SpeakWrite is a legal and business transcription company that hires remote typists to convert dictated audio recordings into typed documents.
Their clients are mainly lawyers, law enforcement agencies, and business professionals who call in and dictate letters, reports, and legal documents. Your job is to listen to those recordings and type them out accurately.
It has been operating since 1997 and currently processes over 35 million words per month through its typist network. That is a lot of work flowing through the platform consistently, which means there is usually something available when you log in.
Getting hired is straightforward. You apply on their website, pass a typing test, and if you meet the accuracy and speed requirements, you get access to the typist app. No resume needed, no lengthy interview process. The test is the deciding factor.
Work is assigned through their app. You choose your own shifts, schedule a minimum of 15 hours per month, and work up to 12 hours in a single day.
When a shift opens up, you receive jobs automatically and complete them within a required turnaround ratio of 2 to 2.2 times the length of the audio. So a 10-minute recording needs to be done in around 20 to 22 minutes.
The pay is per word at $0.005 per word, which is half a cent. Many shifts offer an additional 10% bonus on top of that. Before you dismiss those numbers, here is the math in real terms.
A fast typist doing 80 words per minute transcribing a document where they are typing approximately 60% of the time can earn $10 to $14 per effective working hour. Some experienced typists report pushing that to $15 per hour during bonus shifts. Others report much lower effective rates depending on audio quality and client clarity.
Honest reviews from Glassdoor paint a mixed picture. Workers love the flexibility and the fact that work is reliably available. The consistent complaint is that pay per hour is lower than it appears on paper because you are not paid for time spent listening and pausing, only for words on the completed document. If a client dictates badly or changes their mind mid-recording, that time is on you.
Payments go out twice per month via direct deposit for US typists, or by check for Canadian typists. SpeakWrite does not use PayPal, which is worth knowing before you apply.
Pay
$0.005 per word standard rate, with a 10% bonus on many available shifts. Effective hourly earnings range from $10 to $15 per hour for average typists and up to $19 per hour for fast, experienced workers. Senior legal transcriptionists report annual earnings reaching $40,000 to $64,000 for full-time commitment.
How You Make Money
You apply, pass the typing test, choose your available shifts through the app, receive assigned audio jobs during your shift, type them out accurately within the turnaround requirement, and get paid twice per month.
Payment Method
Direct deposit (US), check (Canada)
Minimum Payment
N/A, twice-monthly payroll
Withdrawal Speed
Twice per month, on the 1st and 15th
Skill Level
Intermediate (minimum 60 WPM typing speed required, 90% accuracy on typing test, one year of general typist experience preferred, legal or medical background helpful for higher-level work)
Pros
- No interview, no resume, and no prior experience needed to get started
- Completely flexible hours, you work whenever you want during available periods
- Accuracy-based pay rewards careful workers with higher effective hourly earnings
- Legitimate platform with a long track record in the US data entry community
- No income ceiling during peak season for workers who put in serious hours
Cons
- Work is seasonal and tied to election cycles, not a stable year-round income source
- Pay per tag is very small and requires high volume to generate meaningful daily earnings
- US residents only with additional restrictions in California and Massachusetts
- No formal training provided, you learn the rules independently from the guidelines
- Some workers report the accuracy threshold feels strict and inconsistently applied
Best For
US-based people who want a flexible, no-experience data entry opportunity during election seasons and are comfortable with piece-rate pay that rewards speed and accuracy over time
Country Availability
United States and Canada only
