Does Typing Speed Matter in Transcription? (2024)

The speed of transcriptionists is crucial to the success of their work. This means speed matters considerably in the transcription process. That’s why typing speed is one of the key factors in evaluating the skill and efficiency of a transcriptionist. But the real question is, how fast is fast?

Typing Speed of a Transcriptionist

Transcriptionists work to transcribe hours and hours of audio recording that need to be processed within a strict deadline. In order to perform these tasks, transcriptionists need to be skilled typists. If you’re wondering if typing speed matters in transcription, the answer is a resounding ‘yes.

But what should be the typing speed of transcriptionists?

Typing speed is measured in words per minute (WPM) or keystrokes per minute (KPM). Because the turnaround of transcription work is typically 24 hours (more or less, depending on the length of audio), it’s important for transcriptionists to have an above-average typing speed.

The average typing speed for transcriptionists is 40 to 60 words per minute. Transcriptionists with above-average typing skills can type more than 80 words per minute. Many professional transcriptionists can type 80-100 words per minute. If you think that’s impressive, you haven’t met real-time transcriptionists and court reporters who can type more than 100 words per minute.

Typing speeds vary greatly, but it’s safe to say that transcriptionists should have a typing speed of at least 60 words per minute, which is equivalent to 120 keystrokes per minute. Transcribers have to type every word as they hear it, so their typing skills are in sync with their listening skills.

Why does typing speed matter in Transcription Work?

The speed at which transcribers are typing has become an important topic of discussion. As technology advances, it is becoming increasingly difficult for professionals to keep up with the ever-changing world of communication.

Transcripts are often requested in a matter of hours or minutes, and if they are not completed in time, many stakeholders will be affected. Organizations need to make sure that their transcriptionists are able to work fast enough in order to meet demand.

In order to best serve their clients, it is important for transcriptionists to have a fast typing speed so that the customer receives a product in a timely manner.

So, what do these typing speeds mean in terms of output?

According to the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT), it takes 1 hour to transcribe 15 minutes of audio. This is the industry standard for a transcriptionist with typing speed of 50-60 wpm. Transcribers who can type more than 80 words per minute can finish in 6 hours or less.

So, a 1-hour audio file will take about 6-8 hrs to transcribe into text form. The process is time-consuming and tedious, which is why there's a high demand for freelance transcriptionists.

If you are a transcriber who wants to earn a regular income consistently, you need to work on your typing speed. The faster you are at typing, the more output you have in less time. Of course, transcription work is not just about speed. There are other factors that affect your performance, including the quality of the audio, the number of speakers, accents, and complexity of the topic. But if you got the typing speed covered, it’s much easier to address the other issues.

Does Typing Speed Matter in Transcription? (2024)

FAQs

Does Typing Speed Matter in Transcription? ›

Transcription

Transcription
A transcription service is a business service that converts speech (either live or recorded) into a written or electronic text document. Transcription services are often provided for business, legal, or medical purposes.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Transcription_(service)
ists work to transcribe
transcribe
Phonetic transcription (also known as phonetic script or phonetic notation) is the visual representation of speech sounds (or phones) by means of symbols. The most common type of phonetic transcription uses a phonetic alphabet, such as the International Phonetic Alphabet.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Phonetic_transcription
hours and hours of audio recording that need to be processed within a strict deadline. In order to perform these tasks, transcriptionists need to be skilled typists. If you're wondering if typing speed matters in transcription, the answer is a resounding 'yes.

How much typing speed is required for transcription? ›

While most transcriptionists can type at around 50 words per minute (WPM), make it your goal to type at least 60 WPM. By improving your typing speed, you can get more work done in less time, which seriously increases your earning potential!

Why is speed important for transcription? ›

People working in the transcription field need to be particularly fast since most people talk at a fairly fast clip. Without typing skills, so much rewinding and typing would be necessary that the process wouldn't be efficient.

Do you have to type fast to be a medical transcriptionist? ›

Typing skills: Most medical transcriptionist positions require applicants type at least 40 to 50 words per minute. This speed helps you keep up with patients and providers.

How do you pass a transcription test? ›

The 8 Simple Hacks to Pass Transcription Tests Online
  1. Listen Carefully. ...
  2. Understand Proper Punctuation. ...
  3. Brush Up on Grammar and Spelling. ...
  4. Learn Transcription Formatting. ...
  5. Use Critical Thinking. ...
  6. Invest in Transcription Tools. ...
  7. Free Resources and Practice Files to Polish Your Transcription Skills.
May 22, 2019

How long does it take to transcribe 1000 words? ›

How long does it take to transcribe 1,000 words or more? An average typist can transcribe 1,000 words in about 25 minutes. However, a professional typist can achieve this same feat in less than 13 minutes with 99% accuracy.

How do you know if you'd be a good transcriptionist? ›

What Skills Should a Transcriptionist Have?
  • Listening skills. Transcription is all about taking what you hear and putting it on a page, so good listening skills are a must.
  • Fast typing. ...
  • Attention to detail. ...
  • Written communication. ...
  • Independent work ethic. ...
  • Time management. ...
  • Research skills. ...
  • Meeting deadlines.
Jan 24, 2023

How long does it take to transcribe 1 hour? ›

When it comes to individual transcribers, the average time to transcribe one hour of audio is approximately four hours. But, some transcribers quote four hours as the minimum since it can easily reach 10 hours. Transcription time by audio hour varies so much mostly because each audio file is different.

How long should it take to transcribe 20 minutes of audio? ›

That means you should expect any audio that is less than 15 minutes to be transcribed within an hour. Some experienced transcriptionists can transcribe files much faster. It's not unheard for experienced transcriptionists to transcribe 20 to 30 minutes of audio in one hour.

How long does it take to transcribe 15 minutes of audio? ›

Transcription Speed for the Average Person

It takes most people about one hour to transcribe 15 minutes of a clear, slow audio file. If any of the factors we mentioned above change the quality of the recording, that time might go up.

What are the 3 most important skills of a medical transcriptionist? ›

Important Qualities
  • Computer skills. Medical transcriptionists must know how to operate electronic health records (EHR) systems and should be comfortable using software to prepare reports.
  • Critical-thinking skills. ...
  • Listening skills. ...
  • Time-management skills. ...
  • Writing skills.
Oct 26, 2022

How long does it take to transcribe 1 minute of audio? ›

Depending on the quality of the recording and of the person's speech (they mumble, they have a big accent, etc.)., it can take anywhere between 4 and 8 minutes. I use 6 minutes to establish a rough estimate. It takes me about 6 minutes to transcribe 1 minute of fairly good quality audio.

What are the four major skills needed for transcription? ›

In order to transcribe audio or a conversation accurately, you need these skills:
  • Active listening. Active listening is the ability to focus on a speaker and hear everything they say. ...
  • Typing skills. ...
  • Communication. ...
  • Computer skills. ...
  • Research.
Mar 10, 2023

How many mistakes are allowed in transcribing? ›

With the exception of measurements, numbers one to nine should be transcribed in letters. There should be no more than 2 mistakes for every 10 comprehensible words spoken.

What is the basic rule in transcribing? ›

Transcripts should be at least 99% accurate. Grammar and punctuation are important for providing maximum clarity. Speaker identification helps users identify who is speaking. Essential to communicate non-speech sounds.

What are the mistakes of transcription? ›

Transcription errors occur when data (words, letters, numbers, special characters) are incorrectly entered into an information system. The system is often a computer text file or some kind of electronic records system.

What is the average speed of transcribing? ›

Transcription speed for an average person

An amateur transcriber typically types between 40 and 60 words per minute. As a result, it takes the average person about four hours to transcribe one hour of audio. However, the complexity of the transcript can make this time estimate vary significantly.

How many lines can you transcribe per hour? ›

Manual Transcription Earning Potential

Manual transcriptionists are expected to average 150 lines per hour, as almost every national service vendor requires staff to deliver 1,200 lines per eight-hour shift to be considered a full-time employee.

How do you transcribe words faster? ›

Let's have a look at these tips to get a faster transcription.
  1. Make use of an Autocorrect Tool.
  2. Practice Typing to perfection.
  3. Making use of High-Quality and noise cancellation headset.
  4. A comfortable and quiet environment.
  5. Type Smartly.
  6. Get your hands on a good transcribing software.
  7. Take Breaks.
  8. The final word.

Does transcribing get easier? ›

Eventually, the more tunes that you learn by ear and the more solos that you transcribe, the easier it will get because your ears improve each time. The key is to get over that initial barrier and learn that first tune by ear.

What is good pay for a transcriptionist? ›

How Much Do Transcriptionist Jobs Pay per Hour?
Annual SalaryHourly Wage
Top Earners$45,500$22
75th Percentile$38,000$18
Average$33,773$16
25th Percentile$28,000$13

Is transcription a hard skill? ›

The most common hard skill for a transcriber is transcription. 34.5% transcribers have this skill on their resume. The second most common hard skill for a transcriber is wpm appearing on 16.3% of resumes. The third most common is proofreading on 14.3% of resumes.

How much can you make a day transcribing? ›

A transcriptionist's salary is generally around $19.02, while an advanced transcriptionist earns around $25 to $30 per hour. With this rate, you can easily earn an average of $1141.2 every month if you work 2.5 hours per day for 24 days. According to PayScale, the median transcriptionist's salary is $16.59 per hour.

Can you really make money transcribing? ›

Transcription jobs are lucrative ways to make extra money, especially if you speak and write in more than one language. Here are the best work-from-home transcription jobs. Transcriptionists are in high demand.

What is the correct way to transcribe time? ›

As an example, TranscriptionWing's standard format for timestamps is [HH:MM:SS] - that is the accurate hours, minutes, down to seconds - placed in different ways within the transcript.

How much do freelance transcriptionists charge per audio hour? ›

Standard rates for professional transcriptionists (especially those professionals from North America) range from $1.5 to $3 per audio minute or $90 to $180 per audio hour. If your project has extra requirements, such as a quick turnaround time, you may be forced to pay more to have the job done.

How much does it cost to transcribe 1 hour of audio? ›

A reasonable estimate is around $100 - $150 per audio hour to get a high-quality and accurate transcript. These transcription rates can be a significant cost for many companies who need to transcribe large volumes of videos.

How much do transcribers make per audio minute? ›

Transcription rates per audio minute vary. The pay that someone would receive for transcribing one minute of audio can range anywhere from $0.50 - $3. The best way to figure out what rate you should pay is by looking at the type of transcription you will need.

How long to transcribe 20,000 words? ›

Writing 20,000 words will take about 8.3 hours for the average writer typing on a keyboard and 16.7 hours for handwriting.

How do you transcribe poor quality audio? ›

When you cannot understand the audio at all, instead of guessing, you can mention [inaudible] or [unintelligible] in the transcriptions to indicate that part of the recording wasn't clear to transcribe. You could use symbols like '-' or '....' or write [several inaudible words] to indicate unclear sounds.

How long to transcribe 30 minutes of audio? ›

Various factors affect how long it takes. As a very broad rule of thumb, many transcribers say it takes four hours for every one hour of audio. Obviously, if you're wondering how long to transcribe 30 minutes of audio file, around two hours.

Which transcription type is the most challenging? ›

The first kind is the verbatim transcription. This type of transcription is the most difficult, complicated and time-consuming.

How can I improve my transcribing skills? ›

Tips to Improve Transcription Skills
  1. Focus On Speed Typing Skills: Transcription could not be done properly if your typing skills are not good. ...
  2. Communication. ...
  3. Listen To The Entire Audio & then Transcribe. ...
  4. Work on your Proofreading Skills. ...
  5. Focus on Editing Skills. ...
  6. Understand The Terminologies.
Apr 16, 2022

How do you introduce yourself as a transcriber? ›

[In the introduction, express your interest in the transcriptionist position, mentioning the exact title of the position and the name of the employer. Then mention any relevant credentials, experience and skills and why you think you're the ideal candidate for the job.

How hard is it to transcribe audio? ›

Transcription work sounds easy since it only involves listening to audio files and typing. In reality, however, transcription is quite complicated. It takes commitment and full involvement in the job to ensure that you produce excellent work.

How long does it take to transcribe 100 pages? ›

Writing 100 pages will take about 20.8 hours for the average writer typing on a keyboard and 41.7 hours for handwriting.

What are the basic rules a worker should follow while transcribing the audio? ›

Never paraphrase or reconstruct the speech in the audio you are transcribing. Do not correct grammatical errors made by the speakers. Always use the correct spelling for misspoken words. Example: If a speaker pronounces "niche" [neesh] as nitche.

What is your most important skill as a transcriptionist? ›

Good typing skills are of the utmost importance for a reputable transcriptionist. You should learn to type fast and accurately in order to be productive and build a successful career in this field.

What are the levels of a transcriptionist? ›

There are three levels of Revver: Rookie, Revver, and Revver+.

What are the two types of transcribing? ›

How Many Types of Transcription Are There? There are two primary transcription types: Verbatim and non-verbatim transcription. Each of these types of transcription serves a unique purpose and suits a specific kind of project.

Why is transcribing so hard? ›

Transcription is one of the most demanding and labor-intensive among all translation services. It requires high-skills from the transcriptionist, from listening to the audio or video file, researching the subject matter, understanding the context of the recording and typing the audio into readable text.

What are the three biggest challenges of being a transcriber? ›

Here are a few challenges that a transcriptionist needs to know in order to properly breeze through them whenever they occur.
  • Dealing with deadlines. ...
  • Adjusting to the latest technology. ...
  • Credibility. ...
  • Faulty audio. ...
  • Motivation.

What are the do's and don'ts of transcription? ›

Do – make sure you transcribe everything verbatim, including any 'you know', 'like' and so on. Remember, false starts can be a vital clue in a legal case. Don't – correct grammar mistakes and slang, or leave out hesitations, pauses or anything else. Exactly what was said, as well as how it was said, is important.

Can you start a sentence with and when transcribing? ›

Certain conjunctions ("co-ordinating conjunctions") such as and, but, and then can begin independent clauses; sentences that begin with because, although, etc. ("subordinating conjunctions") are considered to be dependent clauses and thus are transcribed in the same sentence as the independent clause it goes with.

Do you transcribe from 3 to 5? ›

RNA polymerase synthesizes an RNA strand complementary to a template DNA strand. It synthesizes the RNA strand in the 5' to 3' direction, while reading the template DNA strand in the 3' to 5' direction.

Is transcription always 3 to 5? ›

Answer and Explanation: Transcription always occurs in the 5' - 3' direction because it must be antiparallel to the complementary strand it is base paired with. So that means it will start at the 3' end of its complementary strand and proceed in the 5' - 3' direction as it copies the gene on DNA into mRNA.

Is typing 120 words per minute Fast? ›

Did You know that the speed of 120 W.P.M. is within the top 1% of Typists in the world? That means once you reach this speed less than 1 out of every 100 Typists will be able to match your speed.

Is typing 70 words per minute Fast? ›

70 wpm: You are way above average! You would qualify for any typing job assuming your typing accuracy is high enough. 80 wpm: You're a catch! Any employer looking for a typist would love to have you.

Is 110 words per minute fast typing? ›

Typically, professional typists type at speeds of 43 to 80 wpm, while some positions can require 80 to 95 (usually the minimum required for dispatch positions and other time-sensitive typing jobs), and some advanced typists work at speeds above 120 wpm.

How long does it take to type 120 words per minute? ›

Hence, the typist will take 3 minutes to type 120 words. Q.

Is 300 words per minute too fast? ›

Generally, reading at less than 100-200 words per minute is the normal rate for learning, and 200-400 words per minute are the normal rate for comprehension. Going beyond reading 500 words per minute can compromise the quality of reading and your comprehension.

What is considered a fast typist? ›

What Is a Good Typing Speed?
Targets for an adultWords per minute (wpm)Characters per minute (cpm)
Above average speed50 wpm and over250 cpm and over
Productive speed60 wpm and over300 cpm and over
High speed70 wpm and over350 cpm and over
Competitive speed120 wpm and over600 cpm and over
1 more row
Nov 16, 2021

How long does it take to learn to type 60 wpm? ›

Type like a pro, have the speed of around 60 WPM in as less as 4 hours with spending 30 minutes on each practice lesson. Guaranteed!

What is the average typing speed for adults? ›

The average typing speed is around 41 words per minute (WPM). Also, good speed may differ for different professions. For example, a good speed for office workers is 45 WPM and above. This can be more than 60 WPM for secretaries.

Is typing 1000 words per minute good? ›

Research shows that 1000 wpm is too fast for an average reader. Notice that you need to see about 16 words per second. Your eye can focus on a group of words about 2 times per second.

What is the fastest wpm in the world? ›

16-Year-Old Gamer Breaks Record For Fastest Typist In World At 300 WPM
  • Off.
  • English.
1 day ago

What's the fastest typer in the world? ›

The current "official" Guinness World Record holder for fastest typist appears to still be Barbara Blackburn, whose peak speed was 212 wpm using a Dvorak layout. Of course, that "official" world record has been unofficially beaten several times in in-person typing contests and online leaderboards.

How long should I practice typing a day? ›

Ideally, you should aim for a minimum of 10 minutes of typing practice a few times a week. As with anything, regularity is the key to success. Strengthening muscle memory takes a lot of practice, and it is important that you exercise regularly.

What is an impressive wpm? ›

Typing at a speed of 57 WPM or higher is very good. The key element that helps faster typists is touch typing. Touch typing is a method where you use muscle memory, not your eyes, to find the keys.

Can anyone type 200 words per minute? ›

Anything over 60 wpm is considered a good typing speed, though some professions demand 100 wpm or more. Members of the competitive typing community can eclipse 200 wpm, and Ultimate Typing Champion Anthony “Chark” Ermolin has recorded speeds up to 233 wpm. That said, a “good” typing speed is relative.

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