75+ Online Transcription Jobs for Beginners and Pros

Welcome to my ultimate list of transcription companies that hire beginners and pros for work-from-home positions! This list is a work in progress, so check back for updates. 😊

And while you’re on the lookout for online work, you may also be interested in checking out my recent post, 10 of the Best Part-Time Online Jobs for 2020.

A few things before we jump in:

• You’ll notice that the higher-paying transcription companies require training, experience, or advanced certification. To learn how to qualify for higher-paying opportunities if you don’t have any experience, see my complete guide on how to become a transcriptionist. You’ll also learn how to find even more remote transcription opportunities than the ones I’ve listed here.
• To work for many of the companies below, you’ll need a PC with Windows 7 or higher and a recent version of Microsoft Word. You can purchase Office 365 Home, which includes regularly updated versions of MS Word, here. If you need free transcription software, Express Scribe and The FTW Transcriber are both programs that I use and recommend. The FTW Transcriber has excellent audio quality – you can get the pro version here for 7% off. See my post on audio transcription software to compare the different features between the programs. You’ll also need a foot pedal and a good headset, preferably one that makes bad audio sound clearer.
• The following list is comprised mainly of general and legal transcription companies. If you’re interested in becoming a legal transcriptionist, I recommend Janet Shaughnessy’s online certificate program, Legal Transcription: Theory & Practice. She also offers a general transcription training program. (I’ll be writing about medical transcription companies in a future post, so stay tuned.)
• Just because a company is included here doesn’t mean I endorse it. All information is taken from what’s publicly available online. If you’re interested in applying to any of the companies in this list, do your own research beforehand. If any company charges you a fee to apply with them or doesn’t pay on time, don’t work for them.

Enjoy the list!

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure for more info.

3PlayMedia

URL: https://www.3playmedia.com/company/jobs/contract-work/
Type: General and entertainment transcription, transcription editing/proofreading, captioning, subtitling, audio description
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Yes

As a transcript editor for this startup, you’ll transcribe audio and edit imperfect transcripts using the company’s proprietary software. You get to choose which projects to accept and how much and when you want to work. According to the company’s website, compensation varies by project and is equivalent to $10-30 per hour, depending on how fast you are. Glassdoor reviews for 3PlayMedia are generally positive. It sounds like they have a work pool-type setup where typists can log in and claim jobs. To apply, you’ll need to take a series of proficiency tests. View current openings at the above URL.

A and P Transcription Services

URL: http://www.aandptranscription.net/Contact.html
Type: General and legal transcription, captioning
Location hiring: U.S. and possibly elsewhere (their online application has a dropdown list where you select your country)
Hires beginners? No – at least one year of proven transcription experience is required

A and P transcribes interviews, radio shows, focus groups, and more. The company’s website states, “We are always looking for qualified transcriptionists to join our team.” To apply, fill out their online application form and attach your resume.

A Quo Co.

URL: https://www.aquoco.co/Contact.html
Type: Legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? No – must be AAERT certified and have three to five years of related experience

This company was previously known as Washington Rapid Transcription Services. As an IC for them, you set your own hours and availability and accept assignments on a per-job basis. According to their website, rates are $1.75 per page for court transcription and $1.15 per audio minute for non-court transcription. Check the website for current opportunities. You’ll need to take a test to apply.

Aberdeen Broadcast Services

URL: https://www.abercap.com/careers/
Type: Entertainment/production transcription, captioning, subtitling, translation
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Unknown

Aberdeen specializes in production transcription services for video producers and TV stations. Pay is $1-1.50 per audio minute, according to online sources. Check the careers page above for current job openings. You’ll need to email them your cover letter and resume. If your application is accepted, you’ll advance to the interview process.

Accuscribes Transcription Service, LLC

URL: http://www.accuscribes.com/employment.html
Type: General and legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? No – their transcribers are AAERT certified

This Maryland-based company provides legal transcription services throughout the U.S. To apply, forward your resume and cover letter to the email address on the employment page linked above.

AcuTrans Aloft

URL: http://www.acutransaloft.com/site/jobs.html
Type: General, legal, medical, and insurance transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? Unknown

Acutrans Aloft provides document and file management solutions to businesses. They offer a range of general, legal, medical, and insurance transcription services. Check the jobs page at the link above for current opportunities, and send your resume to the given email address.

Ai-Media

URL: https://www.ai-media.tv/careers/
Type: Captioning, transcription, audio description, note taking
Location hiring: Worldwide (check careers page for openings in your region)
Hires beginners? Unknown

This company specializes in providing live and closed captioning services for broadcast, education, government, and corporate workplaces. They have a lot of reviews on Glassdoor – and the company is quite responsive – so make sure to check those out if you’re interested in applying. Based on reviews, the pay here seems to be bit higher than Rev’s. As a captioner for Ai-Media, you’ll have access to a work portal where you can claim jobs. Pay is every two weeks via PayPal. Check the careers page for job vacancies – even if there are no current openings, they welcome you to email your CV. You’ll also a computer (whether PC or Mac) that can run Windows.

Alice Darling Secretarial Services, Inc.

URL: https://www.alicedarling.com/employment
Type: General transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? No

A.D.S. transcribes a variety of general material, including conferences, interviews, focus groups, meetings, films, and press conferences. According to the company website, “A.D.S. partners with transcriptionists who are talented and proficient.” Check the employment page linked above for current job opportunities.

Allegis Transcription

URL: https://www.allegistranscription.com/transcription-services/transcription-jobs/
Type: Insurance and legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No – currently, a minimum of two years’ experience is required

Allegis transcriptionists have access to work 24/7 through the company’s online work portal. This is a plus, since you have the freedom to log in when you want and choose the files you want to work on (it sounds like you can see the length of the file, but you can’t preview the actual audio). The company claims to have a steady workflow. As a transcriptionist for Allegis, you’re required to transcribe a minimum of 100 pages per week. Typists are compensated per page. Payment is weekly by direct deposit. Reviews by transcriptionists on Glassdoor and Indeed are largely positive. Check the jobs page listed above for current openings. You’ll need a Windows computer to work for Allegis.

Alpha Dog Transcriptions

URL: http://www.alphadogtranscriptions.com/transcription_jobs
Type: Entertainment/production, general, and legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No – requires a minimum of one year of production transcription experience

Alpha Dog specializes in production transcription, including continuity/as-broadcast film transcription. They hire experienced production transcriptionists for remote on-call/as-needed positions. As a transcriptionist for Alpha Dog, you’ll transcribe documentaries, reality shows, films, and a variety of general transcription material. You must be available for a minimum of four to five hours of audio every week. Pay is $0.90-2.75 per audio minute, and the company pays semi-monthly via bank transfer. Their website states they offer flexible scheduling and treat their transcriptionists with respect and fairness. To apply, you’ll need to send them your cover letter and resume, complete a transcription skills test, and schedule an in-person interview via Skype or Facetime.

Appen

URL: https://appen.com/careers/
Type: General transcription, translation, a variety of other remote work opportunities (see below)
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

Appen is an established tech company that operates on the crowdsourcing model. They’re currently hiring for a variety of work-from-home opportunities, including search engine evaluation and social media evaluation, paid surveys, and various microtasks. The company has been around for a while and has a lot of reviews on Glassdoor and Indeed, so if you’re interested in learning more about this company, make sure to check those out.

Athreon

URL: http://www.athreon.com/apply/
Type: General, legal, and medical transcription; speech recognition editing; QA
Location hiring: U.S. and Canada
Hires beginners? No – requires proof of graduation from a transcription training program or a minimum of two years of experience

To work for Athreon, you must show proof of graduation from a transcription training program. The company states: “If you are interested in working as a medical transcriptionist, we encourage you to attend a school that is endorsed by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI).” As a transcriptionist for Athreon, you must commit to working a minimum of five days per week and transcribe at least 500 lines per workday, with 12 to 24 hours being the required TAT for most assignments. You’ll set your own work schedule. The company claims work is available 24/7. I couldn’t find any information on pay rates; however, the company’s website states, “We pay on-time and fairly.” Payment is weekly via PayPal. Microsoft Windows 7 or higher is required – their system is incompatible with Mac computers. You’ll need to install the company’s proprietary software on your computer.

Audio Transcription Center

URL: https://audiotranscriptioncenter.com/jobs/
Type: General transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? Unknown

Audio Transcription Center has generally good reviews on Glassdoor as a friendly and flexible company to work for. You decide when and how much you want to work, and the company will transfer audio files to you via Dropbox. One Glassdoor review states: “Pays $60/audio hour for English, $150/audio hour for foreign language. Very flexible.” The company pays weekly. To apply, fill out their online application. You’ll need to submit your cover letter and resume, as well as a screenshot from your typing speed test.

Automatic Sync Technologies (AST)

URL: https://www.automaticsync.com/captionsync/about-automatic-sync/careers/
Type: Entertainment/production and general transcription, captioning, audio description, translation
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No

Glassdoor reviews for AST list the following benefits: steady work, flexible scheduling, on-time payments, respectful management, and decent pay rates. According to one review, transcriptionists negotiate their own pay per minute. Another source claims you can reject audio if it’s too difficult. This company is checking all the right boxes! The one con listed is that there’s a lot of difficult audio, which is paid at the same rate as clearer audio. Pay is via direct deposit. Visit the careers page above to check for available positions and email your resume to the provided address.

Averbach Transcription

URL: https://avtranscription.com/work/
Type: General transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? Yes

Averbach pays $1 per audio minute for regular audio and $1.50 per audio minute for same-day and overnight files. According to the website, transcriptionists earn roughly $20-30 per work hour. Work is flexible: Accept or decline assignments depending on your availability, and choose your own hours. To apply, you’ll need to successfully transcribe a five-minute sample file within 25 minutes.

Babbletype

URL: http://babbletype.com/apply-for-work
Type: Market research transcription, transcription editing/proofreading, translation
Location hiring: Unknown (based on pay rates, probably hires worldwide)
Hires beginners? Yes

Babbletype specializes in market research transcription. According to worker reviews, work is inconsistent and pay is low, so this company is likely not a good fit for most North America-based transcriptionists. To apply, you’ll need to take a test.

BAM Transcription

URL: http://www.bamtranscription.com/contact.html
Type: Entertainment/production, general, and legal transcription; translation
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? Unknown

This is an LA-based transcription service that specializes in entertainment transcription. I wasn’t able to find much info about this company other than this Reddit thread, where a user claims they pay $0.75 per audio minute.

Brown & Meyers

URL: http://www.brownmeyers.com/contact-us/
Type: Legal and medical transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Unknown

According to the company website, “Brown & Meyers Reporting provides medicolegal transcription to companies, commercial and governmental agencies nationwide.” Staff reviews on Indeed are generally positive. Transcriptionists are assigned to client accounts – there are no work pools. To apply, send your resume and cover letter to the email address on the contact page linked above.

Cambridge Transcriptions

URL: https://ctran.com/employment/
Type: General, legal, and medical transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? For a legal transcriptionist position, a year of legal transcription or court reporting experience is preferred. For a corporate transcriptionist position, experience transcribing legal, medical, or technical documents is preferred.

Cambridge Transcriptions hires transcriptionists for part-time positions. To apply: “E-mail your cover letter, resume, and any redacted transcript samples to employtran@ctran.com in Microsoft Word format in order to learn the next steps.” I didn’t find any info about pay; however, the company has a reputation for professionalism and quality work, and that’s often a good sign for staff. Overall, transcriptionist reviews on Indeed are positive.

Capital Reporting Company

URL: https://www.capitalreportingcompany.com/reporter-resources/transcriber-application/
Type: Legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No – requires three or more years of experience in legal transcription or government meeting work

Feedback from transcriptionists about this company, at least from a years ago, is overall positive, although apparently the onboarding process is quite intensive. Their website states: “Our court reporters and transcriptionists are constantly exposed to large, nationally recognized law firms and have the opportunity to earn high incomes.” A 2017 review claims the work pays $1.50 per page for an 8- to 10-day turnaround time.

Caption Media Group

URL: http://cmgusa.net/contact-us.php
Type: Captioning, subtitling, translation
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No – requires a minimum of two years’ experience working with closed-captioning software and preparing post-production closed captions

This company provides subtitling and closed-captioning services for small production companies as well as large corporations. They have advertised work-at-home positions on Indeed in the past.

Captionmax

URL: https://www.captionmax.com/workwithus/
Type: Captioning, subtitling, audio description, entertainment/production transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? No – requires one to two years of real-time writing experience, as well as education and certification (see their job listing for full list of required qualifications)

The company website states: “Captionmax is one of North America’s largest full-service media accessibility companies. We provide closed captioning for prerecorded media and realtime events, subtitling and localization services, description, and specialized scripts. Our clients range from the biggest names in media and entertainment, to large corporations, to education institutions and government entities.” Check for current job openings at the above URL.

CAS Associates, Inc.

URL: https://casrail.com/contractors/
Type: Legal transcription (railroad industry)
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No

CAS Associates provides verbatim transcription of industrial hearings, grievance meetings, and unjust hearings for the railroad industry. You’ll need a PC to work for them. To apply, upload your resume at the URL above.

CastingWords

URL: https://workshop.castingwords.com/
Type: General transcription
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

CastingWords is probably the easiest work-from-home gig to get started with: All you need to do is sign up at the above-listed URL and you can start claiming files to work on. You can preview and select jobs from the queue and work as much or as little as you want, whenever you want. Payment is once a week via PayPal. A Glassdoor reviewer says average pay is $0.17 per audio minute. Therefore, I don’t recommend working for this company if you live in North America.

Crowdsurf

URL: http://crowdsurfwork.com/welcome-to-crowdsurf-workmarket/
Type: General transcription, captioning
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

As a transcriptionist for Crowdsurf, you can log in when you want and transcribe short audio and video files. According to a 2019 Glassdoor review, “Working from the platform pays a few cents more than working from Amazon Mechanical Turk.”

CyberDictate

URL: http://www.cyberdictate.com/about-us/employment/
Type: Legal transcription
Location hiring: Continental U.S.
Hires beginners? No – no less than three full years of intensive legal experience in law firms within the past five to seven years is required

CyberDictate provides transcription services to legal, insurance, medical, and law enforcement/protective services professionals throughout the U.S. To work for them, you need Corel WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel. You must be available during normal business hours and have a minimum typing speed of 85 wpm. Professional references are required.

Daily Transcription

URL: https://dailytranscription.com/careers/
Type: General, legal, and entertainment/production transcription; captioning; translation
Location hiring: U.S. and Canada (will consider international candidates for subtitling/captioning and translation)
Hires beginners? Unknown

Staff reviews for Daily Transcription are generally positive. One Glassdoor review cited the quick and easy hiring process as a pro. Reviewers say work is fairly steady. According to one review, typical rates are $0.75 per minute. On the company’s jobs page, starting rates are listed as $0.75-0.85 per audio minute, and they say their top transcriptionist makes anywhere from $250-950 per week. The company will assign you work based on the amount you sign up for. It sounds like you update your schedule based on your availability and you can choose to accept or decline assignments. Pay is weekly by check. To apply, fill out the online application form and attach your resume. You’ll also need to take a skills assessment test and audio transcription test.

Dictate Express

URL: https://dictateexpress.com/careers/
Type: General, legal, law enforcement, and medical transcription; VR editing
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Yes

As an IC for Dictate Express, you choose when you want to work; however, there is a minimum production requirement of 45 audio minutes per day. Much of the work is related to law enforcement. Payment is semimonthly via direct deposit. You’ll need Windows 7 (or a newer version), and Microsoft Word 2003 (or a newer version). To apply, you’ll need to complete a series of spelling and punctuation aptitude tests as well as a four-minute audio transcription test. The link to the first test is on the careers page.

Done It Now

URL: https://www.doneitnow.com/contact-us.html
Type: Transcription, captioning, subtitling
Location hiring: International (see countries listed on the application form)
Hires beginners? Yes

Done It Now is an Australia-based transcription company that hires internationally. I couldn’t find any info about compensation. To apply, you’ll need to take a timed test. The link to the online application form is at the URL given above.

eScribers

URL: https://escribers.team/
Type: Legal transcription, transcription editing/proofreading
Location hiring: U.S. (excluding Massachusetts)
Hires beginners? No – requires experience (preferably in legal transcription, but will consider hiring transcribers with experience in other industries)

This company is reviewed positively overall as a company that cares about its ICs. One Indeed reviewer says they have steady work, you set your own hours two weeks in advance, and they pay on time. eScribers pays weekly. To increase your chances of getting hired with eScribers, “AAERT, NCRA or other related industry certification is a plus.” You’ll also need a Windows computer with MS Word 2010 or higher. To start the application process, enter your email address at the URL above.

eTranscription Solutions

URL: https://www.etranscriptionsolutions.org/careers/
Type: General and legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S., possibly elsewhere
Hires beginners? No

According to the company website, you’ll need experience transcribing focus groups, quarterly earnings releases, and financial press releases to work for them. You’ll also need to provide experience-related references. I was unable to find any reviews from transcriptionists who have worked for the company, but I did find this old thread from the WAHM Forums where a couple of transcriptionists discuss their experience applying to the company. The company’s contact page states they have offices across the U.S. as well as overseas, so they may be open to hiring internationally.

eWord Solutions

URL: https://ewordsolutions.com/transcriptionist-hiring/
Type: General, legal, and medical transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No

eWord Solutions provides general, legal, medical, and workers comp transcription services. As a transcriptionist for eWord, you can set your own hours. To apply, fill out the online application form and attach your resume.

E-Typist

URL: http://e-typist.com/e-typist-pre-employment-questionnaire/
Type: Legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? No – must have a minimum of three years’ legal transcription experience or experience working in a law office setting

As a legal transcriptionist for E-Typist, you’ll schedule your own hours. You can also get promoted to a virtual assistant. As a virtual assistant, you’ll still have access to the transcription work queue, and when VA assignments are available, you’ll work with law practice and small business clients to provide a variety of virtual support services. You’ll need Windows Vista, 7, 8, or higher. Pay is bimonthly via check. To apply, send your resume and cover letter to the email address on the employment page.

GMR Transcription

URL: https://www.gmrtranscription.com/careers.aspx
Type: General and legal transcription, document typing, translation, editing/proofreading documents
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Yes

GMR has generally positive reviews on Glassdoor. You can decide how much you want to work, and assignments are steady. On the company’s jobs page, they claim transcriptionists and translators typically earn $1,000-3,000 per month. According to a Glassdoor review, “they provide transcriptionists with a list of available files to choose from with their length, difficulty, deadline, and pay.” To work for GMR, you must pass a transcription test.

GoTranscript

URL: https://gotranscript.com/transcription-jobs
Type: General transcription
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

The company states they pay up to $0.60 per audio minute, with typists earning an average of $150 per month and $1,215 in top monthly earnings. You can work as much or as little as you want. Payment is weekly via PayPal. However, online reviewers cite very poor-quality audio and low pay, so this gig may not be a good fit for North America-based transcriptionists.

Kelsey Transcripts

URL: https://www.keltran.com/careers/
Type: General, legal, and insurance transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No

This company transcribes a wide variety of material, including academic interviews, oral histories, legal hearings, focus groups, classroom dictations, depositions, marketing videos, board meetings, recorded statements, forensic psychology reports, and symposia. To apply, fill out the online application and upload your resume. If your application is accepted, they’ll send you a test audio file to transcribe.

Kendall Creek Communications

URL: https://kendallcreekcommunications.com/2815/2836.html
Type: General and legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? AAERT certification preferred

The company’s corporate transcription department used to be called Birch Creek Communications. Now they accept all applications, both for corporate and legal transcriber positions, through the Kendall Creek Communications website at the address above. For corporate and financial transcription, they pay $0.40-1.75 per audio minute depending on the job, TAT, and quality of your work. For general legal transcription, they pay $0.75-1.75 per page. Some of their other legal transcription work pays per audio minute. Most work comes in during the day Monday through Friday. You accept jobs when you want to. To apply, follow the instructions on the application page above and email your resume to the given address. The screening process involves transcribing some test audio.

KLJ Transcription

URL: https://kljtranscription.com/contact/
Type: General, legal, law enforcement, and insurance transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Yes

KLJ specializes in legal transcription for the state of New Jersey; however, they also transcribe general content, including educational and business meetings, focus groups, conference calls, seminars, and presentations.

Landmark Associates, Inc.

URL: https://www.thelai.com/contractor.html
Type: General transcription (mainly qualitative research)
Location hiring: U.S. and Canada, unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? Unknown

LAI specializes in providing transcription services for qualitative research professionals. Most of the work consists of interviews, panel discussions, and focus groups. I’ve heard mostly good things from transcriptionists who work for this company. To get started, you’ll need to complete a test and send the company some information, including your previous transcription experience, how many hours you’d like to transcribe per week, and a list of the transcription equipment you use. Payment is twice monthly.

LawDocsXpress

URL: https://www.lawdocsxpress.com/careers/
Type: Legal transcription and document preparation
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No – requires a minimum of three years of experience and references

This virtual legal service provides an array of secretarial, paralegal, and word processing services to U.S. law firms, corporate counsel, and government entities. To apply, fill out the online application form at the link above.

MagiScript

URL: https://magiscript.com/order-your-transcript/
Type: General transcription
Location hiring: U.S. and Canada, unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? Yes

The owner of this company used to post from time to time in the WAHM Forums and is an experienced transcriptionist herself. According to an older thread from the forum, MagiScript pays $0.50 per audio minute, with the possibility to increase from there if you submit quality work on time and consistently. (I’m not sure if these rates are still accurate.) A couple of cool things about this company: She doesn’t do strict verbatim transcription or accept difficult audio from clients. To apply, email info @ magiscript dot com. You’ll need to take a short transcription test.

Morningside Translations

URL: https://www.morningtrans.com/who-we-are/careers/
Type: Legal transcription, translation
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? Unknown

I was unable to find much info on this company, but it appears they do hire freelancers to transcribe depositions, interviews, trials, hearings, and legal correspondence.

National Capitol Contracting (NCC)

URL: https://www.nccsite.com/remote-transcription-opportunities
Type: General, medical, and legal transcription; captioning; translation
Location hiring: Possibly international (the application form includes a dropdown list where you can select your country)
Hires beginners? Yes

As a remote typist for NCC, you’ll transcribe a variety of content ranging from “health/medical, legal, and academic content to financial, public policy, government legislature, and investigations/hearings.” You’re required to transcribe a minimum of three audio hours per week, but you can decide when and where you work. The initial pay rate is $40 per audio hour, with the possibility of increased pay based on consistency, reliability, and quality. You’ll need a computer running Windows 7, OS X, or higher. To apply, fill out the online application form and submit the two transcription test files linked to on the form.

Neal R. Gross & Co., Inc. (NRGCO)

URL: http://nealrgross.com/contact/
Type: General and legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Unknown

This established Washington, DC-based company provides verbatim court reporting and transcription services to a variety of government and private clients. Neal R. Gross is known to be a better-paying transcription opportunity. They used to have a minimum production requirement of five audio hours per week, but I’m not sure if this is still the case.

Net Transcripts

URL: https://www.nettranscripts.com/careers.htm
Type: Law enforcement transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? Unknown

As a transcriptionist for Net Transcripts, you can work as much or as little as you want and whenever you want. Reviews say the company has a lot of work available most of the time and that the work is very flexible. One reviewer says the pay maxes out at $0.75 per audio minute. You can’t preview the audio before you claim it, and you aren’t compensated higher for difficult files. However, in general, reviews about the company and its management are positive. According to one online source, payment is by check every two weeks. To apply, you’ll need to complete their online application form and attach a copy of your resume.

On the Fly Transcripts, LLC

URL: http://otftranscripts.com/contact-us.html
Type: Entertainment/production, general, legal, and medical transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No

OTF specializes in media production transcription, including reality TV, documentaries, and film. They also provide transcription for the legal, medical, corporate, marketing, and education industries.

OneSpace

URL: https://www.onespace.com/freelancers/
Type: A variety of freelance opportunities (transcription, writing, editing, graphic design, data entry, research, etc.)
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

This freelance marketplace was originally called CrowdSource. They claim to offer daily pay and flexibility (work as much or as little as you want). They list opportunities for transcription, writing, editing, graphic design, data entry, research, etc. Payment is via PayPal. Check the page above for current opportunities. From what I understand, this site mainly offers “microtasks,” like Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), so the pay might not be worth it for North American workers.

Opal Transcription Services

URL: https://www.mondayroadmap.com/jobs
Type: General and legal transcription, document typing services
Location hiring: U.S. and Canada
Hires beginners? No – past experience or education in transcribing, editing, or proofreading is required

I occasionally hire North America-based ICs to help with overflow. A lot of my clients live in the Alberta, Canada area, so if you’re familiar with Western Canadian geography and culture, that’s a plus. If your resume is a good fit, I’ll add you to my list of names for overflow.

OutSec

URL: https://www.outsec.co.uk/about-us/work-for-outsec/
Type: General, legal, and medical transcription
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? No – typists should have a minimum of two years’ typing experience

This UK-based transcription company hires globally; however, you’ll need to be available during UK office hours. Their website states, “Specialism is required in one of the following fields: property [surveying or estate agency], legal, medical, financial or interviews as well as having a minimum typing speed of 70 wpm.” Two employer references are required. Check the above-linked page for current vacancies. If your online application is successful, you’ll be given a typing test to complete. As a transcriptionist for OutSec, you’ll let your manager know your availability each week. You’re not obligated to accept specific assignments; however, they do have minimum production quotas. You’ll be assigned to specific clients – the website says it will take a while to build up your client base and a regular workflow won’t be achievable for a few months. The FAQ page states, “OutSec knows that if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys!” International typists are paid via PayPal. View the FAQ page for equipment specs.

Pioneer Transcription Services

URL: https://www.pioneer-transcription-services.com/transcriptionjobs.html
Type: General and legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? Unknown

Pioneer pays typists $1 per audio minute. The owner states on her website, “We believe workers in the United States deserve to make a livable wage.” To apply, fill out the online application form. If your application is successful, you’ll be given a login to Pioneer’s work pool and will be free to claim work when you’re available. The owner of the company is an experienced transcriptionist herself. I find that companies that are owned by transcriptionists are often more respectful of their ICs and value quality for their clients as well.

Ponka Verbatim Reporting Services Inc.

URL: https://ponkaverbatim.com/contacts/join-our-team/
Type: Legal transcription
Location hiring: Canada, unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? No

This Ontario, Canada-based company provides court reporting and legal transcription services. According to their website, they’re “always looking for professional and experienced court reporters, Authorized Court Transcriptionists (ACTs) and non-ACT Legal Transcriptionists.” To apply, send your resume to the email address at the above URL.

Preferred Transcriptions

URL: https://www.preferredtranscriptions.com/career-opportunities/
Type: General, legal, and medical transcription
Location hiring: Continental U.S.
Hires beginners? No. A minimum of one year of experience is required for general and legal transcriptionists. A minimum of two years of experience is required for medical transcriptionists.

This transcription company serves a variety of medical offices, hospitals, legal and marketing firms, and educational institutions throughout the U.S. To work for Preferred Transcriptions, you must be available to work for at least 20 hours per week. You’ll need Microsoft Word installed on your computer. To apply, email your resume to the address at the above URL.

Production Transcripts

URL: https://www.productiontranscripts.com/employment-opportunities-in-transcription/
Type: Entertainment/production and general transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No

This company transcribes a variety of general and entertainment material, including reality TV, documentaries, corporate video, and YouTube videos. They also provide post-production transcription and captioning services. According to the company’s employment page, they hire sporadically. To apply, fill out their online application and paste your resume in the appropriate field. Although I couldn’t find info on pay rates, Production Transcripts charges professional fees for a US-based transcription agency, so this could be a good sign for staff.

Quicktate

URL: http://typists.quicktate.com/transcribers/login
Type: General, legal, and medical transcription
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

As a typist for Quicktate, you can work when you want. Pay is weekly via PayPal. However, reviews cite low pay. According to the company’s website, they pay $0.0025 per word (that is, one-quarter cent per word) for general transcription and $0.0050 (that is, one-half cent per word) for medical transcription at the time of this writing.

Rev

URL: https://www.rev.com/freelancers
Type: General transcription, captioning, translation
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

A reviewer on Indeed says Rev pays an average of $0.50 per audio minute. Transcription staff report that work is steady and you can work as much or as little as you want. The company pays weekly via PayPal, and they’re known to pay on time consistently. Rev also hires captioners. To apply, you’ll need to do an audio transcription test.

Scribie

URL: https://scribie.com/jobs
Type: General transcription
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

Scribie pays via PayPal. Glassdoor and Indeed reviews are low, most of them citing very low pay. For this reason, I don’t recommend working for this company if you’re based in North America.

SpeakWrite

URL: https://speakwrite.com/transcription-jobs/
Type: General and legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S. and Canada
Hires beginners? No – requires one year of relevant transcription experience within the last five-year period (general office experience is not sufficient)

SpeakWrite claims their transcriptionists’ average earnings are $300+ per month, with top monthly earners making $3,000+ per month. The company’s typist FAQ page states: “Typists are paid one-half cent per word, with some shifts offering a 10% bonus. Payment is made twice a month, either by direct deposit (currently available to U.S. typists only) or by check. We do not use PayPal or other payment services.” Reviews say work is steady and payment is timely. Typists choose their own shifts and must work at least 15 scheduled hours per month. A forum user stated that training is intensive and the company has strict standards. Staff have mentioned that you can’t skip jobs due to poor-quality audio. According to the website, “jobs should typically be completed within our recommended turnaround time of 2.0 to 2.2 ratio of job length/ completion time.” As a typist for SpeakWrite, you’ll need a Windows PC with a minimum of 1 GB of RAM. Jobs are assigned through their proprietary software. To apply, you must pass a typing speed test with a minimum of 60 words per minute and 90% accuracy. You’ll also need to complete their online application process, which includes a series of test transcriptions.

Speechpad

URL: https://www.speechpad.com/worker/jobs/transcribers
Type: General transcription, captioning, transcription grading, translation
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

As a typist for Speechpad, you can log in and claim work from the job board whenever you want, and the work is steady. However, staff say the pay is low and that the transcription reviewers tend to be inconsistent. One Glassdoor reviewer says that jobs pay between $0.20-$0.75 per audio minute. The company’s website states: “For transcription jobs, the pay ranges from $0.25/min for entry-level work to as high as $1.00/min for jobs requiring more experience. Captioning jobs pay between $.30/min and $1.00/min. Review jobs range from $0.20/min for entry-level work, up to $1.00/min for premium captions review.” Payment is twice a week via PayPal. Check the website for available opportunities.

Take Note Typing

URL: https://takenotetyping.com/careers/
Type: General transcription (legal and medical transcription opportunities available for trained typists), transcription editing/proofreading, document typing, note taking, summary writing
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

This UK-based transcription agency lets you work as much or as little as you want. They say they usually have more than enough work to keep transcription staff busy. For transcription work, compensation starts at £0.46 (pence) per audio minute, which converts to approximately $0.60 USD at the time of this writing. Payment is monthly. Reviews on Glassdoor are generally positive about management. As a transcriptionist for Take Note Typing, you book your own shifts, and then you’re assigned files for those shifts. The company states: “You will also be made aware of other work available via email, should you wish to take on a file when you are not on shift, and you can email in at any time to request work.” The application consists of a typing speed test, an English language test, and an audio transcription test.

Telly Transcriptions

URL: http://tellytranscriptions.com/careers/
Type: Entertainment/production transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? No

This entertainment transcription company is seeking “qualified, experienced” transcribers to join their team. To apply, send your resume to the email address on the careers page.

Terescription

URL: https://www.terescription.com/site/public/Transcriber.aspx
Type: Entertainment/production, general, and legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Yes

Terescription specializes in transcription and logging for production studios. According to the website, payment is by check every two weeks for work performed over the previous two weeks. They state, “We provide a website for you to pickup and drop off work and software to generate the transcripts with.” To work for them, you’ll need Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, or 7. The application process involves transcribing a sample audio file.

Tigerfish

URL: https://tigerfish.com/transcription-jobs/
Type: General and legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Yes

This thread from WAHM Forums claims that Tigerfish pays half a cent per word; however, the thread is several years old and may not be accurate. Another commenter in the thread says, “I believe they used to pay per line, maybe 1-2 cents less than other companies when the rate was 5-7 per line.” The company website states: “While we demand the highest quality of work from our transcribers, we are known for friendliness and flexibility concerning their needs. Many transcribers have been with us for more than a decade. These include stay-at-home parents, artists and writers pursuing creative projects, and people working from abroad as they travel.” To work for Tigerfish, you must have a Windows-based computer – Macs aren’t compatible with their video timecoding software. To apply, you’ll need to transcribe three five-minute test audio segments.

Transcribe.com

URL: https://www.transcribe.com/transcription-jobs-online/
Type: General transcription, transcription editing/proofreading
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Yes

Transcribe.com claims to have steady work. You can work as much or as little as you want. Typists log in and download work from the company’s online platform. Payment is via PayPal. I couldn’t find much info online about pay, but other transcriptionists suggest that the pay is similar to other entry-level (lower-paying) transcription sites. To apply, take the assessment at the URL above.

TranscribeMe

URL: https://www.transcribeme.com/transcription-jobs
Type: General transcription
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

TranscribeMe has steady work and you can log in and work whenever you want. They pay regularly via PayPal, and you can request payout at any time. However, the company’s claim that “We pay more than anyone” at $15-22 per audio hour is false. That works out to $0.25-$0.37 per audio minute, putting it on par with the lower-paying companies on this list. To apply, you’re required to transcribe some test audio.

Transcript Heroes

URL: http://transcriptheroes.ca/transcription-jobs/
Type: General transcription
Location hiring: Canada, unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? Unknown

This Canada-based transcription company used to be called Transcript Divas. They claim, “Our rates are aimed at beating the average hourly rate for a medical transcriptionists [sic] working in Canada.” Transcript Heroes uses Payscale.ca as a benchmark for pay rates. Currently, Payscale lists the average hourly rate for a medical transcriptionist as ~$15 CAD at the time of this writing. Glassdoor reviewers say you can choose the hours you want to work and the management team is friendly. According to the company’s website, they post positions every three or four months at the above URL. If your application is approved, they’ll get in touch for a phone interview.

Transcription Express, Inc. (TEI)

URL: https://recruiting.transcriptionexpress.com/opportunities/
Type: General, legal, and insurance transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Yes

TEI’s website says, “We are looking for skilled, motivated, and reliable transcriptionists who are willing to receive transcription work five days a week – Monday through Friday – and can commit at least four to five hours a day to transcription.” You can work when you want. Audio files have a 24-hour turnaround. To begin the testing and application process, you’ll need to register on the site. There are several reviews for this company on Glassdoor and Indeed, so if you’re interested in working for TEI, make sure to check those out for more info.

Transcription Outsourcing, LLC

URL: https://www.transcriptionoutsourcing.net/transcription-jobs-employment/
Type: General, legal, law enforcement, and medical transcription; document typing
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Unknown

Transcription Outsourcing provides transcription services across all areas, including medical, legal, law enforcement, business, and other general transcription. To apply, fill out the application form on their jobs page. I was unable to find any information about pay rates; however, the company charges its clients rates that are in line with a professional U.S.-based transcription agency, which is often a good sign for staff. In addition to audio transcription, they also offer document typing services.

TranscriptionWing

URL: https://info.transcriptionwing.com/transcription-jobs
Type: General transcription, captioning
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

TranscriptionWing is a general transcription company that hires worldwide. According to the company website, you’ll be paid up to $0.60 per audio minute. I was unable to find any reviews from people who have worked for this company. To apply, fill out the online application form.

Ubiqus

URL: https://www.ubiqus.com/contact-us/jobs/
Type: General, legal, and medical transcription; transcription editing/proofreading; translation; note taking; summary writing
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Prefers one to five years of relevant experience – this may include proofreading, secretarial work, or education work. Legal and medical transcriptionists must possess prior experience or training.

Ubiqus provides medical, legal, and corporate transcription services, as well as translation and other typing services. The company offers part-time transcription work that can be tailored to your schedule. Most online sources list the pay per word as somewhere between $0.005 and $0.007. Payment is every two weeks. Visit their jobs page for current employment opportunities – you’ll need to submit a CV and cover letter.

Verbal Ink

URL: https://www.verbalink.io/company/contact/jobs/
Type: Transcription, translation, copywriting, proofreading, editing
Location hiring: U.S. and Canada
Hires beginners? Unknown

Verbal Ink provides an array of different services, including transcription, captioning, translation, writing, proofreading, and editing. The company’s website states they pay their staff a living wage by North American standards. One reviewer on Glassdoor says most of the transcription jobs they received paid about $0.85 per audio minute. Other Glassdoor reviewers describe the pay at Verbal Ink as higher than average. As a transcriptionist for Verbal Ink, you’ll let them know how many hours you’re available for each workday. The company will then send you assignments, which can be done on your own time but must be completed by the deadline. To apply, submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@verbalink.com. If they’re interested, you’ll be given a transcription test to complete.

Verbatim Reporting and Transcription, LLC

URL: https://verbatimrt.com/contact/
Type: Legal transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Unknown

This company provides court reporting and transcription services. Their website says, “We actively recruit the top transcriptionists and the diamonds waiting to be polished.”

Way With Words

URL: https://waywithwordsjobs.com/way-with-words-jobs/
Type: General transcription
Location hiring: Worldwide
Hires beginners? Yes

According to sources, this company is usually pretty busy year-round, and the staff are helpful and friendly. You can work as much or as little as you want. The website states that pay ranges from $0.45-1.73 per audio minute based on turnaround time. Much of the audio has UK and European accents. Pay is monthly via PayPal, and the company pays on time. Check the company’s jobs page for available positions at the URL listed above. The application process includes a couple of tests and an application form.

Word Wizards, Inc.

URL: https://www.wordwizardsinc.com/employment-contact/
Type: General transcription, captioning, audio description, translation
Location hiring: U.S., unknown if they hire elsewhere
Hires beginners? Unknown

This company provides a variety of solutions for the media industry, including audio transcription, closed captioning, and design services. Their online application form can be found at the above-linked page. You’ll need to attach a resume.

Written Communications

URL: https://writtencommunications.com/employment/
Type: General, legal, law enforcement, insurance, and medical transcription
Location hiring: U.S.
Hires beginners? Unknown

According to the website, the CEO of this company prefers to provide opportunities to individuals with physical disabilities. At the time of this writing, Written Communications is hiring home-based transcribers and editors for full-time positions. To apply, send your resume to the email address at the above URL, including transcription-related skills and three business references.

1-888-TYPE-IT-UP (formerly Verbal Fusion)

This company charges a $39 administrative fee to take their exam, which they say goes to the staff member who reviews the application. As I stated at the top of this post, I don’t recommend paying a fee to apply for a company. I’ve included the company here for reference because they’re regularly included in lists of transcription companies, likely because of the above-average pay rates listed on their site. However, I’ve never heard of anyone who’s actually worked for them. If you know anything about this company, feel free to reach out and clarify so I can update this post.

Share your thoughts

In your opinion, what makes a transcription company great to work for? Is it above-average pay, flexible scheduling, a steady workflow, or something else?

What are your tips for finding high-quality online transcription jobs for beginners? Comments are open!