Finding transcription jobs that pay well can be quite a challenge. Considering the competition in the transcription industry, it’s somewhat difficult for entry-level transcribers to find a decent job. Transcription jobs are gaining more popularity with the rise of digital technology.
Transcribing machines have yet to perfect transcribing video and audio files. Therefore, most companies still rely on human transcribers to do the job. In this article, we will discuss transcription jobs that pay well, as well as some skills you will need to practice and tips on how to land these jobs.
How Much Does a Transcription Job Pay?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary of a work-from-home transcriptionist is pegged at $58,441. Transcription is a well-paying career if you know how to take advantage of the market and have developed impressive skills.
However, the average earnings a transcriptionist receives often depends on their experience and the company that needs their services. Compared to the work of a home transcriptionist with working flexible hours, a full-time transcriptionist will often make more and have higher hourly rates.
How to Get a High-Paying Transcription Job
The secret to landing a high-paying transcription job requires understanding the employer’s needs and addressing them. Focus on transcribing and delivering impeccable jobs first to gain experience, and high-paying jobs will naturally flow in. You can use the tips below to find high-paying transcription jobs after you have honed your skills.
Step 1: Apply for Multiple Jobs
Apply for a transcription job every day until you land your favorite position. Of course, aim for the top-paying transcription jobs but keep yourself open to any jobs that become available because having experience and social proof of your skills will help you land higher-paying positions.
Step 2: Discard Location
Limiting yourself to transcription jobs in your region is not the best course of action. Remember most transcription jobs allow you to work from home. Tailor your search to big cities to get the best transcription-paying jobs.
Step 3: Build a Killer Resume
You need to learn how to write a resume to convince most recruiters that you are suitable for the position. Also, attaching a cover letter to your professional resume will help. Ensure you carefully outline your skills and top companies you have worked with on your transcription resume.
Step 4: Work Directly with Clients
Transcriptionists that work directly with clients earn more. To get clients, you can register with sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and so on. You will start to earn more when your previous clients on any of those platforms leave positive reviews about your work.
Step 5: Don’t Reject Low-Paying Jobs
What starts as a low-paying job today may turn into a bigger job opportunity in the future. Don’t be afraid to take low-paying gigs at the outset to get your foot in the door. This will give you relevant work to put on your resume and can help you hone your skills.
What Transcription Jobs Pay the Most? The Highest-Paying Transcription Jobs You Should Consider
Transcription jobs exist in various industries. To earn a decent wage as a transcriptionist, you need to sharpen your focus. Below are the highest-paying transcription jobs and you consider seeking them out.
Medical Transcription
- Average Salary: $35,270
- Job Growth: -7%
- Companies Hiring: iMedX, Northside Hospital, Nuance, Mayo Clinic, and Baptist Health System KY & IN
The primary duties of a medical transcriptionist require listening to voice recordings made by physicians and other healthcare personnel. Also, reviewing and editing medical documents falls within your purview. What’s more, medical transcription jobs also require interpreting medical terms and abbreviations while preparing patients’ medical histories.
Legal Transcription
- Average Salary: $56 026
- Job Growth: 3%
- Companies Hiring: E-Typist Inc., VIQ Solutions, and ACTS Document Management
Legal transcribers’ responsibilities include transcribing legal recordings, formatting legal documents, letters, memos, notes, and more. Also, you need to research to ensure the accuracy and completeness of your task. Legal transcriptionists must adhere to the client’s guidelines and preferences.
Bilingual Transcription
- Average Salary: $36,728
- Job Growth: N/A
- Companies Hiring: Jamison Professional Services, Uber, Amazon
A bilingual transcriptionist is bestowed with the responsibility of interpreting files, letters, recordings, and more., from one language to another. As the name implies, the bilingual transcriptionist is supposed to know two or more foreign languages at least.
Transcription Assistant
- Average Salary: $42,323
- Job Growth: N/A
- Companies Hiring: Microsoft, Patient First, CapTel Specialists, LLC
A transcription assistant transcribes files and makes all necessary corrections in a timely manner. Also, the transcription assistant provides weekly reports of the charts or files that were queried by the transcriptionist for review and resolution.
Freelance Transcription
- Average Salary: $42,585
- Job Growth: N/A
- Companies Hiring: GMR Transcription, Rev.com
A freelance transcriptionist works as a contractor, not an employee. Freelance transcriptionists often get their jobs directly from clients. The job description of a freelance transcriptionist often depends on the client. Freelance transcription jobs offer a lot of flexibility. Freelance work often makes for good jobs for beginners who want to earn extra cash and gain transcription experience.
Data Transcription
- Average Salary: $35,344
- Job Growth: N/A
- Companies Hiring: IRS, Appen, DTCC
A data transcriptionist is responsible for data entry. Also, you would have to review documents and make sure that they are complete and legible. Usually, data transcribers work more on a spreadsheet. For instance, the IRS hires data transcribers to enter data on hand-written forms into their systems. Data transcriptionists also have to keep accurate records of the data they entered.
General Transcription
- Average Salary: $40,426
- Job Growth: N/A
- Companies Hiring: Daily Transcription, Microsoft, Uber
A general transcriptionist must have good communication skills in order to transcribe multi-speakers accurately. Also, your job would include typing documents, researching, following instructions, proofreading transcripts to 98 percent accuracy. You need to be proficient with transcription software.
Realtime Transcription
- Average Salary: $64,665
- Job Growth: N/A
- Companies Hiring: Legal courts, police stations
Compared to other transcriptionists that work off recorded audio or files, real-time transcription jobs require very high speed and accuracy. An example of a real-time transcriptionist is a court reporter. You have to report all legal proceedings at trial accurately. Real-time transcriptionists are also hired to interpret police interrogations.
Video Transcription
- Average Salary: $49,231
- Job Growth: N/A
- Companies Hiring: VIQ Solutions, Valiant Integrated Services, Capital Typing
As a video transcriptionist, your job is to create accurate written versions of the audio and video files. Also, you may have to review and edit transcriptions done by speech recognition software. Transcriptions done by AI are usually not as accurate as human transcribers.
Pathology Transcription
- Average Salary: $55,919
- Job Growth: N/A
- Companies Hiring: VIQ Solutions
A pathology transcriptionist is focused on creating a transcription of laboratory work or records made by a pathologist. In some companies, a medical and a pathology transcriptionist do the same job.
Best Transcription Jobs: Top Companies that Hire for Transcription Jobs
Some companies focus mainly on providing transcription services for their clients. These firms are where you should look for entry-level transcription jobs. Their application process may require submitting an online application, a resume, or a cover letter to prove you have transcription training. Below are reputable companies that hire transcriptionist regularly:
- Aberdeen Broadcast Services: This is a production transcription company that specializes in transcribing for TV stations and video producers. They also hire transcriptionists for real-time captioning.
- GoTranscript: This transcription company is based in the UK. However, they also engage the services of freelance transcriptionists. GoTranscript’s workforce is between 500 to 1,000 employees. Also, transcriptionists decide when to work.
- Opal Transcription Services: Transcriptionists hired by Opal Transcription Services must have a good grasp of grammar because their jobs are based on general and legal transcriptions. Opal Transcription Services offer transcriptionists above-average pay rates.
- Transcribe Anywhere: If you are looking for an online transcription job, this might be the company for you. Transcribe Anywhere also pays well and a foremost transcriber Janeg Shaughnessy founded this company.
- GMR Transcription: This US-based transcription company fully relies on humans to carry out its services. GMR Transcription provides transcription services for private clients in business, academics, audio, and video.
Where to Find a Transcription Job
Searching for the right transcription job can be quite a hassle if you don’t know where to look. No doubt, transcription beginners often face the challenge of finding work to practice their transcription skills and earn a good income. See where to find transcription jobs below.
Online Platforms
Ideally, the first place to search for a transcription job is on an online job board. Most transcription work doesn’t require your presence in a physical office. You can carry out online transcription jobs from home or anywhere. As an online transcriptionist, you need a reliable internet connection.
Company’s Career Page
You can visit the job boards of companies and search for the position of transcriptionist. Applying through a company’s job boards provides you firsthand information of skills they require and other details that third-party transcription sites may not disclose.
Job Boards
Job boards also offer a great opportunity to find a suitable transcription job. Simply insert “transcription jobs” and available positions will pop up. Ensure that the transcription position is still open and offered by a reputable company before you apply.
Skills Required to Find a Transcription Job
Becoming a professional transcriptionist requires a lot of work and dedication. To earn more, you need to become an expert at typing fast and accurately. Below are skills you need to excel as a transcriptionist.
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Listening
To efficiently transcribe a work, you need excellent listening skills and attention to detail. Usually, experienced transcribers deal with various accents. Without a good ear, you may struggle. Listening skills come in handy because not all transcription jobs are about editing and proofreading.
Language Skills
To join the list of experienced transcribers, you need to be good at other languages, especially English. Usually, most transcription jobs revolve around the English language. Focusing on improving your English for beginner transcriptionists is ideal.
Accuracy
A transcript should have the same meaning as the original content, making accuracy critical. For instance, medical and legal transcription jobs require flawless work. Using the wrong word or sentence could have serious consequences.
Typing
Your typing skills should be top-notch. Focus on improving your average typing speed to at least 35 words per minute and take it up from there. Typing fast means you can handle more transcription jobs. Improving your typing skills requires continuous practice.
Research
Transcribers often deal with technical files. To effectively interpret the meaning of a word without going out of context, you need to research. Researching skills come in handy when you are unfamiliar with the field you are transcribing.
Is a Transcription Job Suitable for me?
Yes, a transcription job is suitable for anyone who has good listening skills and can type quickly and accurately. It also helps if you are multilingual. To start off as a transcriptionist, you need high-speed internet, a pair of headphones, a laptop, and a phone.
Transcription Jobs that Pay Well FAQ
The transcriptionists that earn the most engage in real-time, medical, and legal transcription jobs. However, remote transcription work has other benefits as it allows you to work from anywhere and with various clients.
The transcription industry standard for interpreting one-hour audio is four hours. However, a pro transcriptionist can do it in less than an hour. It all depends on your typing speed and the audio quality.
Yes, you can get a transcription job without any previous experience but you need to know the basics. Landing a transcription job without relevant experience can be quite a challenge. Formal training as a transcriptionist will boost your chances of getting hired on transcription platforms. Part-time transcription jobs are becoming more popular in the gig economy.
Generally, a transcriptionist needs to have a good command of language and grammar. In most cases, learning English is essential because most transcription clients require this skill. Knowledge of the field may be required for medical and legal transcription jobs.
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