How to Earn Money From Home With Transcription Jobs + 7 Places to Find Work Now

Of all the gig jobs out there, transcription is one with a relatively easy entry point and seriously flexible earning potential.

Transcription work involves converting a video or audio file to a written document. Companies need transcriptionists to convert a variety of audio files. This includes transcriptions of conversations, interviews, podcasts, programs, lectures, and more.

Many transcription jobs can be completed from home, with the flexibility to work your own hours at your own pace. We teamed up with ZipRecruiter to profile the most common transcription jobs, the skills you need, and where to find transcription work today.

However, transcriptionists can also work in a variety of public settings—from courtrooms to hospitals. These “live” transcriptionists need a more expert skillset, including a high wpm (words per minute) and accuracy. 

Transcription outsourcing is important because transcription software can miss a lot. Transcription services are in high demand to make audio-based content accessible to everyone. 

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How to Become a Freelance Transcriptionist

There are various transcription jobs with different payment rates. The job, experience required, and pay rate can depend on various factors, including the sensitivity of materials, importance, turnaround time, and knowledge of the subject matter. 

Transcribe Anywhere Course 

In our research for this article, we came across the highly recommended Transcribe Anywhere course. This is the perfect course for someone looking to create a more full-time career with their transcription skills. 

Some companies might require a test transcription sample in order to gain employment. They'll likely send shorter audio clips for you to transcribe within a set timeframe. 

4 Types of Transcription Jobs

An important rule of thumb for any aspiring transcriptionist is this: Speed + Accuracy = Higher Pay. 

Let’s explore four common types of transcription jobs, their pay rate, and the qualifications needed. 

1. General Transcriptionist

Payment Rate: $15/hour or $31,420 annual salary  

General transcriptionists (aka GTs) are independent contractors who take on as much (or as little) transcription work as their schedule allows. 

As they form relationships with organizations requiring repeat jobs, they might have weekly recurring gigs.

A beginner transcriptionist can secure general transcription jobs to build out their skills and relationships. Some GTs might land daily transcription jobs where they transcribe any number of recorded meetings, events, or media. 

2. Legal Transcriptionist

Payment Rate: $16.45/ hour or $34,209 annual salary 

There is a growing demand for legal transcriptionists, court reporters, and legal videographers. Legal transcriptionists need to be quick and accurate. A legal transcriptionist should be able to provide a verbatim transcription and editing of legal hearings/drafts from digital recordings.

Legal transcription jobs often require fast typing, with a wpm speed of 65+. 

3. Medical Transcriptionist

Payment Rate: $16/hour or $32,376 annual salary 

Medical transcription jobs are in high demand. Since some public health transcripts need to be accessible to the general public, medical transcripts rely on the utmost accuracy. 

Per ZipRecruiter, some of the most common transcriptionist jobs are within healthcare. Medical transcriptionists can be further divided into categories like Radiology Transcriptionists, Cardiology Transcriptionists, and Hospital Transcriptionists.  

Medical transcription jobs are often offered as onsite, full-time positions since there is such a high demand for transcription within a healthcare setting. 

4. Transcription + Translation Jobs

Payment Rate: $18-$27/hour 

If you are a hopeful transcriber who is also fluent in more than one language, you've opened a slew of opportunities. In addition, transcriptionists who can also translate earn a higher hourly rate, often starting at $18/hour. 

For more transcription jobs, especially in the healthcare sector, check out these 10 most popular transcription jobs from ZipRecruiter. They're all hiring right now. 

Crucial Skills for Transcription Work

You need stellar listening skills and an excellent command of the English language to be able to take what you hear and turn it into written words.

The following are some of the skills and qualifications necessary to be successful as a transcriptionist. 

Attention to detail 

Every typist must pay distinct attention to detail. Organizations employ human transcriptionists to ensure accuracy that digital transcription services cannot yet provide.

This can include accurately spelling names mentioned, illustrating context, differentiating between speakers, and adding any other descriptive details. 

Typing Speed: WPM 

Transcriptions are only as strong as their typing speed or words per minute. Beginner transcriptionists can get jobs with 65 words per minute. However, lucrative jobs will require a wpm rate of closer to 75 to 90. 

Aspiring transcriptionists can test and improve typing skills with online typing tests like these:

Accuracy 

Accuracy and readability are the cornerstones of great transcriptions. Transcriptionists can set themselves apart by using formatting and type styling to indicate speakers, tone, quoted material, and other elements that add color to a transcription.

Grammar + Spelling

Grammar and spelling fall under the umbrella of accuracy and attention to detail, but it bears repeating. Ensure that your spelling and grammar are accurate. 

Punctuation

Punctuation is another grammar-based element that can separate a good transcriptionist from a great transcriptionist. A well-placed comma or semicolon can change an entire message. 

Without the highly disputed Oxford comma, it might appear that Doctor Lawson is the only person being called to the stand. Additionally, readers might think that Dr. Lawson moonlights as a clown and a maintenance worker.

By adding the Oxford comma, it becomes clear that three separate people will be called to the stand. 

7 Places to Find Online Transcription Jobs 

Finally, let’s talk about where to find the best transcription jobs to get started. 

We have profiled the seven best places to find full-time, freelance, work-from-home, or any type of transcription job. 

1. ZipRecruiter Transcription Jobs

ZipRecruiter has hundreds of transcription jobs in all fields right now. Find hourly or salaried transcription jobs for all levels of transcription abilities. 

Search open transcription jobs right now. 

2. TranscribeMe 

TranscribeMe combines the latest in speech technology with human intelligence to deliver its speech-to-text products to consumers. 

For transcriptionists looking for work-from-home jobs, TranscribeMe offers a supportive, intuitive platform that trains and improves transcribers while offering a steady stream of work. 

3. Crowdsurf

CrowdSurf is a dedicated community of freelance transcriptionists working to create video captions for deaf, hard of hearing, and second language viewers.

With short transcription tasks, available day and night, Crowdsurf is perfect for a transcriber looking for flexible work.

To join CrowdSurf’s network, sign up, take a free assessment, and start transcribing. 

4. GoTranscript

GoTranscript is home to tons of freelance transcription jobs. Use GoTranscript to work from home with flexible hours, a variety of work opportunities, and reliable pay. 

Start your transcription career today. 

5. Rev

Rev’s transcription services are trusted by over 170,000 organizations of all kinds—from PBS to UCLA. Use Rev to earn money transcribing, captioning, or subtitling from anywhere, anytime. 

6. GMR Transcription

GMR Transcriptions provides quality transcribing, translation, editing, and proofreading. To start transcribing with GMR you’ll need:

Per their website, GMR freelancers typically earn between $1,000 to $3,000 per month, depending on their skills and the kind of work they take. They don't require prior experience, but they do require you to pass a test in order to work with them.

7. Upwork

If you’re looking to diversify your portfolio of freelance talents and you already have an Upwork account, you’re in luck! 

Upwork has tons of transcription jobs at any point. Get really good at transcribing and you might find yourself featured in one of Upwork’s best transcriptionists lists! 

Tools + Equipment for Transcription Work 

Finally, if you’re getting serious about transcription work, these are some helpful tools and software to invest in. 

Some of these help to create a baseline transcription, while others are great to help keep focus while transcribing larger audio files. 

Internet Connection 

A high-speed internet connection is your #1 tool for pretty much any successful freelance job. When you need to send larger files safely and securely, you won’t want your internet to fail. 

Wondering if your internet is fast enough? Test your internet speed now. 

Noise-Canceling Headphones

Noise-canceling headphones are a must. Keep yourself focused on the audio file you're transcribing by cutting out any distracting noise or chatter happening around you. Here are some popular (and budget-friendly) headphones.

Foot Pedal 

Along with dual monitors, a foot pedal is a great tool to help quickly control audio playback as you transcribe. 

Text Expansion Software

Text expansion software is a great tool for someone looking to quickly identify commonly-used sentences and phrases that appear and reappear in your transcription work. 

Transcription Pen 

Finally, if you're feeling fancy, a smartpen is an excellent way to transcribe text as if you're writing with an actual pen. 

When you write with a smartpen, an accompanying app captures your writing in real-time or whenever you next link it to the pen. It accurately translates your handwriting to text. Voila! This smartpen from Livescribe Symphony is well-rated and compatible with most devices and phones.