20 Legitimate Transcription Jobs From Home

Transcription is one work-from-home job where people convert their skills into dollars.

In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about working from home as a transcriptionist. We also have a list of transcription jobs you can do from home.

What is Transcription?

Transcription is the process of taking live or recorded audio and converting it into a written document. The audio can be from lectures, interviews, sermons, podcasts, webinars, videos, or other forms of speech.

Why do people convert these recordings into text?

Some professionals are too busy to type their work, so they use transcribers.

People with hearing difficulties may require knowledge from a lecture or help to understand what’s happening in a movie or TV show. Transcriptionists create documents and captions to assist these people.

Another reason is a personal preference. Let’s say a business owner records a video, but many of their clients prefer reading over watching a video. They transcribe the video into a written transcript so those clients can consume the content in their desired format.

Transcription Types

There are three main specialties for transcription, general, legal, and medical transcription.

General Transcription

As the name suggests, general transcription does not focus on any specific niche. Instead, it involves converting all kinds of audio: business recordings, interviews, phone conversations, etc. In general transcription, no specialized knowledge or terminology of the subjects is required.

Legal Transcription

At times, people need legal recordings transcribed into written documents. These may be court proceedings from judges, lawyers, or advocates. A legal transcriber needs to possess knowledge of legal jargon and terminology to work in this type of transcription effectively.

Medical Transcription

Like legal professionals, transcribers in the medical industry will transcribe documents for doctors, nurses, surgeons, psychiatrists, and nutritionists who need their recordings converted into written documents. Medical transcribers need to possess medical knowledge and terminologies common within the medical field.

Qualifications Needed for Transcription Jobs

If you have the right skill and knowledge, online transcription jobs are a great work-from-home opportunity! Here are the qualifications you’ll need to start working as a transcriber.

Perfect Command of the English Language

This is self-explanatory. Correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar are necessary to be a transcriber. In short, petty errors such as confusing “it’s” with “its” or not knowing when to use a comma or colon should be avoided at all costs. Finally, it’s an advantage if you can distinguish between the US and UK commands of English.

Keen Listening Skills

The types of audio you will encounter in transcription will vary significantly in quality, accent, speed, and complexity. As such, one should listen keenly and get the words right.

Good Research Skills

In some instances, you may receive audio that has non-English words or words that you’ve never heard of before. To create an accurate script, it will be necessary to look some words up. Often names of towns, people, and things may not be clear in the audio. By taking the extra time to research the unknowns, you’ll improve the quality and acceptability of your work.

Fast and Accurate Typist

When you’re a transcriber, speed is critical to your success. Transcribing one audio file may produce hundreds, sometimes even thousands of words. To be successful, you’ll need a typing speed of at least 40-60 WPM (words per minute) for most transcription jobs. The faster you can type, the more money you can earn in most cases. However, it’s important to note is that speed should not compromise your accuracy.

Required Equipment and Training

If you have a good command of the English language and you’re a fast and accurate typist, you may be able to learn transcription without taking a course. If your English, grammar, and typing skills are rusty, taking an online course can help prepare you for this career. For medical and legal transcription, you’ll need to take a course to learn the proper terminology.

Recently, there’s been some debate whether medical transcriptionists are still viable in today’s digital landscape, as most doctors and hospitals have gone to electronic medical records. Be sure to research the industry and talk to other medical transcribers before investing money in a medical transcription course.

If you’re interested in learning general or legal transcription, I recommend Transcribe Anywhere’s courses.

Let’s talk about other equpiment you’ll need to work as a transcriptionist:

• Reliable computer
• High-speed internet connection
• Transcription software with USB foot pedal
• Audio enhancer software (boosts the quality of the audio files)
• High-quality headphones
• PayPal account

How Much Do Transcription Jobs Pay?

Generally, transcription pay is calculated by the audio hour or minute. According to PayScale.com, the median wage for a transcriber is $15.16. Of course, you can earn more based on the quality, speed, and type of transcription you’re doing. One perk about transcription work is you can set your own schedule and work any time of the day or night as long as you meet your deadlines.

Where to Find Legitimate Transcription Jobs From Home

There are lots of transcription companies. To apply with any of them, you must possess the aforementioned skills. Be sure to read over the style guides and complete a transcription sample if required.

Here are 20 legit transcription jobs to check out.

1. AccuTran Global

AccuTran Global hires independent contractors living in North America for transcription, stenography, and captioning in a wide range of industries. You’ll need excellent communication skills and your own equipment. According to their website, pay is determined by the call length, starting at $75 for events up to an hour.

2. AlphaSights

AlphaSights hires remote language transcribers and general transcribers from around the globe. To find the remote roles on their site, click the checkbox that says remote under location. These positions require at least three years of experience with a 98%-99% accuracy rate. You’ll need to pass an assessment and criminal background check.

3. Appen

Appen hires freelance contributors worldwide to complete short tasks like categorizing social media, transcribing audio, moderating content, and more. According to Glassdoor.com, independent contractors earn an average of $11 per hour.

4. Daily Transcription

Daily Transcription hires freelance transcriptionists, captioners, and bilingual Spanish transcriptionists from the US and Canada. Starting rates are $0.75-$0.85 per audio minute, and top transcriptionists earn anywhere from $250- $950 per week. You’ll need to pass a grammar quiz and a transcription test in your area of expertise. Payments are made weekly by check.

5. eScribers

eScribers hires legal transcribers, proofreaders, and stenographic reporters from all states except California and Massachusetts. You’ll work as an independent contractor in these roles, and payments are issued via direct deposit.

6. FlexJobs

While FlexJobs doesn’t hire transcriptionists, they have many legit transcription job postings on their site. It does cost a small fee to join, but they hand screen all jobs, so you never have to worry about falling for a scam.

7. GMR Transcription

GMR Transcription hires US general transcribers, Spanish translators and transcribers, and certified translators. No experience is needed, but you’ll need to pass a transcription test. According to their website, transcriptionists and translators earn around $1,000-$3,000 a month, depending on the scope of work.

8. GoTranscript

GoTranscript hires transcribers and translators from all around the world! Transcriptionists earn up to $.060 per audio minute, and top earners make $1,215 per month. To apply for this transcription job, you’ll need to fill out an application and pass a sample transcription test. Payment goes through PayPal or Payoneer every Friday.

9. Happy Scribe

Happy Scribe hires freelance transcribers, captioners, and translators from around the globe. No experience is needed, but you’ll need to pass an assessment test to prove your skills. Transcribers earn €0.90 per audio minute, and payments go out every two weeks via Wise.

10. Net Transcripts

Net Transcripts provides confidential transcription and translation services for law enforcement agencies. They hire a wide variety of transcriptionists who have experience in specialized transcription. In these roles, you’ll work as an independent contractor, and payments are made twice a month via direct deposit. They hire in all 50 states except Massachusetts, Illinois, or California.

11. Production Transcripts

Production Transcripts sporadically hires highly proficient, experienced freelance transcribers. There’s not much on this transcription job, so you’ll need to reach out to them for further information.

12. QuickTate

QuickTate hires freelance transcriptionists to transcribe voicemail messages, letters, legal and medical files, phone calls, and other types of audio files. General transcribers earn $0.0025 per word, and medical transcribers earn $0.0050 per word. Payments go out every Monday via PayPal. For this position, you’ll need to pass an assessment test and a criminal background check.

13. Rev

Rev hires freelance transcribers, captioners, and translators from all around the world. Transcriptionists earn $0.30-$1.10 per audio minute, captioners earn $0.54-$1.10 per video minute, and translators earn $1.50-$3.00 per audio/video minute. Payments are distributed weekly via PayPal.

14. Scribie

Scribie hires freelance transcribers who have good communication skills and an excellent command of the English language. You don’t need prior experience for this role, but you will need to pass a test and obtain certification through them. Pay is $5-$25 per audio hour, and payments go through PayPal.

15. SpeakWrite

The Austin-based company, SpeakWrite hires legal and general transcriptionists. Before you can apply, you must pass a typing test with a speed of 60 WPM and an accuracy of 90%. SpeakWrite hires in all states except California and Canada, and transcriptionists need one year of experience. According to their website, top earners make $3,400 a month.

16. Speechpad

Speechpad offers captioning, translation, and transcription services to companies. They hire transcribers and translators from all over the world. According to its website, transcribers earn $0.25-$2.50 per audio minute, translators make $2.00-$5.00 per audio minute, and payments go out twice a week. To apply for these positions, you need to be fluent in English, have excellent grammar skills, and type at least 40 WPM.

17. Tigerfish

Tigerfish hires elite transcribers to work on general, medical, legal, tech, and finance transcription projects. You’ll need to download three MP3 files to your computer and transcribe them for your application. There’s not a lot of information about the job, but it looks like you can work part-time or full-time hours.

18. TranscribeMe

TranscribeMe offers transcription and translation services to many industries, including medical and educational. To apply for a transcription job, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old, have a valid PayPal account, a computer, and a high-speed internet connection, and pass the English entrance exam. Starting pay is $15-$22 per audio hour, with top earners making $2,200 a month. Higher payment is available for specialty areas like medical and legal transcription jobs.

19. Transcription Divas

Transcription Divas hires transcriptionists from all 50 states except California. In this role, you’ll work as an independent contractor, and pay rates average $0.84-$2.05 per audio minute.

20. Ubiqus

Formerly, Verbal Ink, Ubiqus hires freelance transcriptionists, copywriters, proofreaders, editors, and translators from the US. You’ll need to be a fast and accurate typist with excellent listening skills and a love for research for this role.

In Conclusion

Hopefully, you have a better idea of what transcription work entails and how much you can earn as a transcriber. As you can see, this is an excellent career for beginners who don’t have years of transcription experience or a college degree.

Transcription is also a great job for moms since you can work in small increments at any time of the day. While the pay tends to be on the lower side, if you hone your skills and speed and learn a specialty area, you can generate higher paychecks.

Are you interested in working from home as a transcriber? Not sure if you have the right skills? Check out Transcribe Anywhere’s seven-lesson free mini-course here.

Originally published August 25, 2015. Content updated December 2021.

Sheeroh Kiarie is a work-at-home mom who works as a transcriber and a blogger. She’s very passionate about online freelancing. She blogs at workonlinekenya.com, and her goal is to provide others with helpful information about working online and the experiences she has gained in her online work journey.