Are you a fast and accurate typist? Do you want the flexibility of working at home while completing simple typing tasks? If so, working as a remote data entry clerk may be the perfect work from home job for you.
What is Data Entry?
Data entry has been around since there have been typewriters, and even though we use computers and laptops now, the general concept is the same. In short, it requires you to take a recorded or hard copy of a transcript and input it into a computer database.
How you perform data entry varies from company to company, but can include anything from scanning documents to listening to audio clips and transcribing information to simply inputting answers from a survey.
What Skills Are Required for Remote Data Entry Jobs?
While there is no degree required to start a data entry job, in general, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED. In addition, you’ll need to have the following soft skills and working knowledge of the programs below.
Basic Computer Skills Needed for Data Entry Positions
Here is a quick overview of the basic skills you’ll likely need to apply for these remote jobs.
Computer Skills
While the specifics surrounding the type of computer skills you’ll need will vary depending on the position, below are some of the basics you should be aware of as you investigate and apply to data entry jobs.
Typing
Your ability to type with accuracy and speed can determine how much money you make. In general, the faster you can type, the more money you’ll earn typing from home.
According to the Aptitude Test, most data entry positions require you to type at least 45 words per minute (WPM). If you’re uncertain how fast you type, you can test your typing speed for free online with one of these sites:
Spreadsheets
Knowing how to organize data into spreadsheets is a standard skill set needed in data entry. Thankfully, if you don’t have a ton of experience here, you can practice data entry on your own using Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel, two of the most common programs used by companies, to gain a bit of experience and confidence beforehand.
Google Docs
From Google Drive and Docs to Slides and Sheets, many companies are linked to some aspect of Google. If you’re not well-versed with Google-based products, sign up for a professional account and start exploring!
Microsoft Word
At some point in your data entry career, you’ll more than likely be asked to type something into a Word Document. Getting a basic grasp on some of the features of Word is a great way to add one more bullet point of experience to your resume.
Organizational Skills
Organizational skills are a necessity for work at home success as a data entry specialist, from organizing email communications, electronic files, and folders, meeting deadlines, and completing projects for several clients. Your ability to organize will be essential to your overall success as you work from home.
Communication Skills
Understanding the significance of clear, timely communication is an integral part of establishing yourself as a dedicated, professional data entry specialist.
Common Communication Platforms Used in Data Entry Jobs
Below are some possible methods of communication your employer may use for day-to-day interactions. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with these communication methods to ensure your professionalism and reliability with your employer.
- Email: Familiarizing yourself with email communication is necessary as you participate in more work from home opportunities. Creating a professional email address associated with your website or your business name establishes trust and authority when potential employers contact you.
- Video Conferencing: Video conferencing platforms such as Google Meet and Zoom have become increasingly popular. Sign up for a free account for either one of these platforms and even hold a meeting or two with family and friends to become more familiar with them.
- Live Chat: Live chat via Facebook Messenger or other platforms such as Slack, Telegram, or Voxer are popular with companies around the globe. These instant messaging systems are often convenient when immediate communication regarding projects is needed.
Now that you’re prepared with what you’ll need to be successful, let’s dive into data entry jobs you can do from home.
Online Data Entry Job Openings
1. Axion Data Services
Axion Data Services hires US-based independent contractors for part-time data entry work. However, because these positions are in high demand, they rarely have openings, but they still encourage job seekers to apply. For these positions, you must have a high school diploma, prior experience, pass a criminal background check, and have the ability to type 50 WPM. Payments are distributed biweekly via direct deposit, and pay is per piece completed.
- Axion Data Services receives a 4.6-star rating on Glassdoor.
2. Bold Business
Bold Business often has openings for remote data entry clerks located in the United States, Latin America, the Philippines, and India. These positions tend to be full-time, entry-level roles that require applicants to have their own PC, home office setup, and internet access. To qualify for these data entry jobs, you should have excellent communication skills and keen attention to detail. According to Glassdoor, data entry clerks at Bold Business earn an average annual salary of $38,000.
- Bold Business receives a 4.5-star rating on Glassdoor.
3. Capital Typing
Capital Typing offers data entry services for businesses and offers remote full-time and part-time data entry positions for individuals hired as independent contractors. Most jobs at Capital Typing are transcription jobs, but content writing positions come up on occasion. Positions change, so bookmark this website to refer back to if there isn’t a position you would like.
- Capital Typing receives a 4-star rating on Glassdoor.
4. Cass Information Systems, Inc
Cass Information Systems, Inc is a business processing company for freight, utility, and waste management companies, and they often have openings for in-person, hybrid, and remote data clerks. Positions tend to be location-dependent and span IT, admin support, management, HR, client support, and professional services.
- Cass Information Systems, Inc receives a 3.5-star rating on Glassdoor.
5. Conduent
Conduent is a business process outsourcing company with a wide range of remote job openings. Positions include administrative assistants, customer service representatives, claims, HR, data entry jobs, and more. To find the online data entry jobs on their site, type in “data entry” in the keyword search box and select the remote checkbox. Many of Conduent’s positions are location-dependent, and each company has different qualifications and pay rates.
- Conduent receives a 3-star rating on Glassdoor.
6. CVS Health
Another great place to find work from home data entry jobs is CVS Health. While they sometimes have straight data entry positions, more often, they have remote openings for electronic eligibility consultants, pharmacy clerks, and administrative assistant roles. These generally require prior data entry and word processing experience. To find these positions, type in the keyword “data entry” and select “fully remote” under the search filters.
- CVS Health receives a 3.2-star rating on Glassdoor.
7. Data Dimensions
Data Dimensions is a service solutions provider based in Wisconsin that often needs to fill data entry clerk positions for its clients. These positions may be part-time, full-time, and location-dependent. You can use their search filters at the top of the page to search for the remote job options. Be sure to look for synonyms for data entry, such as data processor, records management specialist, and processing and verification specialist.
- Data Dimensions receives a 3.1-star rating on Glassdoor.
8. Firstsource
Firstsource is a business process management company that hires remote and in-person workers from the US, the UK, Australia, India, Mexico, and the Philippines. Occupations span customer service and account management to marketing, engineering, and, of course, admin services like data entry. On their website, you can search for jobs by keyword or location, and you can even set up job alerts for future remote job openings as a data entry clerk.
- Firstsource receives a 3.9-star rating on Glassdoor.
9. Gainwell Technologies
Gainwell Technologies hires a wide variety of employees and occasionally has openings for remote data entry operators. To find the jobs, you’ll need to type in the keywords “data entry” and “remote.” Most positions are location-dependent, and they currently have openings in the US, Puerto Rico, and Bangalore, India.
- Gainwell Technologies receives a 2.9-star rating on Glassdoor.
10. HealthMark Group
HealthMark Group is a medical record management company based in Addison, Texas, that almost always has remote job openings in medical data entry. Many jobs are location-dependent, focusing on Texas cities like Dallas, Austin, and Marble Falls, but they also have nationwide openings at times. HealthMark Group is known for being a Top Place to Work that emphasizes diversity and inclusion. To find new jobs on their site, type in “data entry” and your city to generate results. You’ll also want to explore similar positions, such as an audit processing specialist and a medical records processing specialist.
- HealthMark Group receives a 3.9-star rating on Glassdoor.
11. Kendall Creek Communications
Kendall Creek is a US-based company that hires independent contractors for data entry and research positions for larger companies. Pay rates are set by the client, but typically pay $1.25-$2.00 per double-spaced page; not a lot of money. You can accept or decline jobs before getting started.
- Kendall Creek Communications receives a 3.4-star rating on Glassdoor.
12. Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy regularly hires remote data entry clerks. These positions tend to be W-2 with part-time hours. To see if they are currently hiring, enter the keywords “Data Entry” into the search box and click “Yes” on the remote job filter. You can also follow Marriott International on LinkedIn and let them know that you’re interested in working with them.
- Marriott Bonvoy receives a 3.5-star rating on Glassdoor.
13. Study.com
Study.com hires independent contractors for freelance writing projects, editing, research, tutoring, reviewing, data entry, and more. In your data entry positions, you will research and evaluate potential partnerships while documenting your findings in detail. The preferred qualifications for these positions are experience with BuzzStream, Smartsheet, Microsoft Office, data entry, and link building. With Study.com, you’ll be paid per project twice a month via PayPal and have flexible hours.
- Study.com receives a 2.7-star rating on Glassdoor.
14. The Remote Job Membership
The Remote Job Membership was created by Holly to better support remote job seekers, helping them find legitimate remote jobs in the occupations they desire most. This private membership offers many legitimate job opportunities in data entry and across every imaginable area of remote work. Not only does Holly and her team hand-screen every job listing for legitimacy, but they also provide clear steps from searching, applying, and interviewing so you get hired fast.
- The Work at Home Woman receives an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
15. UnitedHealth Group
The insurance giant UnitedHealth Group occasionally has full-time remote data entry jobs. These positions are sporadic and location-dependent, but they tend to pay well and come with great benefits. To find these roles on their website, use the search filters on the left-hand side of the screen. Sometimes, these data entry roles are more general, and at other times, positions may require more advanced knowledge of medical records, payroll, or medical prescriptions.
- UnitedHealth Group receives a 3.5-star rating on Glassdoor.
Other Online Typing Jobs
16. General Transcription Jobs
While medical and legal transcription are popular options for data entry job seekers, general transcription is another excellent way to make money in this field. As a transcriptionist, you’ll listen to audio files and transcribe them into written documents. You’ll most likely take a general typing test for speed and accuracy. Most companies pay per audio minute for general transcription.
Here are a few companies hiring for general transcription work:
17. Closed Captioning
Closed captioning is the perfect work from home data entry job for those who enjoy listening to others speak and watching videos! Some reputable closed captioning companies that are now hiring are:
One other perk when working for these companies is the number of different job possibilities. Often, closed captioning job sites offer other content creation, translation, and transcription job opportunities.
Complete Short Tasks
Below are several companies that hire for freelance data entry positions. While the pay may not be the highest, these positions can help you get some experience under your belt and add a little extra cash to your wallet.
18. microWorkers
On microWorkers, you can earn money by completing short tasks. These tasks are generally entry-level tasks that don’t require prior experience. If you’re starting within the field of data entry, microWorkers might be a decent place to get your feet wet.
- microWorkers gets mixed reviews, receiving 1.8 stars on Sitejabber and 4.4 stars on Indeed.
19. Amazon Mechanical Turk
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk for short) is a marketplace where you can help individuals with tasks like data entry and content moderation. These tasks are often smaller, quick tasks, and pay depends on the individual or company that posts the microtask. The pay isn’t great, often pennies per task, but it may be worth checking out if you don’t have anything else going on.
- Amazon MTurk also gets mixed reviews, receiving 3.3 stars on Indeed and 1.9 stars on Trustpilot.
20. Clickworker
From creating and correcting texts to conducting surveys and more, Clickworker is a great place to get started in the field of data entry. As an independent contractor, you’ll complete a variety of micro-tasks based on your skill set. The pay typically isn’t very high, and your overall monthly income can fluctuate (as with other micro-task job sites).
- Clickworker receives a 3.9-star rating on Glassdoor.
21. Fiverr
Fiverr is an online marketplace where freelancers sell their services. Services range from graphic design and photography to copywriting and data entry. With Fiverr, you decide how much to charge, and once someone purchases a gig from you, Fiverr will take a 20% fee from the final price. This post has some good tips for getting started on Fiverr.
- Fiverr receives positive ratings on Indeed, but these are from employees, not freelancers. To see if this is the right platform for you, check out Diana Kelly Levey’s review.
Use a Staffing Agency to Find Data Entry Work
One underutilized place to find legit data entry work is through staffing and temp agencies. The great thing about going through a staffing agency is that you can find flexible work schedules like part-time hours, temporary work, per diem, and, of course, remote work roles.
One thing to note about these jobs is that you will often be doing more than just data entry tasks; you may also provide customer service, answer phone calls, verify signatures, create PowerPoint presentations, and work on other clerical duties. Another nice thing about working with a staffing agency is that these jobs tend to pay better (at least minimum wage, often more) than many of the freelance gigs we listed above. It’s also a great way to get your foot in the door with a company; some positions may become full-time, permanent roles.
Here are some staffing agencies to check out:
22. Kelly
Kelly is a staffing agency that has jobs for US and international residents alike. To get started with your data entry job search, type in the role you’re searching for and leave the location blank. On the next screen, you’ll be able to narrow down your search to just the work from home jobs.
- Kelly receives a 3.4-star rating on Glassdoor.
23. Robert Half
Robert Half is a talent agency specializing in US jobs across administrative, finance, legal, marketing, and technology. On their site, you can narrow your search by location (including remote work), specialization, and job type. You can also create job alerts for the positions you’re most interested in.
- Robert Hlaf receives a 3.7-star rating on Glassdoor.
24. Insight Global
Insight Global is a staffing agency for US and UK residents, and with their remote job search filter, you can easily find remote data entry jobs. They have both part-time and full-time positions, as well as permanent and temporary roles. Their job listings are location-dependent, but they all include the estimated pay rate for each position.
- Insight Global receives a 3.6-star rating on Glassdoor.
Online Data Entry Job Scams to Watch Out For
Unfortunately, work from home job scams are out there, and data entry is just another spot scammers like to reside. Data entry is an easy target as it’s often simple to impersonate and create seemingly legitimate job opportunities.
They’ll often swipe copy from an actual job posting and mimic every detail.
Because of this, you’ll need to vet every job to ensure you’re avoiding scams. I’ve personally been burned by work from home job scams (I lost almost $1,500 as a stay-at-home mama with zero income at the time), and recouping the money was impossible.
These scammers hide behind fake email accounts, phone numbers, SKYPE IDs, and Facebook accounts that seem real.
So, how can you tell legitimate companies from fakes? We have researched the data entry jobs above, but you’ll need to do your due diligence as well.
Red Flags to Help You Spot Scams
- High Pay for Entry-Level Work: Legitimate data entry jobs tend to pay between $12 and $21 per hour (often lower). Beware of sites advertising data entry jobs paying $35 or more per hour without specialized skills.
- Paid Training: Believe it or not, this is often a huge red flag. Always ask to speak with people who have completed the training. Some specialized areas (like the ones mentioned above) will have programs where you’ll earn a certificate or other training programs (such as legal transcription and medical or pharmacy transcription); however, other data entry jobs do not require training.
- Fees to Join: Asking you to pay upfront for “equipment” you’ll need to complete the work (often asking you for your banking information).
- Check Cashing: Asking you to cash a check so that you can buy the equipment you’ll need to work from home (this is how those scammers got me).
- No Social Proof: Your inability to locate credible social proof on the company. All companies have some type of online presence.
Researching Jobs Before You Apply
Be sure to complete your due diligence and take some time to investigate any company that shows interest in hiring you.
Some tips when going through the hiring process and investigating data entry jobs:
- Check the Better Business Bureau for reports on the company
- Ask for references or look for online reviews of the company on Glassdoor or Indeed
- Ask for a signed contract
The small amount of time needed to ensure that you’re hired on with a legit data entry position can potentially save you thousands of dollars, plus the added headache of having your personal information stolen.
Data Entry Jobs Wrapup
There are many options for starting a data entry position from the comfort of home!
From transcription to micro-task data entry jobs to full and part-time positions, there are many levels of work out there.
Some opportunities offer higher pay depending upon the experience you bring, while other work from home data entry jobs are smaller, task-oriented, with lower pay rates.
Try one or several of these data entry positions, and let us know your experience!
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