Typing Jobs From Home

Typing jobs from home pay up to $35 an hour, and many need no resume and no experience.

If you can type, follow simple instructions and work on a computer or laptop, you can earn money typing documents from your own home. No commute, no dress code and no fixed office hours. Here is what typing work looks like, what it pays and who can do it.

What a typing job is

Typing jobs are simple computer tasks where you turn information into clean, typed text. Companies, law offices, doctors, schools, researchers and online businesses all have documents, recordings and forms that need to be typed up. Instead of hiring office staff, many of them now send this work to people who type from home.

You receive the files online, type them in the format the client asks for and send them back. The tools are usually a web browser, a word processor or a simple program the company gives you.

The most common types of typing work

• Document typing: retyping scanned letters, contracts, reports and handwritten notes
• Data entry: copying names, numbers and details into spreadsheets or online forms
• Transcription: listening to audio or video and typing what is said
• Captioning: typing subtitles for videos and online courses
• Form processing: checking and entering information from applications and surveys

Why companies are hiring typists now

More paperwork is going digital every year. Old files have to be scanned and typed, meetings and interviews are recorded and need written copies, and online stores add new products every day. All of that creates a steady stream of typing tasks that can be done from anywhere in the country.

Busy seasons such as tax time, the end of the school year and the holidays bring extra waves of openings, and many short-term projects turn into long-term work for reliable typists.

What the pay looks like

Entry-level typing and data entry jobs pay a steady hourly rate or a set amount per page, per file or per audio minute. Fast and accurate typists, people with legal or medical vocabulary and those who take on rush jobs often earn more. Experienced transcriptionists and specialist typists can earn up to $35 an hour.

• Higher rates for fast typing speed and high accuracy
• Extra pay for rush jobs and weekend deadlines
• Bonuses for long projects and repeat clients
• Better rates for legal, medical and technical documents

Who typing jobs are good for

Typing work fits people who need flexible hours or who cannot leave home for a regular job. That is why it is popular with:

• Stay-at-home and breastfeeding moms who work during nap time or in the evening
• Retirees and older adults who want extra income without standing all day
• Students who need a job that fits around classes
• People with a disability or health condition that makes commuting hard
• Anyone who wants a second income next to a full-time job

What you need to get started

Most typing jobs ask for very little. A resume is often not required, and you do not need a degree. Here is what employers usually look for:

• You are at least 18 years old
• You have a computer or laptop and a reliable internet connection
• You can type with good accuracy, speed improves with practice
• You read and write English well
• You can meet a deadline and follow formatting instructions

A typical day typing from home

You open your laptop when it suits you, log in to the work platform and pick up the next file. One task may be a two-page letter, the next a spreadsheet of addresses or a ten-minute audio clip. You type, check your work and submit it. When you are done for the day, you simply close the laptop.

Many typists work in short blocks of one or two hours. That makes it easy to fit the work around children, appointments or another job.

Short term or long term, your choice

Some typing jobs are one-time projects that last a few days. Others are ongoing roles with regular weekly hours. You can start with a short project to try it out and move to steady work once you know you like it. Every completed project also builds a work history you can show the next employer.

Improve your skills in your free time

The faster and more accurate you type, the more you can earn. Free online typing tests and practice sites help you raise your speed in just a few minutes a day, and learning basic spreadsheet and word processor shortcuts makes every task go faster.

Why people love typing from home

Typing work gives you control over your day. You can be there when the kids come home from school, skip rush-hour traffic and save the money you would spend on gas, lunches and work clothes. Many typists say the time saved on commuting feels like an extra paid hour every day.

It is also quiet, focused work. There are no customers on the phone and no manager standing behind you. You get a file, you finish it and you move on to the next one at your own pace.

How fast you can start

Typing jobs often have short online applications. Many ask for a quick typing test instead of a resume, followed by a short email or video interview. Once you are accepted, you usually get a short guide and can take your first paid task within days. Applying to several openings at once is the fastest way to get started.

The next page shows where typing jobs are open right now, what they pay and exactly how to apply so you can start typing documents from home.