How to Find Legit Online Data Entry Work from Home

It’s no news that work-from-home data entry jobs are one of the most popular remote jobs out there. There are countless open positions, the level of formal education is rather low, and it is a job that is highly flexible. You can work from home as a data entry operator or while traveling the world as a digital nomad.

If you are interested in online data entry work from home, check out the following article. Here you will learn everything you need to know to get started with this online job.

 

What Are Work-from-Home Data Entry Jobs?

Let’s start by looking at what exactly work-from-home data entry jobs are and what your potential tasks could be.

Data entry includes all tasks relating to updating or entering data in a database or computer system. There are only a few jobs where you look at data on an actual piece of paper. Here are a few examples of what data entry tasks could be:

• Verify data in a spreadsheet.
• Locate and amend incorrect entries of a form.
• Replace, modify, or delete incorrect information from databases or tables.
• Processing orders or reviewing customer data.

As you can see, these tasks are rather simple and don’t require any specific educational or professional background. You also don’t need to get extensive training to get started (except if the system you are dealing with is complicated).

On top of that, don’t need to come to an office because all you need is a computer. In most data entry jobs, there is not much communication with other team members required, which makes it a great remote job for introverts, too.

What Education and Skills Do You Need to Have to Work as a Data Entry Clerk?

One of the reasons why data entry jobs are so popular is the fact that you usually don’t need to have a specific formal education. A college degree or anything similar is not required. That’s why it can be a great entry-level job, too.

However, there are three skills that you should definitely have:

• Being able to type fast (like really fast),
• Being very accurate, and
• Having a high tolerance for repetition.

To get through large amounts of data, it is essential that you can type very fast. Most companies will require you to take a test to prove your typing skills. Fortunately, this is something that you can practice and improve.

Check out online tools such as keybr.com or Key Hero to check your current abilities and practice your typing skills. It’s interesting to see how quickly you can improve when you practice just a little bit.

To give you a better feeling for the speed:

• Most people will be able to type about 35-45 words per minute (wpm).
• For a data entry job, many companies require you to be able to type at least 50-60 wpm.
• Some job positions even want 80-90+ wpm.
• Additionally, your error rate should also be less than 1-2%.

You should also be very accurate and detail-oriented. You often won’t have the time to go back and double-check your work and your employer or client is relying on you. Depending on the type of project you are working on, mistakes can have significant consequences.

And since much of your work is going to be very monotonous, you should also have a high tolerance for repetition. If doing the same task over and over again frustrates or bores you easily, then this is probably not the right job for you.

What are the Requirements to Work from Home Data Entry Work?

Luckily, you don’t need much when working from home as a data entry professional. In terms of equipment, here are the main things you should have:

• Since you most likely have to deal with huge databases, you need to have a reliable and strong computer that can handle that much information at once.
• You should also get a numeric keypad in case your keyboard doesn’t have one. This makes number entry much easier and faster.
• Since you are dealing with (sensitive) customer data, you need to make sure your workspace is secured. That’s why you should definitely get a VPN, which protects your internet connection from malicious attacks. My personal favorite is NordVPN. It’s super affordable, extremely reliable, and very simple to use. Check out my NordVPN review for more info.
• High-speed internet access is also important when it comes to data entry work. You definitely don’t want your workflow to be disconnected all the time because your internet is not able to handle so much data.

Extra Tip: Get a backup plan for your internet. In case your provider has technical issues, you can’t work properly which means you won’t get your workload done, earn less, or even worse, lose your client or job.

I recommend a hotspot, such as Skyroam. This works in more than 130 countries around the world and you only need to pay for the data volume you need or for the days when you need it (depending on the plan you chose). That means you don’t waste any money but only pay for the emergency cases.

Learn more about the device and its features in this Skyroam analysis.

 

Where Can I Find Work from Home Data Entry Jobs?

Now the big question: Where can you find data entry jobs? Luckily, there are many different places where you can do so.

One of the most popular and also the safest option would be the website FlexJobs. On this online job board, you can find hundreds and thousands of remote jobs with reputable companies and organizations, such as Apple, Hilton, or the American Red Cross.

All of the jobs that are posted there are hand-screened and guaranteed scam-free. They also offer additional features such as a resume checker or skill tests. This is probably your best choice if you are looking for a long-term contract with an employer.

If you want to learn more about their offering, check out my FlexJobs review.

In case you are looking for freelancer positions or jobs, that are purely project-based, you can also use one of the many other online job platforms. Two of the most popular ones are surely Upwork and Fiverr. Just be aware that due to the high competition, the hourly rates can be very low.

Besides that, you could also check Facebook groups, e.g. Remote Jobseekers, for potential job opportunities or head over to LinkedIn and network a bit.

For more ideas, on how you can find legit jobs on the internet, check out my article on how to find clients as a freelancer.

What Companies Are Hiring Remote Data Entry Professionals?

Many companies will need someone to do data entry tasks at some stage. However, there are a few companies that are particularly known for hiring data entry clerks. Here are some of them:

1. Amazon Mechanical Turk

Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is Amazon’s crowdsourcing marketplace. Businesses can outsource their jobs to remote workers who can do these tasks online. While there are many jobs offered here, a big portion of the offerings is definitely data entry jobs.

 

2. Appen

If you have ever searched for part-time flexible remote jobs before, chances are good you came across Appen. Here you can find a variety of microtasks, including data collecting and data entry. Again, most of the jobs are short-term and project-based.

 

3. Axion Data Entry Services

Axion Data Entry Services is, as the name suggests, a company that specializes in work-from-home data entry jobs. What’s great about this company is the fact that they are hiring for long-term positions. On the downside, they require 2-3 years of data entry experience.

 

4. Capital Typing

Capital Typing is another outsourcing company that provides many different virtual office services. Here you can find jobs in the field of data entry, market research, translation, customer support, or even secretarial services.

 

5. Clickworker

If you want to work as a freelance data entry clerk, Clickworker is a good place to look for jobs. Here you can find plenty of data entry jobs, data search, translating, or even survey tasks. Registration is easy but the jobs are usually micro jobs which means they are short and so is the payment.

 

6. DionData Solutions

DionData Solution is purely focused on data entry jobs. Besides having your own computer, you should be able to type at least 60 wpm. The company hires both, independent contractors and in-house data entry clerks.

 

7. Lionbridge

Lionbridge is another very popular company when it comes to small online jobs. Here you can mainly find evaluator and assessor jobs but also many jobs in the data entry field, gaming, or translation.

 

8. WorkingSolutions

WorkingSolutions offers a wide range of tasks for independent contractors. From data entry to editing or call center jobs – you can apply for different projects once you are registered. Payments are via direct deposit or mailed check.

 

How Much Money Can You Make with a Legit Data Entry Work-from-Home Job?

The good news, the range of the data entry earnings potential is quite large. The bad news is, it is not exactly a job that you would call a high-paying remote job. Often, it is only paid minimum wage.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a data entry keyer makes about USD 16.74 per hour or USD 34,820 per year.

While this doesn’t sound too bad at all, keep in mind that this is only for employment positions in the USA. If you are looking for freelance jobs on platforms, such as Upwork, you will find that some payments go as low as USD 3-4 per hour.

Rates like that are possible because of the massive competition coming from all around the world. If you live in a country with much lower living costs, these hourly rates could still pay your rent. That’s why so many digital nomads are making use of the geoarbitrage concept.

I would say your chances of finding a decent-paying data entry job are best on the platform that I introduced earlier: FlexJobs. Since you can find many reputable companies here and the competition is not as overwhelming as on freelance platforms, rates are a lot higher than on “the open market”.

As a side note: Especially in data entry, there are many work-from-home scams out there. If an offer sounds too good to be true, either because you are promised a high-paying position or they don’t ask you for your typing skills or previous experience at all, don’t take it!

Also never pay for anything upfront to be able to get the job, e.g. training, software, license, or any of that. This is not legit and you should end your contact with that company immediately.

This is another reason why you should check out FlexJobs for this kind of job. Again, they only publish hand-screened jobs that are 100% scam-free.

What are the Advantages of Data Entry Jobs?

There is a reason why so many people are looking for data entry jobs. To be precise, there is not just one reason but a few. Here are the benefits of data entry jobs:

• You often get flexible work hours and can do your job whenever you feel most productive as long as you finish your workload within a given timeframe.
• You can work from wherever you want as data entry jobs are almost always remote.
• You don’t need to have formal education in a specific subject matter, such as computer science.
• There are thousands of data entry job opportunities out there.
• It is a great job for introverts as there are not too many interactions with others.

 

What are the Disadvantages of Data Entry Jobs?

As with every job, there are downsides to being a data entry clerk, too. Here are the most significant disadvantages:

• It’s a very popular job so the competition on online job platforms is overwhelming
• Due to the high competition and the relatively low entry requirements, the payment is not the best.
• You need to have excellent typing skills and be very accurate.
• Dealing with big databases means you need to have a decent computer and a reliable and strong internet connection.
• The tasks are often very monotonous and can get boring after a while.
• There are many scams around so you have to be careful when agreeing on a job.

 

Data Entry Work Alternatives

After reading this data entry job guide, do you feel like this might not be the right job for you? No worries. There are plenty of data entry work alternatives out there. Let’s have a look at a few:

1. Transcription

If you like typing on your keyboard for hours, then a transcription job might be a good alternative for you. Here you get a video or an audio file that you have to transcribe to text. Unless you go for a specific niche, e.g. medical transcription, you usually don’t need too much formal education.

2. Content Writing

Another work-from-home typing job that is great for people who like a flexible work routine and typing texts into their computer. This is also another great job for introverts because you oftentimes don’t have to interact too much with others. If you want to learn how to become a content writer, check out the linked guide.

3. Customer Service Agent

Being a customer service representative can also involve a lot of typing. How? Not all positions are phone-based. Many companies today use emails or live chats to communicate with their customers. That means it can be a good introvert job and you usually get on-the-job training, so again, not too much experience is required.

4. Virtual Assistant

This job involves much more than just typing. The tasks here vary a lot from organizing events, booking tickets, and online research, to social media and beyond. However, this is also a very flexible remote job and it doesn’t require you to have a specific education. Learn more about becoming a virtual assistant here.

Is Legit Data Entry Work from Home Worth it?

As you can see, there are many data entry jobs out there and many companies who are hiring for data entry operators. But does that mean it is a career you should pursue?

Have a look again at the advantages and disadvantages of working in a data entry job. If you think you can deal with the monotonous nature of this job and are okay with a relatively low income (at least in the beginning), you could definitely give it a try.

Head over to FlexJobs to find legitimate data entry jobs with reputable companies. It’s also your best bet to find well-paying positions, too.

If you don’t think that this is the right job for you, check out one of the work-from-home data entry alternatives. Many other jobs involve typing, are flexible, great for introverts, and don’t require a specific formal background.