For those new to transcription jobs… Transcribing is the process of listening to recorded audio and typing what you hear word-for-word. It is as simple as that.
Read this article to the end as I reveal my secrets to being a successful transcriber
- how I make my work so easy,
- the tools I use and tips to find high-paying transcription jobs online throughout the year.
1. Rev.com
Starting off this list is Rev.com transcription job site. Rev provides translation, transcription, and captioning services to companies such as Comcast and PBS. The company achieves this through in-house staff and remote-work freelancers. The application process is straightforward.
You create an account at Rev.com and sign in. You then take a quiz and demonstrate your English language mastery by submitting a transcript. You can begin work immediately once Rev approves you.
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One of the reasons why Rev.com is suitable for beginners is that you aren’t assigned specific jobs. The site enables you to pick and select from hundreds of transcribing projects. For a beginner, the pay rate is fair. The income rates for seasoned transcriptionists can go as high as $66 per audio hour.
The benefits of Rev.com include a flexible schedule, the ability to pursue other freelance opportunities alongside it, and good pay if you’re fluent in several languages. A notable downside is that the transcription work may not always be consistent.
2. TranscribeMe
At number two, we have TranscribeMe. TranscribeMe is a well-established transcription agency and is a great option if you are a part-time transcriptionist seeking reliable workloads. It’s an excellent option for beginners since the requirements are very basic for the industry. They include fluency in English, a high school diploma, a grasp of grammar, and a good ear.
To work for TranscribeMe, you have to pass their entrance test. The company provides a style guide and resources before the test, which you complete through their portal. TranscribeMe issues payments via PayPal, and the base rate of the platform is $15 per audio hour. The faster and more efficient you are, the more money you’ll make with TranscribeMe.
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One of the good things about TranscribeMe is that you can earn more as you get more experienced. If you are a regular transcriber, you can apply to be included in the platform’s special teams. Here, depending on the pool or project, you can be paid between $22 and $60 per audio hour, with special projects fetching up to a whopping $100 per audio hour.
As a transcriber for TranscribeMe, you access benefits such as opportunities for advancements within the company, basic entry requirements, good pay once you advance, and plenty of resources and guides. The only notable drawback of TranscribeMe is that the website only accepts one mode of payment-PayPal.
3. SpeechPad
At number three, we have Speechpad. Founded back in 2008, Speechpad is a transcription firm that offers transcription, translation, and captioning services to global clients. They have developed a system that utilizes AI for the first transcription stages and human transcribers for the latter phases. Speechpad is a great option for beginner transcribing freelancers.
The company offers jobs based on skills and experience. The good news is that it is relatively easy to work for Speechpad. You need basic skills like the ability to type fast and accurately. To start, you submit an application form and take a brief exam, which leans more towards typing speed than transcribing skills.
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Speechpad is among the few companies that boast of being beginner-friendly. The company is open to both newbies and transcription gurus. However, there is a hierarchy. As a beginner, you’ll begin at the bottom, which is a level 1 transcriptionist.
Payments are made via PayPal, so you must have a PayPal account. Speechpad payments are based on audio minutes. The pay rate for transcribers ranges from $15 to $60 per audio hour. Your pay will be at the lower end as a newbie as you gain experience, the pay rate increases.
The benefits of Speechpad include a low barrier to entry, making it great for beginners, the application process is simple, payments are made twice a week, and bonuses are available for top-rated work. The only complaint about Speechpad is that the pay may be relatively low, especially as a beginner.
4. GoTranscript
Coming in at number four is GoTranscript. Established back in 2005, GoTranscript is a transcription firm based in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. The company has clients all over the globe with its services, including transcription, captioning, translation, and subtitling. It is relatively easy to be accepted by GoTranscript. You must be of legal age, have good English skills, be able to pass their test, and have a fast computer and reliable internet connection.
You start with their guidelines and undergo a non-native English speaker-test. As a transcriber with GoTranscript, you are paid up to $36 per audio hour, with their top earners making upwards of $1,200 per month. Payment is made through PayPal or Payoneer.
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As a beginner, you will be tasked with general transcription projects. As you get more experienced and skilled, you can move to specialized transcription jobs, including medical, legal, academic, and research transcription.
The benefits of GoTranscript include ease of entry (no experience needed), legitimate source of projects, built-in transcription tools, multiple payment options, and fair and regular payments. The downside of GoTranscript is there are widespread complaints regarding low-quality audio, which you can circumvent by using the software tools mentioned at the beginning of the video.
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5. TigerFish
At number five, we have TigerFish, which is among the best and longest-running transcription firms. Their online platform offers transcription, editing, and proofreading services. The company has been operational for over 30 years, with offices in San Francisco and New York. Joining is the platform is relatively easy.
Anyone from beginners, freelancers, part-timers, and stay-at-home individuals is free to join. TigerFish pays its transcribers per line, referred to as Cents per Line (CPL). The pay rates range between $0.03 and $0.04 CPL. You can earn upwards of $10 per hour based on these ratings. There are opportunities to make more money through specialized transcription projects. TigerFish issues payments weekly via PayPal.
To start, TigerFish requires that you be 18 years and a lawful resident of the US. Aside from that, you must have good English language skills, good listening and comprehension skills, and quick and accurate typing skills.
After reading the TigerFish guide style, you take an application test that includes three transcription projects. The benefits of TigerFish include beginner-friendliness, reasonable pay rates, regular payments, and steady work. The US residents-only requirement is the only drawback of TigerFish.
6. CrowdSurf
Next up at number 6, we have CrowdSurf. CrowdSurf provides on-demand transcription and captioning services for online media. Crowdsurf is continually seeking transcribing freelancers, even if you have little experience. You must have the valid US or Canadian ID, be fluent in spoken and written English, have basic typing skills, and have excellent proofreading skills.
CrowdSurf pays its transcribers based on audio/video minutes. The pay rate ranges between $0.17 and $0.20 per audio/video minute. You can earn more depending on your work proficiency and skills.
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To get started, you have to sign up to the Work Market, a platform where CrowdSurf recruits and pays freelancers. You click the link on the CrowdSurf recruitment page and create your Work Market account. The Work Market team reviews your profile details and contacts you within 24 hours.
You apply to be a transcriber with an account and take a brief assessment test. CrowdSurf creates an account on their platform once you pass the assessment and send your log-in details via email. You can then browse for transcription projects on the platform.
The benefits of CrowdSurf include beginner-friendliness, a low barrier to entry, and connection to employers offering steady work. The long-winded recruitment process is a notable drawback of the platform.
7. Scribie
And last but not least, coming in at number seven is Scribie. Scribie is a transcription service firm established in 2008 and is based in San Francisco, California. As a beginner freelance transcriber, you can apply to become one of Scribie’s Certified Transcribers. To apply, you must have good English language comprehension, excellent proofreading skills, and a verified PayPal account.
You must pass the certification process to be accepted. You first send your application on Scribie’s Freelance Transcription page. You will receive a verification link in your email and an Application number.
Scribie will invite you to create an account take a test, which involves transcribing a file. As a Certified Transcriber, you log into your account, select a file to transcribe, submit your project, and your earnings are credited to your account.
Scribie’s official site indicates that the platform pays their transcribers between $5 and $25 per audio hour. Factors influencing the pay rate include audio quality and difficulty levels. Scribie also gives a $5 bonus for 3-hour audio transcriptions completed in a month. One of the strong points of Scribie is that they have a referral system to help you earn more.
Other benefits of Scribie are that they are a reliable source of transcription jobs for beginners, the platform has an automated transcript generator, they offer bonuses and promotions, and you can take their application test up to 10 times.
These are the best transcription tools and job sites that I’ve found to be most helpful in my own work. If you have any questions, leave them in the comment section below and I will respond. Finally, if this video was of help, please like it and share with your friends.
Essential Transcription Tools
To make transcription easy I use the following essential transcription software’s and tools.
OTranscribe
First of we have OTranscribe. OTranscribe features a simple interface to control a text editor and audio player in one window. With this open-source tool, you don’t have to click between tabs to start and stop the audio. It also automatically saves your progress as you work.
Express Scribe
Express Scribe is another popular industry tool suitable for beginners and professional transcribers. It enables you to control all project aspects through the keyword or linking to a foot pedal. Express Scribe features an intuitive interface and a wide range of hotkey controls for better efficiency.
FxSound
If you need to boost those sounds for better transcription, FxSound is an essential tool. Many industry professionals use FxSound to boost audio clarity and quality significantly.
Freemake Audio Convertor
Sometimes you need to convert audio files from one format to another. Freemake Audio Converter can help you with that. This free tool converts audio to more than 50 formats.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking
Dragon NaturallySpeaking is another tool that comes in handy, especially when you need to transcribe short files. This software recognizes speech and converts it to text automatically.
Grammarly
Finally, there’s Grammarly, which is among the top grammar-checking software around. You can install Grammarly as a Chrome extension to detect and correct grammatical errors in your text.
Now that we have determined the essential tools to make our transcription work more efficient let’s move to the best transcription jobs websites to get started as a beginner.
Now here is an important tip from my own experience. To grow my income, I hire extra hands when I have more work than I can do – we settle for an agreed commission with my hired transcribers.
The only challenge here is selecting candidates who will delivery exemplary work. I still have to go through the transcribed copy before delivering to a client especially if the transcriber is a newbie. To find transcribers, I would advise that you use Facebook Groups and Forums for a start. Comment below if you would like to know more about that.
7 Best Transcription Jobs for Beginners