Is data entry a good online job?

With the rise of remote work and freelancing, more people are looking into data entry as an online job option. Data entry involves transcribing information into digital formats for companies. It requires accuracy, fast typing skills, and attention to detail. But is data entry a viable online job? Here is an in-depth look at the pros and cons of data entry jobs.

The pros of data entry jobs

There are several advantages to doing data entry work online:

• Low barriers to entry – Data entry jobs usually don’t require prior experience. As long as you have fast and accurate typing skills, you can get hired. This makes it accessible for beginners.
• Flexibility – Many data entry jobs allow you to work from home and set your own hours. This is ideal for those who need a flexible schedule like stay-at-home parents or students.
• Good for extra income – Data entry jobs can supplement your main income source. The pay may not be high, but it can give a boost to your finances.
• Wide range of industries – Many different industries need data entry help including healthcare, legal, sales, academia and more. There are options across fields.
• Minimal equipment needed – You just need a computer and internet connection. No other equipment is generally required.
• Improves typing speed – Data entry forces you to type for extended periods daily. Over time, this can significantly improve your words per minute (WPM) typing speed.

In summary, data entry jobs are accessible, offer flexibility, can supplement income, provide industry options, need minimal equipment and boost typing proficiency. These are the main upsides.

The cons of data entry jobs

However, there are also some drawbacks to note about online data entry work:

• Low pay – Most data entry jobs pay $15 per hour or less. While nice as supplemental income, it may not be enough to fully support yourself.
• Repetitive work – Entering data all day can get tedious quickly. The work is highly repetitive with little variety.
• Self-motivation required – Since you work independently, you must be self-driven to meet deadlines and quotas.
• Limited career growth – Data entry is often an entry-level job. The opportunities for advancement are usually minimal.
• Risk of errors – Work speed and accuracy are emphasized in data entry. This pressure can lead to mistakes.
• Possibility of scams – Some “data entry jobs” are actually scams designed to steal personal information. Vetting legitimacy is crucial.

The low pay, repetitiveness, self-motivation needs, limited growth, error risk and scams are the biggest drawbacks of data entry positions.

Requirements to succeed at data entry jobs

To maximize your chances of success as a data entry worker, there are some key requirements to meet:

• Fast and accurate typist – Companies expect 60+ WPM typing speed with high accuracy, like 98%+. This allows efficient high volume data entry.
• Detail-oriented – Excellent attention to detail is vital to avoid errors and enter data correctly.
• Good eyesight – You’ll be staring at spreadsheets and forms all day. Having sharp vision reduces eyestrain and mistakes.
• Basic computer skills – Know how to efficiently use data entry programs, spreadsheets, online forms, etc.
• Self-discipline – Be able to manage your time and stay focused without direct supervision.

Speed, accuracy, an eye for details, tech skills and self-discipline are key to succeeding as a remote data entry worker.

Best data entry jobs for beginners

When first starting out, these entry-level data entry jobs are ideal for practice:

• Medical transcriptions – Enter patient records and medical reports dictated by doctors. You’ll learn lots of medical terminology too.
• Insurance forms processing – Insurance companies hire for claims processing and policy data entry roles regularly.
• Online survey completion – Get paid to take online surveys which involves entering your opinion data.
• Address directory updates – Update contact info for businesses in online directories and mailing lists.
• Resume digitization – Convert paper resumes into digital formats by typing in the info.

Medical, insurance, surveys, address and resume jobs offer valuable introductory data entry experience.

Highest paying data entry jobs

While most data entry jobs pay under $20 per hour, some specialty roles pay substantially more. The highest paying data entry opportunities include:

Medical, legal, clinical research and accounting data entry jobs offer the highest earning potential in the field.

Should you do data entry work full-time?

Can data entry realistically be a full-time job? Here are some pros and cons of doing data entry work full-time:

Pros of full-time data entry

• Steady income – Full-time provides a stable source of income each month.
• Career development – You can move up into lead and supervisor roles long-term.
• Improved skills – Full-time work sharpens typing speed and data entry accuracy more.
• Professional experience – Looks good on a resume to have extensive full-time data entry experience.

Cons of full-time data entry

• Repetitive strain – Typing 40+ hours a week raises risk of hand/wrist pain like carpal tunnel.
• Boredom – Most find full-time data entry quickly becomes monotonous.
• Lower wages – Less chance of higher pay than other specialized administrative roles.
• Limited advancement – Not as much room for growth long-term.

Weigh the stability and improved skills against the injury risks and boredom. Evaluate your career goals to decide if full-time data entry aligns.

Part-time data entry opportunities

Here are some flexible part-time online data entry jobs to consider:

• Search engine evaluation – Provide search query results relevance feedback.
• Online receipt transcription – Type information from photographed purchase receipts.
• captcha solving – Digitally transcribe distorted text images known as captchas.
• Spreadsheet clean-up – Fix formatting errors and improve spreadsheet appearance.
• Product categorization – Assign products to category tags on ecommerce sites.

Search evaluation, receipt transcription, captcha entry, spreadsheet clean-up and product tagging are great part-time remote data entry jobs.

Entry-level online data entry job postings

Here are some current examples of legitimate online data entry job listings for beginners:

Insurance Data Entry Clerk

Salary: $16 per hour

A major insurance company seeks a detail-oriented data entry clerk to input customer insurance policy information into their database. 1-2 years of data entry experience is preferred. Insurance background is a plus.

Data Entry Specialist – Temp

Salary: $14 per hour

A logistics company is hiring multiple temporary data entry specialists to assist with invoice digitization. Candidates must pass a typing test with 60+ WPM speed and 98% accuracy. Short-term contract with possibility of extension.

Healthcare Data Entry Agent – Remote

Salary: $17 per hour

A medical billing company needs at-home workers to enter patient visit information into the online system. Looking for detail-oriented candidates with healthcare data experience. HIPAA compliance required.

Entry-level online data entry jobs average $15/hour and favor fast typists with some prior experience.

Questions to ask potential data entry employers

When interviewing for data entry positions, make sure to ask these key questions:

• – What is the expected typing speed and accuracy?
• – How is work assigned and monitored daily?
• – What is the per hour pay rate and how often is pay scheduled?
• – What are opportunities for pay raises and growth within the company?
• – Is the data entry remote or required to be done on-site?
• – What computer hardware, software and internet connection is required?
• – Is there employee health insurance, retirement savings and other benefits?
• – How much training and onboarding is provided?
• – What experience does the ideal candidate have beyond typing skills?
• – What background, reference and skills checks are required?

Asking about pay, work structure, opportunities, location, requirements, benefits and screening ensures you understand expectations and pick a legitimate data entry job.

Scam warning signs for data entry jobs

Unfortunately, many supposed data entry job offers turn out to be actual scams. Watch for these red flags when evaluating listings:

• Asks for personal information like Social Security number
• Requests payment upfront for training or software
• Provides intentionally vague job description
• Promises absurdly high wages for basic data entry
• Sends scam check requiring deposit and cash return
• Poor grammar, spelling and unprofessional communication
• Requests work off of freelance bidding sites versus company website
• Requires providing bank account and other sensitive info
• Asks for identity verification documents like passport
• Company website lacks detail or seems thrown together

Avoid jobs requesting personal details, upfront fees, offering unrealistic pay and requiring identity documents to steer clear of scams.

How to gain data entry skills with no experience

Can you get a data entry job if you currently lack experience? Yes, here are tips for gaining skills from scratch:

• Complete online typing speed tests daily to get faster
• Volunteer to help organizations or friends with data tasks
• Follow detailed online data entry training videos and lessons
• Enroll in a low-cost virtual data entry certificate program
• Search engine evaluation and online survey jobs to learn systems
• Practice inputting various datasets like calendars, sports stats, recipes
• Add skills to your resume like WPM typing, data organization and attention to detail

With self-training, volunteering experience, online practice and courses, you can develop entry-level data entry skills from scratch.

Alternative jobs to data entry

If you try data entry and find it is not for you, some alternative jobs to consider include:

Virtual Assistant

– Help businesses and individuals with admin tasks virtually

– Requires good communication and project management skills

Transcriptionist

– Convert audio and video files to text documents

– Must have excellent listening accuracy and typing ability

Technical Support

– Assist customers with tech product issues virtually or via phone

– Tech troubleshooting and communication skills necessary

Search Engine Optimization Specialist

– Improve websites visibility on search engines

– Marketing, data analysis and writing expertise helpful

Admin, transcription, tech support and SEO jobs can provide alternative careers if data entry does not suit your skills and interests.

Conclusion

Data entry offers decent work for beginners given its accessibility, flexibility and extra income potential. However, the low pay, repetitive work and limited advancement may make it hard to sustain full-time. Excellent typing skills, organization and attention to detail are prerequisites. Look for entry-level roles with reputable companies and beware of scams. With self-training, it is possible to gain enough skills to get started. But also consider alternative virtual jobs like virtual assisting, transcription or tech support if data entry is not the right fit.