Typing As A Side Hustle: A Quick Way To Make Money Remotely
If you’re interested in typing for extra money, now is your chance to enter today’s gig economy! Learn how to get started with this side hustle.
- Typing jobs include transcription, data entry, blogging, and virtual assistant roles.
- Average earnings range between $4,000 and $6,000 monthly, depending on skills.
- Minimal startup costs include a computer and possibly a quality headset.
- Challenges: low starting pay, high competition, and potential online scams.
Brett Helling is a gig economy expert who has been running his own small business for over 10 years.
Do you consider yourself a fast and accurate typer? Are you also looking for ways to make some extra money?
Then you could turn that skill into an income stream!
Various lucrative opportunities are available online for talented freelance writers, including legal transcription, data entry, captioning, blogging, and chat agent jobs.
This post will help you break into the business and turn your typing skills into cash.
An Overview of Typing: A Primer
Getting paid to type essentially involves a person inputting data in digital written form using an electronic device (computer or smartphone).
Coupled with a high-speed internet connection and the ability to type quickly and correctly, anyone can be eligible to make money via typing.
A wide range of online typing jobs is out there to suit different interests.
You can do medical transcriptions, transform audio minutes to captions for video files, fill spreadsheets, create blogs, or chat live.
You can also work as a book typer or even a virtual assistant.
Some of these jobs require creativity, while others use ready-made material for you to type.
The choice depends on your preference, but there’s profit for you either way.
How Much Can Typing Earn You?
Online typing jobs aren’t only a way for you to quickly make money, but some people make full-on careers out of them.
This gives you an idea of how lucrative a typing job can be.
But because typing jobs come in numerous types/domains, the pay for each one is different.
Even within the same category of typing jobs, the hourly rate varies depending on the size of the project, its complexity, and your skill level.
For example, transcription jobs earn you an average of $17 per hour, whereas for data entry jobs you can make around $28 per hour.
Generally, you’re looking at an average monthly salary between $4,000 and $6,000 with typing jobs.
How Much Does it Cost to Start a Side Hustle Typing?
You don’t need a specific degree to land an online typing job.
Most of them require a knowledge of a particular language and a technical knowledge of using electronics for typing and listening.
So unless you’re not proficient enough in the target language(s), you don’t have to worry about education costs.
Additional skills like working spreadsheets can be free to learn on your own or using online tutorials.
You may have to buy a good PC or laptop (much more practical for typing) if you don’t own one already.
Consider purchasing a good headset to block out noise and listen to audio files clearly.
These could cost anywhere between $500 and thousands of dollars, depending on the brand, specs, and so on.
Where Can You Find Typing Gigs?
Online typing jobs are typically remote work opportunities, meaning the entire internet is your playground.
To spare time and frustration, here are some websites to narrow down your search scope:
Where to Independently Find Typing Gigs
If you’re looking to find gigs on your own, the following websites are a good start:
- Upwork: It has over 1.5 million clients, so chances for finding typing jobs are high. Here, you can start with a free account and upgrade when things pick up.
- Fiverr: All you need to do is set up your profile and wait for the clients to reach out.
- Other freelance websites: Browse job boards on sites like FlexJobs or Steady, or approach recruiters and potential clients on LinkedIn.
Gig Economy Companies That Offer Typing Gigs
Some websites specialize in connecting typing professionals with clients for various typing-oriented jobs. Joining these platforms can save you the hassle of finding interested clients.
Examples of such companies include SigTrack, Clickworker, Rev, Data Plus+, TranscribeMe, and Microworkers.
Why You Should Consider Typing As a Side Hustle
Besides being a way for you to make money, typing as a side hustle has a bunch of other advantages to offer. Here are some reasons why typing can be a good move for you:
Set Your Own Pace
Most types of workers can benefit from flexibility in work, and online typing jobs can provide tons of it.
You can choose your hours, clients, projects, and even where to work from.
Previous Experience Isn’t an Obstacle
One of the toughest challenges of finding a profitable job is having prior education/work experience.
You don’t need to worry about that with typing gigs, which makes it easy for just about anyone to get into.
Diverse Options
With typing services, you get a wide range of job opportunities to pick from depending on your preferences.
For example, if you have a knack for organization, you may be more interested in a virtual assistant position.
Problems With Typing for Money
Online typing jobs also come with a few cons that you should be aware of before joining the business:
- Low Rates Initially: As you start your typing journey, you’ll need to set competitive rates to attract clients. This means less pay until you establish a solid portfolio with plenty of positive reviews.
- High Competition: Because it’s pretty easy to get into, a lot of people will be after the same gigs that you are.
- Scam Possibility: The online job market is no stranger to scams. Watch out for too-lucrative offers and clients who bail out on payment after receiving the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Average Typing Speed for a Typing Side Hustle?
While an average employee needs an average typing speed of 40 to 60 words per minute, you should be faster if you’re interested in a typing-focused job. Aim for the range of 60 to 90 words per minute.
Can I Learn Typing in 10 Days?
You can learn typing in 10 days if you’re already familiar with the workings of a keyboard. With a commitment of 4 to 6 hours of practice per day, you can increase your typing speed and type fluently without looking at the keyboard.