21 Best Transcription Jobs For Beginners To Get Paid

With the rise of the gig economy, there’s no shortage of online transcription opportunities.

Not all transcription jobs are created equal if you’re looking for the highest-paying jobs.

Some pay poorly, while others have strict deadlines and difficult audio recordings. So where can you find jobs that better suit you?

In this blog post, I’ll tell you the best transcription jobs you’ll want to check out and what you need to know to excel in this field.

Quick Picks

FREE Workshop To Become Transcriptionist – Transcribe Anywhere
Best Freelancing App – Steady
Best Site For Beginner Transcriptionists – TranscribeMe 
Greatest For Intermediate Jobs – Ubiqus
Top Pick For Experienced Transcribers – eScribers

21 Best Transcription Jobs

1. TranscribeMe

Transcription Skill Level: Beginner
What You Can Earn: $15 – $22 per audio hour
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal
Required Qualifications: Pass the transcription exam

If you’re new to the transcription world, TranscribeMe could be your perfect starting point.

They’re one of the biggest names for beginners, and here’s why:

They’ve got this easy-to-use system that takes audio and turns it into written text. It’s like magic, but with technology!

The best part? You can work whenever you want because they’ve got jobs available 24/7. 

2. Scribie

Transcription Skill Level: Beginner
What You Can Earn: $5 – $20 per audio hour
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal
Required Qualifications: Pass the transcription test to become certified as a transcriber

Are you looking for transcription jobs for beginners? Scribie’s got your back. They’re a well-known transcription company that’s friendly to newcomers like you.

Here’s the deal: Scribie understands that life isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. That’s why they offer you a super flexible schedule with their online transcription jobs.

You can pick how many hours you want to work and what projects you work on– it’s up to you.

3. Rev

Transcription Skill Level: All
What You Can Earn: $0.30 – $1.10 per audio minute
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal
Required Qualifications: Pass the transcription test

Rev is a prominent company with a huge clientele that welcomes both beginners and experienced transcribers. 

You can choose from various online transcription jobs once you’re part of the Rev team.

The more challenging the online transcription job, the higher the pay.

You’re also not limited to only transcription jobs; they also have opportunities for close-captioning and subtitling. 

4. Ubiqus

Transcription Skill Level:  Intermediate
What You Can Earn: $25 per hour
How You’ll Get Paid: Not available
Required Qualifications: Type at least 70 words in a minute; pass the transcription test

Ubiqus offers tasks for people who can interpret, translate languages, and turn medical, legal, or business audio files into written text. 

If you choose to be a Ubiqus transcriptionist, they’ll give you audio files to listen to, and you transcribe what you hear. 

After you’re done, someone from Ubiqus checks your work to ensure accuracy.

5. TigerFish

Transcription Skill Level: Intermediate
What You Can Earn: $0.03 – $0.04 per line
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal
Required Qualifications: Pass the transcription test

Tigerfish is one the best transcription companies that has a global approach. Transcribers can work remotely from anywhere in the world.

Their range of transcription services covers a wide spectrum – from interviews and academic lectures to webinars and more. 

Most clients will be from industries like legal, finance, medical, marketing, and other categories.

6. Babbletype

Transcription Skill Level: Intermediate and Expert 
What You Can Earn: $0.40 – $0.80 per audio minute
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal
Required Qualifications: Native English speaking; no independent contractors from California

Babbletype has been doing this kind of work for more than 20 years and is very well known. 

The company hires people to compute spoken words into written words. They hire people who are really good at native English.

You can choose which jobs you want to do every day and pick when you want to work. Babbletype doesn’t tell how much they pay, but you can apply on their website.

7. Transcript Divas

Transcription Skill Level: Expert
What You Can Earn $1.39 per audio minute
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal or direct deposit
Required Qualifications: Transcription test

If you’re confident in your skills and want to be a star in the transcription world, Transcript Divas is the place to be.

Many people want to join, so you have to shine brighter than the rest. If you pass the first round, you’ll take a test and have a phone interview ahead of you.

Here’s the bummer – if you live in California, sorry, you can’t apply with Transcript Divas.

But for everyone else, the door is wide open to apply and take the transcription tests.

8. Casting Words

Transcription Skill Level: Beginner
What You Can Earn: $0.85 – $1.20 per audio minute
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal and MassPay
Required Qualifications: Pass the English proficiency test

If you’re considering diving into transcription, Casting Words is one of the transcription companies you should know. 

They’ve built quite a reputation as a well-known and reliable transcription company that offers a variety of transcription jobs online.

Casting Words is all about bringing in freelance contractors who can transcribe audio and video files.

But that’s not all – they also offer editing services for existing transcripts. 

9. SpeakWrite

Transcription Skill Level: Intermediate and Expert
What You Can Earn: $22 per hour
How You’ll Get Paid: Biweekly by direct deposit or check
Required Qualifications: Typing speed 60 words per minute; one year of experience

SpeakWrite is a transcription business that hires legal and general transcriptionists to provide services to clients. 

The majority of their work involves legal transcription, but they also provide general transcription services. 

SpeakWrite is an excellent option for anyone who has a large amount of experience in the legal field.

They offer competitive wages and provide training programs to help new contractors get started. Many articles quoted that people can make $450 per month here!

10. 3Play Media

Transcription Skill Level: Intermediate and Expert
What You Can Earn: $26 per hour
How You’ll Get Paid: Direct deposit or check
Required Qualifications: No experience required

3Play Media is a transcription business looking for freelance transcribers who can transcribe in English or Spanish.

If you’re a freelance transcriptionist in the U.S., be ready for a background check before you begin.

What’s even cooler is that 3Play Media works with the entertainment, business, and education worlds.

And you’ve got choices! You get to pick which audio file you want to tackle.

11. eScribers

Transcription Skill Level: Experienced transcribers
What You Can Earn: $1 per audio minute
How You’ll Get Paid: Direct deposit
Required Qualifications: Transcription experience is needed

eScribers is known for offering transcription services to various clients like law enforcement agencies, media houses, and other business organizations. 

Their services aren’t only limited to transcription and include translation and captioning. 

They pride themselves on delivering quality work within a reasonable timeframe while providing competitive pay and excellent benefits packages. 

12. Pioneer Transcription Services

Transcription Skill Level: Beginner
What You Can Earn: $1 per audio minute
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal
Required Qualifications: No prior experience is needed; pass the transcription exam

If you’re interested in joining Pioneer Transcription Services as a transcriptionist, there’s a straightforward process to follow.

First, you must complete an application and successfully pass a transcription test.

Once you’ve cleared the test, you’ll have the opportunity to subcontract for transcription assignments.

Many of the jobs featured on their platform revolve around transcribing one-on-one interviews.

If legal transcription holds a special appeal for you, they have a dedicated page for assignments in that field.

13. CrowdSurf

Transcription Skill Level: Beginner
What You Can Earn: $0.17 – 0.20 per media minute
How You’ll Get Paid: On-demand via WorkMarket
Required Qualifications: No prior experience needed

CrowdSurf is great at making video captions so that people who can’t hear well, those who are learning a new language, or who have trouble hearing can understand.

They split videos into short tasks, about 15 to 35 seconds each. People working with CrowdSurf write down what’s said in these tasks.

Then, they put all these bits together to make full videos with captions.

When you work for CrowdSurf, you get your money from Work Market. You can take out your earnings whenever you want.

14. AccuTran Global

Transcription Skill Level: Beginner and Intermediate 
What You Can Earn: $0.004 – $0.0055 per word
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal or check
Required Qualifications: Type up to 75 words per minute

AccuTran Global stands out from other options because they don’t pay you based on the audio length.

Instead, they pay you for each word you transcribe. This could be a great choice if you’re a fast and accurate transcriber.

Think about typing 60 words in just a minute.

With their starting pay rate of $0.004 per word, you could make around $15 an hour. If you’re even faster and can do 90 words in a minute, you might earn over $20 an hour.

15. Daily Transcription

Transcription Skill Level: Beginner
What You Can Earn: $0.75 – $0.85 per audio minute
How You’ll Get Paid: Weekly via check
Required Qualifications: Typing speed 50 words per minute

Daily Transcription is a company that offers transcription services and job opportunities for remote transcriptionists. 

They provide transcription services for various industries, including entertainment, legal, corporate, and academic fields.

Daily Transcription has offered freelance and remote job opportunities for individuals interested in working as transcriptionists.

The company has been open to hiring transcriptionists without prior experience in transcription.

16. Speechpad

Transcription Skill Level: Beginner
What You Can Earn: $0.25 – $2.50 per audio minute
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal
Required Qualifications: Pass the transcriber test

Speechpad is a transcription and translation company that offers remote work opportunities for transcriptionists and translators.

They are known for providing services to clients who need audio and video content transcribed as well as translated into various languages.

One notable feature of Speechpad is its free qualification tests for transcriptionists and translators.

17. GMR Transcription

Transcription Skill Level: All
What You Can Earn: $1,000+ per month
How You’ll Get Paid: Direct deposit or PayPal
Required Qualifications: Pass their skills assessment test

 If you’re an experienced transcriptionist who thrives under tight deadlines, GMR Transcription might just be the place for you.

It’s worth noting that GMR Transcription is specifically looking for transcriptionists based in the U.S., so if you’re a digital nomad, this might not be the best fit.

While GMR Transcription keeps their pay rate under wraps until you’re on board, they provide some insights- mainly skills and experience level. 

18. Quicktate

Transcription Skill Level: Experienced transcriptionist
What You Can Earn: $0.025 – $0.050 per word
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal
Required Qualifications: Pass the audio transcribing test; pay $20 for a background check

Looking for remote transcription work? Quicktate has you covered. This company specializes in transcribing audio files and offers flexible job opportunities from a distance.

Regarding payment, Quicktate takes a unique approach – they compensate transcriptionists based on the number of words transcribed, not the length of the audio.

At Quicktate, you’ll mainly be working on a short audio file. These quick tasks allow you to dive into various types of content, from to-do lists and reports to field notes and beyond.

19. Ditto Transcripts

Transcription Skill Level: Intermediate
What You Can Earn: Medical: $0.07 – $0.10/line; Legal and law enforcement: $0.80 – $1.10/minute; Academic, financial, general business: $0.80 – $1.10/minute
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal or direct deposit 
Required Qualifications: Pass their typing test

Ditto Transcripts has built a solid reputation as a legit transcription service company, offering a range of online transcription opportunities.

They’re keen on hiring transcriptionists based in the United States, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out.

And the best part? As you gather more experience, your pay rate will increase too.

20. GoTranscript

Transcription Skill Level: Beginner
What You Can Earn: $0.60 per audio minute
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal or Payoneer
Required Qualifications: Pass their transcription typing test

GoTranscript is a global transcription company that operates in over 20 languages!

They cover a spectrum of transcription needs, from academic discussions to important business meetings.

They provide a wide range of transcription jobs for beginners, including academic and business transcription. 

What’s cool is that they give their transcribers the freedom to work on audio files wherever they please, and they’re all about flexible schedules. 

Oh, and did I mention that their pay rate is at the top of the industry? It’s one of the higher-paying jobs per audio minute.

21. Way With Words

Transcription Skill Level: Beginner
What You Can Earn : $.45 – $1.73 per audio minute
How You’ll Get Paid: PayPal
Required Qualifications: Pass their transcription typing test and skills test

Way With Words says that having previous audio transcription experience is optional for becoming one of their transcriptionists. 

However, their recruitment process is meticulous, applying to both freelance and full-time positions.

Upon acceptance, you’ll receive personalized training from a dedicated member of their recruitment team.

This means that even if you’re not an expert in audio transcription initially, you’ll rapidly become one.

Transcribers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong can apply with Way With Words.

How To Become A Transcriptionist

Becoming a transcriptionist requires a combination of skills, including excellent listening, typing, and attention to detail.

While there are no formal education requirements, having a high school diploma or equivalent is important to land some of the best online transcription jobs.

You can launch a successful transcription career with the right training, education, and tools.

1. Take An Online Course

The first step in becoming a transcriptionist is to learn the required skills. 

An online transcription course can teach you how to use transcription software, improve typing speed, and develop listening skills for a transcription job. 

There are many online courses available, including free and paid options. I recommend taking the free workshop by Transcribe Anywhere. 

2. Pick Your Field/Services

Transcription is a broad field that covers many different types of services. You can specialize in medical, legal, or general transcription.

Choose your field based on your interests and skills.

General transcription is the easiest and requires no specialized knowledge. Choose the field that suits you the best.

Medical transcription requires medical terminology, while legal transcription requires knowledge of legal jargon.

3. Set Your Prices

Determining the fees for your transcription work hinges on several factors: your experience, skill level, specialization, and the specific type of transcription task you’re handling.

Your compensation might follow different models.

Some clients opt for a per-audio-minute payment, while others prefer per-project or per-hour arrangements for online transcription jobs.

To maintain a balanced approach, it’s crucial to evaluate your rates alongside those of fellow transcriptionists.

This practice guarantees that your charges remain both competitive and fair.

4. Join Job Sites

Many online job sites post transcribing jobs.

You can check out Rev, Scribie, TranscribeMe, and Tigerfish, but there are general job sites you can join too.

Rather than applying to just one company and having them assign you jobs, you can find sites listing multiple jobs you can pick and apply to.

I recommend checking out Steady and FlexJobs to really launch your transcription career and land clients.

These sites are a great way to gain experience, build your portfolio, and network with clients.

Some sites even offer bonuses for high-quality work or regularly assigned tasks. Be sure to research each site’s protocols before bidding for tasks.

5. Apply To Jobs & Land Clients

After you have taken a course, chosen your field, set your prices, and joined job sites, it’s time to start applying to jobs and landing clients.

Some useful tips are to create a professional website and to use social media to promote your services.

Join relevant business groups, attend networking events, and collaborate with other transcriptionists to increase your client base.

FAQS

What skills do transcriptionists need?

Transcriptionists must be able to type quickly and accurately, with high attention to detail.

To land the best transcription jobs, you’ll also need a good ear for language, as you’ll transcribe audio recordings of conversations, interviews, and other spoken material.

Strong grammar and spelling skills are also essential; you’ll be expected to produce clean, error-free transcripts.

You’ll also need good time-management skills and the motivation and discipline to stay focused on the task.

How much do transcriptionists make?

The amount transcriptionists can earn varies per transaction job.

It depends on factors like experience level, the type of work they’re doing, and the company they’re working for.

In general, though, most transcriptionists can earn anywhere from $17 – $30+ per hour.

However, remember that this is not a salaried position but rather an hourly one which means that the amount you earn will depend on the number of hours you work each week.

Should I take an online course to become a transcriptionist?

While you don’t necessarily need formal training to become a transcriptionist, an online course can be a great way to learn the skills you’ll need for the different transcribing jobs.

Many online courses offer self-paced learning, allowing you to work at your own pace and schedule so you can fit your studies around your other commitments.

Some courses also offer certification, which can help demonstrate your proficiency to potential employers.

Are there different types of transcription fields?

Yes, there are several different types of independent contractor transcription services. These jobs pay per word, per audio minute, or using the audio hour payment method.

Freelance transcribers can find make their own schedule in these remote transcription jobs as :

 Medical transcriptionists
 Legal transcriptionists
 General transcriptionist

What’s the highest-paying transcriptionist site?

Several transcription sites offer competitive rates to their contractors.

Some of the most highly-rated transcription sites include Scribie, Rev, and TranscribeMe.

However, the pay rate can also vary depending on the daily transcription type and the level of expertise required for online transcription jobs.

Rev can pay you over $1 per audio minute, meaning you could earn $60 by typing an hour of audio content.

Final Thoughts

Transcription jobs can be an excellent opportunity for people to earn an income from home and earn $20+ an hour.

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s a niche for everyone to explore in this field.

There’s something for everyone, from general daily transcription work to legal, medical, captioning, or translation jobs.

Do your research and pick a company that pays good rates, and you can start your journey toward working from home as a transcriptionist with a high-paying transcription job.