfortunately, a lot of scams popped up to take advantage of those trying to find at-home typist jobs.
Headlines like these were all over the place:
This set people up with false expectations of what type of earnings were actually realistic.
It’s actually the reason why I founded this website in the first place. I wanted to make sure people were finding real, legit opportunities and not falling for these scams.
If you’re looking for an entry-level, home-based typing job, this comprehensive guide will tackle everything you need to know about this old school work-from-home job.
4 Main Types of Online Typing Jobs
Web-based typing jobs include all jobs that require you to quickly and accurately input letters, numbers, or symbols into a computer keyboard or mobile phone.
In some cases, the job may involve speech recognition software or other tools of the trade.
1. Data Entry
Even the most modern companies require data entry operators to key in data, fill up spreadsheets, re-type scanned documents, and do other similar tasks.
There are no special qualifications needed for data entry, except for total concentration, accuracy, and speed.
Check out my updated list of data entry jobs you can do from home.
2. Transcription
Transcription jobs are similar to data entry jobs, except typists convert audio or video into a text-based document.
There are specializations, such as medical transcription or legal transcription, which provide better rates but require higher qualifications.
Accuracy is a priority in this field and the ability to speak more than one language will substantially increase the amount of money you can make.
Here is my full list of online transcription jobs.
3. Closed Captioning
This type of transcription job involves typing the audio of a recorded video and adding the text as captions during post-production.
Some companies hire closed captioners to work on live feeds. You can be hired for captioning news, press briefings, and developing stories in real-time.
Check out this list of closed captioning jobs to find the right one for you.
4. CAPTCHA, Forum Posting, Surveys, and other small-time gigs
While many of these online typing jobs are legit (companies do pay), the problem with entering a CAPTCHA, posting on forums, answering surveys, and performing other small-time gigs is that the pay is so little. I’m talking cents.
As such, it requires a lot of work before you can reach the minimum payout.
All types of online typing jobs require accuracy and a fast turnaround, which is why a typing test is the most important (and often only) requirement applicants need to pass.
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26 Legit Online Typing Jobs
Online typing jobs are super easy to do, which should be an advantage for anyone looking for home-based jobs.
However, this is the same reason why the competition is high. To get ahead of the pack, make sure to bookmark these tried and tested websites with typing jobs:
1. FlexJobs
I strongly suggest starting your search on FlexJobs.
All the companies and employers who post job openings on this job board are checked and vetted by individuals to make sure that they are legitimate.
Thus, you can rest assured that when you apply for a job through FlexJobs, you’re not going to be the victim of a scam.
Also, signing up to be a member gets you more help with your job searches, such as career advising and résumé review.
Browse all the job openings that come up when you use the search term “typing.”
2. Capital Typing
Capital Typing, as its name suggests, began as a data entry and transcription service provider but now offers a wide range of services from bookkeeping to BPO, office admin, market research, translation, and a whole lot more.
Bookmark their Jobs page and check back often to know what positions they’re currently offering.
3. Tigerfish
This transcription company has been in business since 1989 and accepts applicants from the US.
The job involves transcribing audio files. You’d need to pass a test and use their software once accepted for this online typing job.
There are currently no job openings available, but keep their Applicants page in your bookmarks and look at it once in a while.
4. Kendall Creek Communications
This Montana-based company provides quick, accurate transcripts to Court Reporting Agencies and government agencies, as well as private companies such as financial institutions and legal firms.
Pay rates vary with the type of work, client, turnaround time, and the quality of the output, but the average pay for general legal transcription jobs ranges from $1.25 per page to $2 per double-spaced page.
This page details the application process as well as what to expect.
5. Scribie
Scribie accepts transcriptionists from around the world and pays $5 to $25 per audio hour.
You have total control over which projects to work on and when to pick assignments. Every 6-minute (or less) audio file has a 2-hour turnaround time.
If you complete 3 hours within a given month, you earn an additional $5.
When you get to complete a certain number of assignments, you’ll have opportunities for advancement as a transcription Reviewer up to a Proofreader, which allows you to earn more.
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6. AccuTran Global
This Canada-based data entry company hires people from the UK, US, and Canada.
They pay a starting rate of $0.004/word for entry-level transcriptionists and up to $0.0055/word and a bit higher for legal or foreign-language audio (at $0.0066/word).
7. e-Typist.com
Known for providing legal virtual assistants and legal transcriptionists, e-typist occasionally hires “virtual paralegals.”
You’ll need to have your own computer with Windows operating system, as well as your own foot pedal.
They’re currently looking for legal transcriptionists and court transcriptionists to type up recordings and format them into legal documents, memos, letters, notes, and any other document required.
8. Quicktate and iDictate
Quicktate transcribes voicemail messages, recordings of conference calls, and other audio files, while iDictate transcribes all kinds of files.
Both companies look for data entry operators and transcriptionists and pay on a per-word basis. Expect to get 1 cent per 4 words (Quicktate) or 1 cent per 2 words (iDictate).
The downside to sending your application here is that you’ll need to pay for your own background check (that’s $20), but if you become a worker from either Quicktate or iDictate, you can check out tasks for both providers.
9. DataPlus
DataPlus+ provides BPO and data entry services to their clients, and they currently have openings for data entry clerks, mail and document handling clerks, and administrative personnel.
The Georgia-based company hires independent contractors who can perform accurate, work-from-home typing jobs.
They don’t have a page for applications, but you can inquire about their job openings by sending an email to info [at] dataplus-svc [dot] com.
10. Axion Data Entry Services
This company is one of the more popular data service providers around.
While slots for contractors rarely open up, those with 2 to 3 years of data entry experience and type 50 words per minute with high accuracy have a good chance to get hired.
Depending on the project, Axion pays its workers either on a per-project or per-page basis.
Unfortunately, Axion does require a fee to get included in their newsletter for future openings, but the actual jobs are real and definitely pay.
Find out more on their Employment page.
11. Speechpad
Speechpad offers several types of work-from-home typing jobs, including data entry, transcription, captioning, translation, and reviewing (quality assurance).
Transcribing short audio files is paid $.40-$.50 for each audio minute completed.
Speechpad accepts people new to home-based work and pays its workers every two weeks via PayPal.
Right now, Speechpad isn’t accepting workers, but check back on their application page from time to time to be the first to find out for any new openings.
12. SpeakWrite
If you are from either Canada or the United States (except California), have experience in legal or general transcription, and are willing to undergo federal, state, and local background checks, then SpeakWrite may just be the company for you.
They have thousands of clients in a wide range of industries from government and law enforcement to IT and other fields.
Most workers earn an average of $450+, but the top earners take home up to $3,400 or more.
Read more about their requirements and fill out the application form here.
13. Cyber Dictate
Continental US-based experienced transcribers looking for work-from-home typing jobs should check out Cyber Dictate.
Qualifications are higher than those of other companies. You’d need to have 3 years of legal experience within the past 5 to 7 years and type at a minimum of 85 words per minute.
Transcribers also need to have an existing headset, foot pedal, and transcription software.
14. Aberdeen Broadcasting Services
Aberdeen Broadcast Services provides closed captioning, transcoding, and broadcast distribution, as well as translation, dubbing, and subtitling services.
The company hires different work-from-home employees for a wide range of jobs, including real-time captioners, caption editors, and so on.
Pay depends on the position. For instance, transcribers earn $1/audio minute, real-time captioners earn up to $75/hour, and caption editors earn from $14 to $18 an hour.
15. SigTrack
SigTrack offers something unique – US-based workers (except for residents of California or Massachusetts) process petitions of voters, which means the job will only be available during petition season.
Pay is around 3.7 cents per piece entered, but the company requires that you maintain 98% accuracy and review other people’s work.
Payment is sent weekly via PayPal.
16. Xerox
Yup, the Xerox we all know is one of the best companies if you’re looking for flexible work.
The company opens virtual positions, including data entry specialists, regularly.
Competition is fierce, so this would be more ideal for people with experience.
17. Transcribe Me
This company accepts workers from around the world.
Even beginners are accepted, but you must pass the training course before you are given paid work.
Pay, which is sent via PayPal, is around $20 per audio hour transcribed.
18. Rev
As a captioner for Rev.com, you add texts as captions for TV shows, movies, and other video content.
The company accepts anyone, no matter the age or country of origin, as long as work is accurately captioned.
Rates depend on experience and output, but Rev captioners make an average of $240/month.
19. Casting Words
This company accepts beginner contractors, who are willing to transcribe files with varying qualities of audio.
The pay reflects the audio quality too! Accurately transcribing a file with poor audio could earn you $1.20/audio minute, while a file with perfect audio has lower rates ($.60 per audio minute).
20. Iyuno
Iyuno is the world’s longest-standing, largest, and leading provider of dubbing and subtitling services through its global network of resources in over 24 countries.
If you know more than 2 languages, they provide plenty of freelance translation opportunities you can do from home.
21. Scribe America
If you have a medical background or studying to go into the medical field, this opportunity might be of great interest to you.
Medical scribes are professionals who work with physicians to transcribe information during clinical visits into electronic health records (EHRs).
Scribe America is currently hiring medical scribes who work remotely, called telescribes. You’d need to have a typing speed of at least 50 wpm, your own computer, reliable wi-fi, and the ability to take at least 2 shifts a week, with shifts ranging from 8 hours to 12 hours long.
22. ExamWorks
This is another opportunity for those with a medical background.
ExamWorks provides independent medical examinations, peer reviews, and bill reviews. They also provide document management and medical record retrieval.
They are currently hiring data entry associates tasked to enter data from source documents into the proper system database. They are also in charge of verifying that the data matches that of the source document and securing the information by backing up the database periodically, all while adhering to HIPAA.
23. 3Play Media
This Boston-based company is always looking for transcriptionists. They offer both full-time and freelance work, so apply based on your current situation.
Freelancers can choose to become an English transcriptionist, Spanish transcriptionist, or English voice writer. To join, you must be at least 18 years old and reside in the United States.
24. ModSquad
If you’ve had customer service experience in the past, you can apply as a live chat operator, or customer service representative.
ModSquad offers remote jobs, so you can perform the role totally from the comfort of your own homes.
General chat agents begin earning $12/hour, but if you have a specialization (legal, tech support, health, etc.), you are likely to earn more.
25. Babbletype
Babbletype is always looking for people to handle their transcription services — PureSpeech, PureText and PureResponse.
As an audio-to-text transcriptionist at Babbletype, you can earn up to $23/hour.
Babbletype ONLY accepts applicants who are current or past long-term residents of the United States (except for California), Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
26. Amberscript
You can apply to be a transcriber, captioner, translator, and other online typing roles at Amberscript.
What’s great about Amberscript jobs is that freelancers have control over their work hours. They can pick from projects available on their dashboards.
Do note that in order to join the Amberscript team, you’ll first need to complete an online transcription course.
Earning varies completely, but they jobs are paid per audio/video minute.
Other Places to Find Online Typing Jobs
Aside from these legit sources of work-from-home typing jobs, you can also check out numerous opportunities on sites like Fiverr, Clickworker, Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, Upwork, and other micro-job and freelancing boards.
The usual typing jobs you’ll encounter include typing text from images, PDF files, or hard copy documents into a Word or text document.
You can also find a specific niche, if you’re skilled to do the job. For example:
- bookkeeping
- editing (EditFast or Scribendi)
- translating from English to other languages and vice versa
Making a Living with Online Typing Jobs
If you’re just starting out as a home-based worker, the first thing you should do is to compute your monthly expenses and decide on a livable wage you must reach.
Understanding this will help you plan your online career, or even help you decide if this path is truly ideal for you.
Like traditional jobs, these online typing jobs can make or break your finances.
If you land a full-time job with competitive rates (that equal or is more than your personal, livable wage), then you’re lucky. For most people who work from home, working on multiple data entry or transcription companies could do the trick.
But if typing jobs don’t work out, feel free to explore my massive list of 100 legitimate work at home jobs to find the right one for you.