Do you love watching videos but get annoyed when they lack subtitles? Do you have above-average typing and listening skills and think you have what it takes to help fellow video watchers out there who may have the same pet peeve? If so, then a side hustle doing captioning jobs might be for you!
As a captioner, you can get paid to add subtitles to YouTube videos, TV shows, and all types of video content. You don’t need any special experience or qualifications to get started; all you need is a good grasp of grammar and a good ear.
Plus, this work is usually done remotely, so you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Most companies will also hire you as a freelancer, meaning you get to work whenever and however much you want.
In this post, I’ll share 11 companies that offer captioning jobs to beginners. So if you’re ready to start earning, read on!
What is captioning and why is it important?
Captioning is a powerful tool that allows content creators to ensure that their videos, movies, and other media are accessible to everyone. Captions are text-based versions of spoken dialogue, sound effects, and other audio elements, and they were originally designed to help those with hearing impairments.
However, captions can also benefit those without hearing impairments by allowing them to watch videos without sound, providing additional clarity for difficult accents or dialects, and allowing people to take in more of the video even when noise could otherwise be distracting.
Is captioning the same as subtitling?
Most people use the terms “subtitles” and “captions” interchangeably when referring to text that appears on the screen of a video, but the truth is that these terms are quite different.
Captioning is usually used to describe the process of adding text to mostly English-language videos. Subtitling, on the other hand, mostly applies to videos that have dialogue in other languages and requires you to first translate the language to English before adding the text to the video.
Although both processes involve the same basic principles, subtitling requires a higher level of proficiency in the target language, since you’ll be translating foreign dialogue into English. For this reason, most captioning jobs don’t require a strong understanding of another language—just good listening and typing skills.
Closed Captioning Vs Open Captioning
Another important distinction to keep in mind when it comes to captioning is the difference between closed captioning and open captioning.
While closed captions can be turned on and off by the viewer, open captions are permanently embedded into the video and cannot be hidden.
Most companies on this list offer jobs in closed captioning.
What exactly am I required to do as a captioner?
As a captioner, you must first precisely transcribe the video file by typing out what is heard. After that, you have to put the text into groups of captions and use software to make sure the captions match what’s happening on screen and what’s being said.
How do I get started as a captioner and what are the requirements?
If you’re looking to break into the world of video captioning, then you need to start by checking out the companies that offer those jobs. There are more than a dozen companies offering beginner jobs in this field, so regardless of your experience level, you can just pick one and start making money today.
To start working as a captioner, you’ll typically need the following:
- – A computer and reliable internet connection
- – Knowledge of basic grammar and punctuation
- – Good listening skills and ability to type quickly and accurately
- – Experience with transcription software (depending on the job)
- – A quiet place to work
- – Good time management skills
- – The ability to meet tight deadlines (dependent on job).
How much can I make as a captioner?
The amount of money you can make as a captioner will depend on the company you work for. Generally speaking, most entry-level captioners are paid between $15 and $60 per audio hour. As you gain experience and become more proficient, your rate may increase.
It is important to note that an audio hour is not the same as a calendar hour. An audio hour is the actual length of a video file, not how long it takes to caption it. Captioning an hour of video almost always takes longer than an actual hour, depending on your speed.
Now that you know more about captioning, let’s take a look at some of the best companies suitable for beginner captioners.
11 companies that offer captioning jobs for beginners.
1. Rev
Eligible Countries: Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, The United States (excluding California)
Payment Method: PayPal
Pay Rate: $0.54-$1.10 per audio minute
Rev is a good choice for people who are just starting out in captioning because its platform is easy to use and it pays well.
Working as a Rev captioner is pretty easy, as you are given captioning software to use. The software generates a draft transcription of the video, and all that’s left for you to do is check its accuracy and sync the caption groups accordingly.
In addition to captioning, Rev also offers transcription and subtitling jobs.
The company pays every Monday via PayPal.
2. TranscribeMe
Eligible Countries: All countries worldwide
Payment Method: PayPal
Pay Rate: $20+ per audio hour
TranscribeMe is another leader in closed captioning. The company also offers transcription, translation, and annotation services.
Just like Rev, TranscribeMe uses speech recognition software and human input to produce high-quality captions. Their assessment exam is quite tough, but once you get accepted, you get access to a guaranteed steady flow of work and generous remuneration for your hard work.
The company pay every Thursday via PayPal.
3. Speechpad
Eligible Countries: All countries worldwide
Payment Method: PayPal, Bank transfer
Pay Rate: $0.30 to $1 per audio minute
Speechpad works with a wide range of international clients to provide transcription, captioning, and translation services, and it occasionally brings on freelancers to expand its team.
Working as a captioner at Speechpad is incredibly flexible. You have the freedom to select the jobs you wish to work on, as well as when and how frequently you work.
The company pays every Tuesday and Friday via PayPal.
4. Scribie
Eligible Countries: All countries worldwide
Payment Method: PayPal
Pay Rate: $5 to $25 per audio hour
Scribie is a great site for beginner captioners and transcriptionists. Acing their entrance test is quite simple; you only need to possess a strong proficiency in English.
Although their pay is quite low, this is a good place to perfect your captioning and transcription skills to advance to higher paying companies like Rev.
5. VITAC
Eligible Countries: All countries worldwide
Payment Method: PayPal
Pay Rate: unknown
VITAC, a Verbit company (See my Transcription post) is another amazing closed captioning and live captioning company that is always looking to hire captioners from all over the world. To apply, you have to visit their “Careers” page and look at the available positions.
6. Way with Words
Eligible Countries: All countries worldwide
Payment Method: PayPal
Pay Rate: $0.45 to $1.73 per audio minute
Way with Words is another big player when it comes to the captioning world. The company offers beginner captioning jobs from a variety of clients, and as a captioner on the platform, you may find yourself working on files like webinars, university lectures, and film and television.
7. Crowdsurf
Eligible Countries: All countries worldwide
Payment Method: PayPal, Bank transfer
Pay Rate: $0.03-$0.20 per media minute
Crowdsurf is a transcription and captioning services company that is always looking for new freelancers to work on a variety of files, including interviews and TV shows. Their entrance exam is moderately demanding.
8. GoTranscript
Eligible Countries: All countries worldwide
Payment Method: PayPal, Payoneer
Pay Rate: $0.06 per video minute
GoTranscript is mainly a transcription company but occasionally hires captioners. The company is open to applications from all over the world.
The assessment video can be challenging, so you need a really sharp ear to apply to this company.
9. 3PlayMedia
Eligible Countries: All countries worldwide
Payment Method: Check and Bank deposit
Pay Rate: $10 to $30 per hour
For the past 14 years, 3Play Media has been a leader in closed captioning, transcription, and audio description services in the United States. Their goal is to make video accessibility seamless for everyone, and they are always seeking freelancers to join their team.
The entrance exam is super easy; consisting of a series of short videos to caption.
10. Casting Words
Eligible Countries: All countries worldwide
Payment Method: PayPal
Pay Rate: $0.08 to $1 per audio minute
Casting Words is another legit company that has been in business for quite a long time and offers captioning and transcription jobs.
All captioning work is 100% done by humans, meaning you won’t get the aid of speech recognition software from the company. (However, you can employ external software like Otter.ai to make your life easier)
Entrance is super easy, but jobs are hard to come by if you are still a beginner.
11. Voxtab
Eligible Countries: All countries worldwide
Payment Method: PayPal or Bank transfer
Pay Rate: $27 per audio hour
Last on our list is Voxtab, a closed captioning, subtitling, transcription, and voiceover services company founded in 2005. The company hires freelancers all over the world, but you would have to be a native English speaker and possess some experience to be considered.
To apply, visit their website and complete an application form with your contact information, career history, and resume.
Tips for success as a beginner captioner
- – Make sure you stay organized and use reliable transcription software.
- – Create a routine for yourself to ensure that you consistently deliver high-quality work.
- – Read the company’s guidelines for accuracy and formatting before starting any job.
- – Remove all background noise from your workspace so that you can clearly hear what is said in the video.
- – Practice typing quickly and accurately, as captioning jobs require a fast turnaround rate.
- – Make sure you double-check all your work for accuracy and consistency before submitting it to the client.
- – Take regular breaks throughout the day to help you stay focused and productive.
- – Be open to client feedback and use it to improve your captioning skills.
- – Consider joining captioning forums or communities for resources and advice from experienced colleagues.
- – Aim for high-quality work on every job, no matter how small the project, as most freelance companies will only keep you if you maintain certain metrics.
CONCLUSION
If you’re looking for a way to make some decent money online and enjoy learning about new things every day, then captioning videos may be a good fit for you.
Closed captioning is a growing field, and there are many companies that offer captioning jobs to beginners. Becoming a successful captioner, however, requires hard work and dedication.
As long as you have the right resources and know-how, you can make an excellent living in this industry.
Good luck and have fun!🍀✨
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