Are you looking for a legit typing job that you can do from home? This article will cover everything you need to know about making money typing documents while avoiding the ever-present employment scams!
Every day, I get tons of requests for remote data entry jobs. And while there are some legit opportunities available, there are way more applicants than there are openings. This is why I suggest widening your job search to include other work from home typing jobs.
In this article, I’ll cover the skills you need to get started, the kinds of work from home typing jobs available, and hiring companies.
What Skills Do You Need For Remote Typing Jobs?
Besides the obvious, a fast typing speed and a high level of accuracy, you’ll also need to have a solid grasp of the English language; correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation skills will be vital in these work from home jobs.
You should also be detail-oriented and organized and have excellent time management skills, as you’ll be expected to meet deadlines and turn in high-quality work.
Most typing jobs will require you to be proficient with common software programs like Microsoft Office and Google Docs. Some companies will require prior experience, while others are willing to train the right candidate.
A Wide Variety of Work From Home Typing Jobs
No matter what your skill level or work experience, there are many work from home typing jobs to explore. Check out the occupations and hiring companies below to get started.
1. Online Chat and Texting Jobs
Along with the internet and online shopping came a new breed of customer service, and that’s the live chat agent.
Live chat agents answer customers’ questions and concerns on the spot using online chat programs, email, social media, and sometimes text messages.
Some chat positions require background knowledge of a particular area, like tech support. In contrast, others are more general and only require quick and accurate typing skills along with some customer service or retail experience.
According to CareerBliss.com, chat agents make an average of $11 an hour, with specialized agents earning more.
Here are some companies that hire remote chat and text agents:
2. Closed Captioning Jobs
Do you like watching videos? Then perhaps subtitling is your dream work from home gig. Closed captioners watch TV shows, movies, and YouTube videos, type what they hear, and sync it to the video. Rev offers closed captioning gigs, and they pay $0.40-$0.75 per video minute. Typing accuracy and speed will factor into how much you can make.
For more companies that hire online closed captioners, check out:
3. Virtual Assistant Jobs
Virtual assistants (VAs) are skilled, home-based professionals who offer administrative support to companies, businesses, entrepreneurs, and bloggers. VAs perform a wide variety of tasks, so excellent typing skills are a must. Some of the most basic functions that VAs perform are sending email correspondence, creating documents, scheduling appointments, editing, data entry, and internet research — all of which require accurate typing skills.
A few companies that hire virtual assistants are:
4. Editors and Proofreaders
Do you have an eagle eye? Then perhaps this is the typing gig for you. Proofreaders work with a variety of professionals to polish their written documents. They check for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word choice, as well as fact-checking and improving readability. Many editors have English or journalism degrees, but others break into the field via internships and on-the-job training, and some have a natural gift and are self-taught. Editors need excellent typing and communication skills.
If you’re interested in working from home as a proofreader, check out Caitlin Pyle’s free 76-minute workshop here. In it, you’ll learn if proofreading is a good fit for you, how to get clients, and lots more.
5. Freelance Writer
You may think that you need a specialized degree to be a writer, but that’s not the case. All you need is practice and a love of the craft, and you can make good money writing articles, newsletters, social media updates, white papers, blog posts, sales letters, case studies, video scripts, and more. Gina Horkey built up her freelance writing business from $0 to $4K a month in just six months. And the faster and more accurately you can type – the more work you can churn out.
Here are some places to look for freelance writing jobs:
6. Transcription Jobs
Are you a fast and accurate typist? Do you have excellent listening skills? Then perhaps transcription is the gig for you.
Transcription is the process of listening to audio files and transcribing them into written documents. There are three main types of transcription work, medical transcription, legal transcription, and general transcription. You’ll need a high-speed internet connection, a laptop, a foot pedal, and headphones for these roles.
Most companies will make you take a test to ensure you meet quality standards. According to Zip Recruiter, general transcriptionists earn $20 per hour. Remember, with transcription, you’re paid per audio minute or hour. This means you’re getting paid on the final audio clip, not actually how long it took you to transcribe the audio file.
Want to know more about about these typing jobs? TranscribeAnywhere has a FREE 7-part mini-course from veteran transcriber Janet Shaughnessy explains the industry, how much you can earn as a transcriber, where to find clients, and what you need to get started.
For companies that hire remote transcriptionists, check out:
7. Virtual Receptionists and Call Agents
You may not think that there’s much typing work involved in answering phone calls, but there is a fair amount. Remote receptionists and customer service representatives take phone calls and quickly type in detailed notes of the phone conversation for their clients and customers.
In these remote typing jobs, you may also perform other administrative tasks like screening new clients, booking appointments, transferring calls, and typing information into databases. For these positions, you’ll generally need a high school diploma, fast and accurate typing skills, and the ability to stay cool, calm, and collected while having to multitask. You should also be tech-savvy and know about programs like Microsoft Excel and Word, and Google Docs.
For remote phone jobs, see:
8. Translation
Do you speak more than one language? Then consider becoming a translator. Translators take written and audio recordings from one language and translate them into another language. According to US News, translators earn an average of $49,110 annually.
See the following companies for remote translator positions:
9. Community Moderator
If you enjoy reading user-generated content and comments, then this remote typing job may be your calling. Many companies that utilize online forums, social media platforms, and blogs hire community moderators to watch users and their content. Moderators help ensure that the rules and terms of engagement are being followed and answer questions that may pop up from users. The companies that generally hire moderators are bloggers, gambling websites, gaming platforms, search engines, dating websites, social media sites, and review websites.
Here are some companies that hire remote moderators:
10. Medical Scribe
Another typing job you can do from home is that of the medical scribe. Medical scribes are present during doctor-patient visits, and they type in vital signs, chief complaints, and prescribed regimens in real time in the patient’s digital medical record. Due to the nature of this work, medical scribes must have an understanding of medical terminology, be fast and accurate typists, and be good listeners.
To train for this occupation, you can take an online course through CareerStep and then obtain certification. Some companies will train for these roles; however, training is generally in person for an extended period. According to Salary.com, the average hourly wage for a medical scribe is $18 per hour.
11. Complete Micro Jobs
There are many websites where you can work on task-based items like translation, transcription, market research, online surveys, search engine evaluation, and yes, typing jobs! These independent contracting roles usually pay on the lower end, but they can be an excellent way to earn some extra money during your spare time.
To start working on microtasks, see:
More Data Entry and Typing Jobs
Don’t get me wrong, you can find online data entry jobs, but they’ll consist of more tasks than just straight typing. For instance, Xerox, a reputable and legit work from home company, hires individuals for remote data entry and verification jobs. In this role, you’ll be providing administrative support to business operations, including processing tasks such as data entry, scanning, sorting, and similar activities.
You can also find data entry clerk and administrative assistant positions on staffing agency sites like Kelly Services and Robert Half — both have a remote job search option.
Here is the list of companies I recommend for remote data entry jobs.
Watch Out For Typing Job Scams!
Even though there are more legitimate work from home typing jobs than ever before, scammers are still out there trying to take advantage of unsuspecting job seekers. They’ll create imposter accounts and email you saying that you’ve been hired for a data entry job! Then you click a link or unknowingly provide them with personal information, and then they’re gone with your hard-earned money!
With any job, you should research the company to make sure they’re legit. If a recruiter contacts you for a job, make sure that you verify their email address (it should match the company’s domain name) and their identity on LinkedIn. If you apply for a job opportunity on any of the major job boards, and all of a sudden, they want to move the conversation to a third-party app like Telegram, WhatsApp, or Messenger, this should be a red flag to you! Scammers love to hide behind fake profiles.
Take your time when you’re researching and applying for typing jobs. Entry-level work like data entry and typing don’t pay extremely high wages, so if you’re promised big paydays for simple tasks like these, it’s more than likely a scam!
If you need help keeping track of your research, my Work From Home Career Planner can help you manage every aspect of your remote job search, including avoiding work from home scams.
Work From Home Typing Jobs Wrap-Up
Whether you’re looking for a full-time job, part-time work, or just a side gig, there are many online typing jobs looking for qualified applicants. If you need help increasing your speed or accuracy, there are plenty of free online typing practice sites out there, like typing.com, to hone your skills. Remember to do your due diligence and research opportunities extensively, as there are lots of scammers out there!
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Do you have a work at home job that revolves around typing and data entry? If so, which company are you working for? Drop us a note; we’d love to hear from you.
Originally published May 11, 2016. Content updated January 2024.
