Can You Really Make Money With Data Entry Jobs Online?

There is a movement going on right now that is affecting the contemporary work force in the best possible way.

The work from home trend, where you set your own hours wear whatever you want, and eliminate the unnecessary stress of overbearing bosses and irritating coworkers.

Getting into the work from home world is easier than a lot of people think.

There are many different options out there that are well suited for people with a wide range of skill sets.

Today we will be taking a close look at an option that anyone with typing skills can take advantage of.

Data entry.

Is it the career for you?

Let’s find out.

First, What is Data Entry?

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Given the context of this article that is a good question but data entry is exactly what it sounds like.

You take data from one document, like a spreadsheet, word document, email, or note, and compile it all into another document.

To perform this job, you need to be both a quick typist, and a fast reader.

In fact, some data entry jobs pay by the keystroke meaning your income is tied directly to how quickly you are able to read and write.

Unless you are extremely into typing this probably isn’t going to be the most exciting position in the world but keep in mind that once you get the hang of it there are plenty of ways that you can make it more entertaining.

Play some music, listen to a podcast, keep a movie going on in the background.

Whatever you can think of to make the work day a little bit more comfortable.

What Sort of Background do I Need?

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Technically speaking, all that you officially need is a high school diploma.

However, if you want to submit a competitive application it will help to have taken some college level classes focusing on computer skills.

You will also want to make sure you are able to understand new software.

Each company may use a program that is unique to them but if you don’t understand simpler things like spreadsheet, you are probably going to run into some problems.

You will want to include the software that you are familiar with on your resume and remember the less a company feels that they would have to train you, the more likely they are going to be to accept your application.

You will also want to make sure that your typing is at the top of its game.

Speed is important but in this field accuracy is the biggest premium.

You will probably be inputting a lot of codes, prices, and numbers that need to be put in perfectly consider practicing a little bit before you apply.

There are tests you can take online that are designed to help improve your typing speed and accuracy.

So Who is Hiring?

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Now that you know a little bit more about the world of data entry, and what sort of skills you will need to be a part of it let’s take a look at a few places where you can find legitimate jobs from home.

Emphasis on the word legitimate, by the way. If the cyber work from home world has one great plague, it is the scam jobs. Be wary of fake listings and automated responses (bad grammar, broken English, and fragmented sentences are generally evidence that you are being messaged by a spam program and not a real person.)

The jobs that we are about to get into are verifiably real, so you can feel free to apply for them without worry.

• SmartCrowd: Unfortunately, SmartCrowd does not offer a whole lot in way of pay but they do give you the opportunity to get a little bit of experience and make some money while you do it. The small checks might sting a little bit when you consider all of the work that went into them, but if you think of the job more as an internship than a career path it might soften the blow.

While SmartCrowd is able to offer you a lot of work hours, the position does not offer the same benefits of a fulltime job meaning you are on your own for insurance.

• Smart Locating: This company looks specifically for data compilation on apartment complexes all across the country. Of course, the subject of the data matters very little in the scheme of things but if you have an unconventional fixation on apartment statistics you are really in luck here.
• Xerox: This is probably the sweetest gig on the list. Xerox offers fulltime data entry work at a competitive rate, and they are even able to offer benefits which is a pretty big plus. They don’t always have data entry work available so you will have to regularly check their website.

There is also always the freelance route to consider. Sites like Freelancer, UpWork, PeoplePerHour and others will often feature data entry jobs on their sites.

The problem is that, in addition to not offering benefits, the rates are usually on the lower side.

Still, if you want to get your foot in the door with a little bit of experience, or you are just looking for a side hustle, freelancing might be the route to take.

Compensation

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How much you can expect to make depends largely on the type of job you are able to get.

If you end up with a job at a place like Xerox you can expect to make a salary consistent with industry standards—somewhere in the $30,000 range.

Otherwise, pay can vary pretty significantly.

Some places will offer very low rates in the $5 an hour range but it really depends on the company, as well as your level of experience.

Conclusion

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Data entry is a great opportunity for those looking for a job from home.

No, it isn’t the most exciting work in the world but if you find the right job you can make a decent living from the comfort of your own home.

What more can you ask for?