Most transcription jobs are paid by production. That’s why your typing speed is important to make good money with transcription work.
When you increase your typing speed, you will increase your transcription income. When typing faster, you’ll be able to do more work. Some transcription companies will also pay you more when your typing speed is faster.
Medical transcription usually requires higher speeds than general transcription. Your typing speed must be at least 70 words per minute to graduate for most medical transcription programs and to be accepted for medical transcription work.
A typing speed of 40 wpm is usually acceptable for NEW general transcriptionists. While some transcription companies require a minimum typing speed of 40 wpm, others want your typing speed to be 75 wpm before they’ll consider you for transcription jobs.
You should get your typing speed up to 55 or 65 wpm before looking for better paying transcription work. You must have a speed of 65-75 wpm if you want to take on deadline critical transcription work that requires fast turnaround.
You can start making money with general transcription work while you’re practicing. You may be able to get non-urgent, overflow transcription work from other transcriptionists if your typing speed is 40 wpm. You must be reliable and accurate.
Here are some things you can do to speed up your typing and transcription speed.
- Typing tutorials like Mavis Beacon can help you increase your typing speed.
- Using a foot pedal will speed up transcription and make you more productive.
- Use text expanders. Medical transcriptionists are using text expanders extensively. But general transcriptionists are often less aware that they can use text expanders to instantly increase their typing speed. Get in the habit to add shortcuts to your text expander for each new type of project. Start by creating shortcuts for often-used words like the, and, are, would, should and more. See more information about text expanders here.
- Type Faster with Fast Fox Typing Expander, a professional text expander. Click here to see a video on how Fast Fox Typing Expander works.
- Transcription will become easier and faster when working for the same clients or industry or medical specialty as you’ll become more familiar with the work and the terminology used in that industry.
- Practicing is the best way to improve your transcription and typing speed. The more you type and transcribe, the faster you’ll get. Practicing transcription with transcription practice files is the best way to become familiar with transcription, develop and ear for transcription and increase your transcription speed. A good medical transcription training like the one from Career Step includes a lot of practice files.
- The more you transcribe, the faster you’ll get. The more experienced you are, the faster you’ll become, and the more your pay will go up. Your transcription speed will keep increasing gradually until you reach your ideal speed.
You must build your speed to make good money with transcription work. There are many reasons why I recommend getting into general transcription today rather than medical transcription. Some of those reasons are: 1. It's easier to get started; 2. The training is not as steep as with medical transcription; 3. You can make more money in general transcription.
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