Are you looking to make money from captioning videos and TV shows? These closed captioning jobs might be right for you.
Closed captioning is the process of adding subtitles or captions to videos. That way people who are hearing impaired can more easily understand what’s being said. There are many companies that need someone like you to work from home as a closed captioner!
What Are Closed Captioning Jobs?
There are a lot of companies that require closed captioning of videos and TV shows. This is not only for their own use but also for distribution on other platforms. A closed captioner is someone who watches a video or TV show and types out the words that are said in real-time.
Some of these jobs can allow you to work from home. This makes them very attractive options for those looking to stay home with kids, and also for those who run their own business while working remotely. If you want to watch TV and write subtitles for money this may be for you.
Types of Closed Captioning Jobs From Home
There are 2 main types of closed captioning jobs: offline and real-time.
1. Offline Closed Captioning
A post-production process where captions are added to a video or program after it is filmed. The show can be live or pre-recorded, but captions need to be created after shooting ends.
An editor watches a show and identifies speech that needs to be translated into text. The words are then entered on a separate computer screen. They are then properly formatted for display onscreen during playback.
Offline captioners usually watch shows in sound-isolating booths. This minimizes distractions and ensures accuracy. Their sole focus is on capturing what's being said in real-time. They enter it into captions as quickly as possible.
You won't need to be in a sound-isolating booth to do the offline captioning jobs we have listed here. You just need a quiet place to work that is free from distractions.
2. Real-Time Closed Captioning
Real-time captioners are the type of captions that appear on live TV and in real-time. In most cases, they prepare captions while also watching the live broadcast.
Many of these types of positions require prior experience with offline closed captioning. This is due to the high-pressure nature of captioning live broadcasts in real-time. You must be very fast and accurate to meet the demands of this type of job.
Real-time captioners sometimes receive scripts before a program begins. They are responsible for simultaneously preparing and transmitting at the time of origination.
Real-time captioners usually work in pairs, each working on a different computer. They will typically sit side by side in front of their computers. Headphones are used to communicate with one another as they write out captions in unison.
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25 Best Places to Apply to Closed Captioning Jobs
Here are 25 of the best places that you can apply to get closed captioning work.
#1 Rev
REV is a platform that matches you with professional video producers. REV captions come from closed-captioned movies, television shows, or marketing videos.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Grammar Quiz
Submit Caption Sample
US Resident (except California), Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, UK, Australia, India, Netherlands, or South Africa
Pay Rate:
$0.54 - $1.10 per video minute
Advantages
Speed really is a big advantage. If you type fast you will be able to make good money.
Disadvantages
When you first get started with REV, it can take a little while to get used to the system.
#2 National Captioning Institute
National Captioning Institute partners with local and national networks, online publishers, and universities. NCI is one of the largest sources of captioning services in North America.
Type:
Real-Time Transcription
Requirements:
Bachelor's Degree in Communications or similar field
Willing to work Holidays, Overtime, and Unconventional Hours
Hardwired Internet, no WiFi
Pay Rate:
$35,00 per year paid training
Advantages
NCI is an industry leader and a step above other freelance captioning jobs. NCI offers a streamlined workflow and procedures, and the workload is very manageable.
Disadvantages
There's not much room for promotion.
#3 CrowdSurf
CrowdSurf is a platform that provides on-demand captioning services. They make media more accessible and enjoyable for viewers around the world. The company delivers captions to some of today’s biggest media brands.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Work Minimum of 20 tasks per week
18+ years of age
Pass Tests
Pay Rate:
$0.10 per task
Advantages
CrowdSurf is among the best captioning jobs for beginners.
Disadvantages
The pay is low compared to other online captioning jobs.
#4 Daily Transcription
Daily Transcription provides captions for entertainment purposes. Captions are usually uploaded as an audio file. They are sent electronically by either a producer or a post-production company.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Previous captioning experience
Have your own closed-captioning software
Sign NDA
18+ years of age
Pay Rate:
$0.75 to $1.10 per video minute
Advantages
Making captions for online videos is a fun and enjoyable way to make money from home. Creating captions for content can be both interesting and challenging.
Disadvantages
Since most of your jobs are picked for you, if you don't want to take a certain one there isn't much choice.
#5 TransPerfect
TransPerfect has dedicated itself to being the world's leading enabler of global communications. They have been in the business for over 20 years. It offers a full suite of captioning services including interpretation and translation.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Type at 60+ WPM
Bachelor's degree
1-year Captioning Experience
Pay Rate:
$16 - $17 per hour
Advantages
You work when you want and can earn pretty decent money for relatively little work. You get to do your own thing and have lots of freedom in what you do and how you spend your time.
Disadvantages
Unfortunately, pay is low compared to other video captioning jobs. TransPerfect hires newbies who are in their first-to-second month of experience. Thus they’re inexperienced in captioning. This means a higher workload with zero extra pay.
#6 Verbit
Verbit combines artificial intelligence with human expertise and makes users the most reliable solution to ensure that all video and audio content, live and pre-recorded, are accessible to all.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Excellent typing skills
Ability to meet tight deadlines and work independently
College or university diploma (completed or in progress) in literature, linguistics, communication, journalism, or other related discipline recommended
Pay Rate:
$0.30 per video minute
Advantages
Verbit offers a comprehensive benefits program including medical and dental insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short-term and long-term disability leave, and paid time off.
Disadvantages
You need to have a mandatory and comprehensive two (2) week training period that Verbit offers for all new employees.
#7 VITAC
What sets VITAC apart is its enormous range of services. VITAC does everything from transcribing audio to creating captions.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Type at 200-225 WPM
Closed Captioning Experience
Send in a caption sample
Pay Rate:
$12 - $65 per hour
Advantages
Being a VITAC contractor is great because they take care of all benefits. They have free health insurance, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance and so much more!
Disadvantages
You have to follow every detail of their rules and regulations. There is not much flexibility when you need a day off or cannot meet certain time deadlines.
#8 CaptionLabs
CaptionMax is a team of committed workers who want to make media more accessible for all people. Their captioning services include general business, medical and scientific. They also produce entertainment, gaming, and live television captioning.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Submit a resume and cover letter with relevant experience and contact information
Fluency in oral and written English as well as extensive attention to grammar
A track record of 180-220 WPM for real-time closed captioning
Pay Rate:
Varies
Advantages
No prior experience in completing captioning projects or familiarity with captioning software is necessary. They will train you and provide you with all the equipment.
Disadvantages
There are limited promotion opportunities in this company.
#9 VIQ Solutions
VIQ Solutions is one of the largest online closed captioning companies. They have provided captions for thousands of shows and movies.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Background Check
Possible Drug Screening
Possible Employment Check
Pay Rate:
$7 per hour
Advantages
There are a few advantages to working with VIQ Solutions. They pay competitive wages. They provide online training that's easy to follow. Job opportunities are widely available.
Disadvantages
The software is a little buggy. That doesn't mean it's terrible, but there are times when it will crash.
#10 FlexJobs
FlexJobs specializes in freelance opportunities. They are remote-friendly. They offer a variety of different job types, including closed captioning.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Varies
Pay Rate:
Rates
Advantages
They allow you to set your own pay rate. They will negotiate for you if you are a new freelancer.
Disadvantages
The biggest problem is that there are so few jobs available and they tend to fill up fast. The same goes for freelance work, which is scarce as well. Even when jobs become available, many times there is fierce competition for them.
#11 AI Media
Inclusivity has always been a passion of AI Media, and to be part of a company with such a vision is simply amazing. AI Media strives to provide access for all users. This way everyone can benefit from information online.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Type at 180 WPM
3-5 years of experience
Pay Rate:
$39K - 43K per year
Advantages
They are doing a fantastic job of improving their tools as well as implementing new tools. Their software is user-friendly. You're able to do most of my work on your own without any help.
Disadvantages
Employees for AI Media have plenty of criticism with regard to pay and hours worked. Many employees cite low wages as well as long work hours. Training is very strenuous and there is a lot of pressure to meet deadlines.
#12 Aberdeen Broadcast Services
Aberdeen Broadcast Services provides the most fulfilling closed captioning jobs around. It offers its knowledge to every single employee who joins the team.
Type:
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Type at 180-220 WPM
Have your own real-time closed captioning software
2 Computers (1 Backup)
2 Phone lines and 1 cellphone
Backup Internet Connection
Pay Rate:
$16 - $20 per hour
Advantages
You are not micromanaged, but you also have no one to help or bounce ideas off of. I didn't enjoy being in a studio by myself for days on end, but that's what you get with self-employment. This is completely independent work and there will be periods when you're left on your own. If that's what you need from a job, then great!
Disadvantages
Aberdeen uses older formats, so it can be difficult to keep up with what they are requesting from you.
#13 Classroom Captioning
Classroom Captioning is one of the most respected providers of closed captioning services. They have been helping clients to meet their ADA requirements for decades.
Type:
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Must have your own steno and caption equipment
CART certified
Type at 180 WPM
Pay Rate:
$35 per hour
Advantages
They pay their employees well. Lots of work as there are ongoing class sessions that need captions.
Disadvantages
It's not good for beginners. Some people say that Classroom Captioning is one of the hardest forms of typing. There are mistakes that you’re supposed to catch. Things such as misspelled words or wrong names for students must be included.
#14 Caption Call
Caption Call hires captioning agents to help the hearing impaired talk on the phone. The job can be done from anywhere in the US as long as you have a reliable internet connection and computer.
Type:
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
18+ years of age
High School Diploma or Call Center Experience
Pass Typing Test
Type at 30 WPM
Pay Rate:
$26K per year
Advantages
The people are really friendly and personable. They offer you a pretty good benefits package along with some work-from-home options. They could be more innovative when it comes to how they manage their employees' workload.
Disadvantages
Sometimes, you'll be asked to caption calls that are extremely offensive or inappropriate. There are no scripts to follow, only what's happening in the audio.
#15 Capital Captions
Capital Captions has an excellent reputation for subtitling and closed captioning services. They are an in-demand service with a lot of clients from various sectors.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Type at 65 WPM
Have your own closed-captioning software
Video editing skills
Closed Captioning experience
Pay Rate:
Varies
Advantages
They have training that teaches new tricks on how to caption effectively.
Disadvantages
If you’re still learning how to do closed captioning online, Capital Caption is not a good place to start. It's true that they offer training courses. If you’re just starting out as a beginner, they will either be too hard or not enough at all.
#16 Speechpad
Speechpad is an online platform that transcribes audio files and creates video captions. Businesses use these captions as subtitles for their videos.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Some jobs require a background check
Pay Rate:
$.25 - $2.50 per video minute
Advantages
This is great for beginners. If you’re new to the industry, Speechpad is an ideal choice as there are no minimum requirements.
Disadvantages
Many contractors feel underpaid and overworked. Expect a lot of work for not much money.
#17 Upwork
Upwork is a job board where captioners can bid for jobs. The client puts out a request for captions, and captioners then bid on it. If you're new to captioning or looking for ways to make money online, Upwork can be a great way to start!
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Varies
Pay Rate:
Varies
Advantages
You can negotiate the price based on your skills, experience, and time commitment.
Disadvantages
There is a lot of competition with other freelancers bidding for jobs.
#18 3Play Media
3Play Media freelancers to do captioning work on videos. They are uploaded to YouTube, Hulu, and other major video-sharing sites.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Requirements:
18+ years of age
Pass Background Check
Pass Skills Test
Pay Rate:
$10 - $30 per video hour
Advantages
What 3Play Media lacks in benefits, it makes up for in plenty of work. You'll never be short on work if you apply with them.
Disadvantages
It can get slow around the holiday season. Certain clients may only need your services a few times during the year.
#19 Fiverr
Fiverr is a marketplace for jobs ranging from video editing to closed captioning. The site was launched in 2010. They have since grown into a massive community of over 1 million sellers.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Varies
Pay Rate:
Varies
Advantages
You can set your own prices for services and have complete control over them.
Disadvantages
Be prepared to spend a lot of time figuring out how to cut through the competition. Why is competition so high? A lot of captioners set their rates very low for basic captions. You’ll have to offer above-average value while still being cost-effective for your clients.
#20 Happy Scribe
Happy Scribe specializes in providing remote closed captioning jobs worldwide. They hire people for all levels of closed captioning experience. Including people who have never captioned before to individuals who are industry veterans.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Pass assessment test
Pay Rate:
€1.10 per video minute
Advantages
The HappyScribe platform works extremely well. It is easy to use and you're able to up and running immediately.
Disadvantages
Strict deadlines must be met.
#21 Indeed
An online search engine that specializes in jobs and career-related topics. Indeed offers job listings from companies of all sizes. You can look for a specific job or browse through listings based on your chosen location or industry.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Varies
Pay Rate:
Varies
Advantages
These jobs will typically be full-time positions that come with benefits.
Disadvantages
Most companies on Indeed will require at least a bachelor's degree.
#22 GoTranscript
GoTranscript promises to be an all-in-one video captioning company. They offer video transcription and captioning services in a variety of languages.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Pass a test
Pay Rate:
$0.60 per video minute
Advantages
One of our favorite things about GoTranscript is its support services.
Disadvantages
There is fierce competition from other captioners.
#23 Government Jobs
Employers on Government Jobs include branches belonging to government departments. You will find work for agencies such as a police department or a courthouse.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Varies
Pay Rate:
Varies
Advantages
The pay, in many cases, is more than adequate, but not stellar.
Disadvantages
Closed captioning jobs are rare on this website compared to some other job boards. There are some jobs occasionally posted here so it’s worth a look every once in a while.
#24 Guru
Guru is a platform that allows companies to connect with freelance captioners. Once you register for an account, you can bid on jobs posted by employers. You’ll then get notifications when you get awarded one.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Real-Time Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Varies
Pay Rate:
Varies
Advantages
With Guru, you set your own rates and set your own schedule.
Disadvantages
There’s a ton of competition from people who offer their services extremely cheaply. There are thousands of other captioners on Guru.
The best thing that you can do is think outside of the box. Do something that none of your competitors are doing. Maybe offer an outstanding quality product at a decent price.
#25 TranscribeMe!
TranscribeMe! is mostly known for its online transcription jobs. They also have some captioning work on their platform.
Type:
Offline Closed Captioning
Requirements:
Pass an exam
Pay Rate:
$15 - $22 per video hour
Advantages
The management team takes suggestions from transcribers to improve their service.
Disadvantages
Not much work for captioners. You will probably end up doing more transcription than captioning. They are similar skills. If you are a beginner, this will help you learn this type of work.
FAQs
How Do I Get a Job as a Closed Captioner?
Start with the jobs listed in this guide. Most of these are entry-level positions that can get your foot in the door of the industry. As you build your experience, apply to higher-paying jobs.
Get your typing speed up to 180WPM. This is extremely difficult with a regular keyboard. With a stenotype machine, it is very possible.
Work on getting your own stenotype machine. Then take the Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) exam. This will look great on your resume. It may also open up more opportunities.
How Much Money Can You Make Doing Closed Captioning?
If you can prove that you can do a good job, it is possible to make up to $65 per hour as a freelance closed captioner. You should be able to make a decent income from a few of these top 25 closed captioning jobs. It will also save time since most of these positions allow you to work from home.
Do You Need a Degree to Be a Closed Captioner?
Many companies require a degree in communications. Some require stenography certification or an associate's degree in a media-related field.
If you have one, but it isn't relevant to closed captioning, take some classes at a local community college. There are also many courses online that can help you learn if you're more of an independent learner.
Do I Need Equipment for Closed Captioning?
Typically, the company you work for will provide the necessary closed captioning software. However, you will need to have your own computer and a reliable internet connection.
Depending on your job requirements, you might consider having an additional monitor or TV to watch live programs, read lips, or have a better view while captioning.
Investing in a good noise-canceling headset can be beneficial. It will help you hear words clearly and avoid disturbing your roommates or spouse with program noise.
Having a separate monitor can also be helpful as it allows you to closely follow the on-screen action and, if needed, read lips.
While work-from-home live captioning positions are rare, if you happen to find one, you may need to purchase your own steno equipment and other computer add-ons like a voice silencer.
What Does Closed Captioning Work?
Closed captioning is a process that involves displaying text on a screen to provide a written representation of the audio content being presented. It is primarily used to make audiovisual media accessible to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Here's an overview of how closed captioning works:
Caption Creation: The process begins with the creation of captions, which involves transcribing the spoken dialogue and other relevant audio elements in the media. This can be done manually by human captioners or through automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology.
Time Alignment: Once the captions are created, they need to be synchronized with the corresponding audio. This ensures that the captions appear on the screen at the appropriate time, matching the spoken words and other relevant sounds.
Encoding: The caption data is encoded into a specific format, such as SubRip (.srt), WebVTT (.vtt), or Scenarist Closed Caption (.scc). These formats contain the text along with timing information.
Transmission or Embedding: Depending on the distribution method, closed captions are either transmitted alongside the audiovisual content or embedded within the media file itself. For broadcast television, captions are transmitted within the broadcast signal. In digital media, captions can be embedded within video files or streamed alongside the content.
Display and Rendering: When the audiovisual content with closed captions is played, the caption data is received by the playback device or software. The device or software then renders the captions onto the screen, usually in a designated area or at the bottom of the video, synchronizing the text with the ongoing audio.
User Control: Closed captions can often be toggled on or off by the viewer, allowing them to choose whether or not to display the captions based on their preference or accessibility needs. Additionally, viewers may have the ability to customize the appearance of the captions, such as adjusting the font size, color, or background.
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Closing Thoughts
If you’re looking to make money by typing, closed captioning and transcriptionist can be a great way to do it. The jobs in this guide are great places to get started on your journey.
To get your captions done more quickly and effectively, you can get Notta. Notta is a voice-to-text application that transcribes video and audio to text and exports transcripts into the SRT format. It creates captions with very high accuracy. Sign up for a free account to get started today.
