12 Online Research Jobs You Can Apply For Today

Two quick questions before you start looking for online research jobs:

1. What was the first quarter of 2012 revenues for Sturm Ruger?

2. How much did the average U.S. wedding cost in 2019?

If you answered $112 million (surprisingly, NOT the wedding cost) and $33,900, then you may have a bright future as an online researcher.

In this article, learn more about being an online researcher, what it involves, and where you can find online research jobs to apply for.

What Does an Online Researcher Do?

Many publications are moving from print to digital format, placing a significant amount of information online for users to sift through and try to make sense of.

However, despite the rise of powerful search engines such as Google, online information is not always readily accessible.

This is particularly true of technical and scientific data that are often restricted to subscription-based journals and esoteric publications that aren’t listed on page one of Google’s search results.

Likewise, finding correct and relevant information takes time, a luxury that many companies and businesses do not have.

Here are some scenarios that require the job of online researchers:

• A law firm may wish to provide its readers with an article documenting traffic accident statistics per state but not have the time to research every state.

• A debt consolidation company may wish to know about the most common sources of unsecured debt so that it can offer services tailored to those debts.

The solution to such dilemmas has been to hire online researchers who are adept at finding information on a wide variety of topics.

To qualify for online research jobs, you need to be highly skilled in using various search engines (that is, not just Google).

Your goal is to find legitimate peer-reviewed scientific research, industry-specific publications, and various other research materials to gather the information you need.

More than finding and accessing information, online researchers must also have:

• advanced comprehension skills to be able to understand the information gathered,
• exceptional analytical skills to be able to interpret the information, and
• strong communication skills to be able to present the information to those who need it.

How Much Can You Make as an Online Researcher?

At the start, when you’re probably doing more generic online research, $10 an hour is the usual rate.

The pay in this field varies depending mainly on one’s research skills.

But experience and specialized knowledge can be additional factors.

When you eventually get more experience and gain positive feedback from clients, your pay can increase up to $20 per hour.

If you have a master’s or doctoral degree, and advanced or even expert-level on specific, in-demand subjects such as those in the scientific, legal, or financial fields, you can potentially earn $50 to $80 per hour.

How do you get started as an Online Researcher?

You actually don’t need to be a professional researcher to begin this career. The job doesn’t involve

Here’s the basic process online researchers

• Just visit various third-party answer sites. (Don’t worry, I’ll list the legitimate ones below)
• Perform generic Internet research online on a requested topic.
• Submit your results.
• Wait to get paid by the client.

Unfortunately, such work is often low-paid because it is considered unspecialized.

The tasks also usually require a significant amount of time to complete because the subject matter may not be familiar to you and thus involves a steep learning curve.

However, the benefit of such work is that it’s not hard to obtain clients.

12 Places to Find Online Research Jobs

Here are a few sites that offer online research jobs:

1. Wonder

Wonder is a resource site for researchers in need of instant feedback for their studies and it’s easily the most prolific site on this list.

As part of the Wonder team, you’ll receive questions directly from customers and your job will be to find the best available information on the topic.

Jobs typically take around 3 hours to complete, making pay range around $15 to $25 per hour, depending on your speed and expertise.

Wonder prides itself on answering questions within 24 hours.

However, be prepared to work under tight deadlines.

2. Maven

Maven allows you to advertise your services as a so-called “micro-consultant” in the fields of your choosing.

You will receive contracts to answer questions and provide insights from all over the world and from all walks of life: from college students doing homework to CEOs making high-impact decisions.

Executives from some of the world’s most prestigious companies, like Boeing or Intel, have used this site.

3. JustAnswer

JustAnswer offers subject matter expert positions in the fields of medicine, law, veterinary science, etc.

To become a subject matter expert, you must show proof of a relevant degree (e.g., M.D.) and/or professional experience. Verification will take a few days.

4. Experts123

Experts123 is constantly looking for online researchers and article writers who will create content on their site about topics that users want to know more about.

This site operates on a revenue-share platform where page views amount to a specified amount of money; for example, you might earn $1.50 for each PPM (i.e., thousand page views).

Experts123 does offer upfront payments of $10 to $20 per approved article for more seasoned researchers.

5. PrestoExperts

This company also serves as a platform for those in need of answers to questions in the field of medicine, business, technology, social media, law, and so on.

When invited to join, freelance experts are given a profile where their education, work experience, specialization, and rates are displayed.

Clients could then contact experts directly (via phone, email, or online chat) for a job.

You are in control of your fees, so you may set it by the hour, per project, or so on.

6. Studypool

Studypool invites students around the world to submit questions about every type of subject imaginable so that online researchers (or so-called micro-tutors) can see them, bid on them, and answer them.

You’ll get paid when your answers are accepted.

There are StudyPool volunteers who earn up to $7,500 USD monthly working from home tutoring students.

7. Answeree

Earn rewards by answering questions, which you can exchange for actual dollars.

Earning here takes a bit of time because:

• 1 answer = 10 points
• 10 points = 1cent

You can request payment via PayPal or Binance once you reach $2.

You can make additional money by getting more users to like your answer best of all.

8. 10EQS

10EQS prides itself on providing on-demand insights and expertise to leaders and decision-makers in different industries.

To qualify as an Industry Expert, you’ll need to have extensive experience with your particular subject.

In other words, this opportunity isn’t for beginners.

That’s also a huge perk if you’re starting an online research career with decades-long experience in marketing, business, accounting, or any other industry.

It’s a perfect side hustle for retirement.

9. MyLot

myLot is an enormous discussion board, blogging community, questions and answers hub, social network and online hangout that pays you for your valuable time.

On top earning from answering questions, you also get to earn cash when you participate in discussions.

You can make a payout once your wallet reaches $5.

Anyone can join, as long as you’re 18 years and older.

10. Weegy

Anyone can join Weegy, but experts are rated better whenever they contribute excellent answers.

Newbies can keep up by improving their research and written communication skills.

All you need to do is create an account and pass a small True-or-False questionnaire, and you’re good to go.

There also aren’t any limits to the number of questions you want to answer. Just be accurate to earn points, which you can withdraw as PayPal cash once you earn enough to equal $20.

I like the simple interface of Weegy – no busy ads. Just questions and answers directly from the main page.

11. FixYa

With over 19 million products, it’s easy to find information about whatever needs fixing.

If you love DIY-ing and fixing appliance and gadgets in your spare time, you can join over 20 million Fixya users in helping others who need quick answers.

Do note that you aren’t paid for answers initially. But if you level up to “Premium Expert Level,” you can be sent special requests for reviews and be paid between $3 and $5 a pop.

You can even help customers on live sessions, which bags higher rates.

12. HelpOwl

There’s competition involved in HelpOwl, so you have to be at the top of your game.

Whenever someone posts a question, HelpOwl experts can then provide the correct answer. The poster will then decide whose answer is correct.

The one picked to have the right answer gets 100 points, while the first answer accepted gets an extra 1,000 points.

There are deductions too! For example, if you added a misleading answer, your profile gets deducted 10 points.

Save points and exchange them into gift cards (Amazon/Walmart/iCard) once you reach 50,000 points.

BONUS Resource: Online Research Jobs Posted on Job Boards

Sites such as FlexJobs, Indeed, LinkedIn, and other job sites list plenty of online research jobs.

Use keywords such as:

• “internet research jobs,”
• “online researcher,”
• “work at home research jobs,”
• “web researcher,”
• “remote research assistant”
• “virtual researcher”
• and other similar keywords to find online research jobs.

The benefit of going this route is that these opportunities are usually full-time or part-time work paid on an hourly basis. Instead of just minimal earnings from get-paid-to sites.

Make extra money while you research

We’re big believers here at optimizing your earnings while you spend time online.

We highly recommend clicking here to create a free account at SwagBucks.

They pay you to use their search engine and the results are provided by Google.

It’s a great way to pull in a little extra cash while researching without changing any of your online habits.

Start Your Own Online Research Business

What if you want to strike out on your own because you don’t want to give up a portion of your earnings to a third party site?

Although it is more challenging, you can start your own Internet research business.

• For example, Carol Tice offers her own freelance writing research and expertise through The Freelance Writers Den as well as private mentoring and coaching.

• Todd Tresidder offers personal finance and investment coaching via his website FinancialMentor.

In both of these cases, Internet researchers who could have continued to sell their services through third-party sites decided to start their own businesses- and reap all the profits (and risks) as a result.

Getting new clients will probably be the trickiest part of starting your own Internet research business.

You will need to create a professional-looking website and business cards.

You will also need to network heavily.

Google Ads and Facebook ads may spark initial interest but in this line of work, a personal approach works best.

Consider joining your local chamber of commerce or civic association and marketing your services to local businesses.

Attend some professional happy hours in your chosen area(s) of expertise. Cold calling may also succeed if you’re comfortable speaking on the phone to business owners who could use your services.

You simply can’t be shy about tooting your own horn in this line of work- and putting an actual face on your business.

If you still find yourself stuck, The Association of Internet Researchers offers plenty of useful advice and networking opportunities for would-be Internet researchers. The AoIR also organizes several yearly conferences that enable you to hone your skills and make vital contacts.

For example, you could benefit by partnering with other AoIR members, gaining their client lists, and expanding your business offerings through them.

An Online Research Job is What You Make of It

You know that saying “you only get out what you put in”? This is certainly true of online research as a career and eventually as a business.

The more expertise and experience you accumulate, the more money you will make as an Internet researcher.

The more you market your services, the more clients you will gain.

If you are satisfied with just making a few bucks by answering Yahoo! Answers questions, then that’s exactly where your online research business will remain even after several years.

On the other hand, if you like helping people and are willing to learn, grow, and sometimes even take a few hits to your self-esteem, then this line of work could eventually become your calling.

You may also want to consider looking into getting paid to answer questions online. It’s a very similar field, but with more opportunities and higher pay rates. Although, you do need a little more specialized knowledge to get the big bucks.

On the other hand, if you have a legal background and like hands-on, up-close-and-personal research, being a court researcher may be more up your alley.