Wondering How to Become a Transcriptionist? Take A Look At This Guide

Looking for a flexible job that allows you to work from home, requires little to no prior experience and doesn’t involve making sales calls?

You could become a transcriptionist. This job gives you the freedom to set your own hours and, in many cases, work as much or as little as you want each week.

While transcription jobs are usually broken into general, medical and legal categories, the latter two will usually require prior schooling and/or work experience.

If you’re a beginner, start by looking into general transcription.

Lisa Mills, blogger at Work at Home Mom Revolution and author of Jump Start Your General Transcription Career: The Fast & Easy Way to Get Started, started transcribing shortly after separating from her husband.

“l needed to find a job quickly, and I wanted to be at home with my children, so transcription seemed like a natural fit,” she says. “[S]ince time was of the essence, I started applying immediately for [general transcription] jobs. I got lucky and was hired immediately by a super company.”

If you’re considering giving transcription a try, here’s what you’ll need to know — plus some of Mills’ best advice.

What Do You Need to Get Started as a Transcriptionist?

Transcription requires listening to audio files and typing out what you hear. Companies that hire professional transcriptionists usually require a high-quality foot pedal for controlling audio playback along with the popular Express Scribe transcription software.

However, most of the companies that hire newbies are more laid-back in their equipment requirements, so you’ll only need to have a computer and a high-speed internet connection to start working.

Is Transcription Easy?

The job sounds easy enough, right? But just like any other job, what’s easy for one person won’t be for another.

For example, the files you listen to might be very poor quality, making it difficult to understand what’s being said. And other times, you might find yourself trying to interpret unclear dialogue spoken with a thick accent.

The work is also quite repetitive. You will have to listen to the same audio over and over again to be sure you have transcribed it perfectly. If you don’t like repetition, transcription might not be the line of work for you.

However, the flexibility of the work may make up for the fact it can be challenging and repetitive.

“My children are grown now, but when they were younger, I did a lot of my work at night, after they were in bed, and during the day while they were in school,” says Mills.

In addition, managing your own schedule means you can plan time off when you need it.

“I can take a vacation whenever I like. I just notify the company that I won’t be taking work for a few days to a week, and will get back in touch when I’m ready for more work,” says Mills.

She added that most companies expect a 48-hour turnaround time on work. “So I start something, take a break for a while, then come back to it later. And many companies allow you to take as much or as little work as you like.”

How Much Does Transcription Pay?

Pay for transcription work can vary. “General transcription pays well in comparison to most work-at-home jobs,” says Mills. “The least I’ve made per hour is $15. But I often make $25 per hour or more. Those who specialize in legal can make an even higher wage per hour.”

The exact amount you earn as a transcriptionist will depend on the company you’re working for, how much work is available and your speed and skill level. In general, most companies that are willing to accept beginners do not pay as well as the companies that require past transcription experience.

It could take you anywhere from two to five hours to transcribe just one hour of audio, depending on the complexity of the file and your transcription skill level.

Experienced transcriptionists often consider rates below $45 to $50 per audio hour too low. But if you’re brand new to the industry, you may find it’s worth working for a lower rate to get started and learn valuable skills that could help you land a better-paying transcription job later on.

5 Companies That Hire Beginner Transcriptionists

Here is a list of legitimate companies that regularly hire newbie transcriptionists. Most of these companies will require that you take short, simple transcription tests to assess your typing accuracy and attention to detail before assigning you work.

1. Transcribe Anywhere