Remote captioners convert spoken audio into written text for videos, broadcasts, live events, and pre-recorded content. This differs from transcription in that captions are time-synchronized with audio and include speaker identification and sound effects. Captioners work across entertainment, education, legal, and medical industries.

Real-time captioning involves transcribing live events as they happen, requiring specialized equipment and high typing speeds (200+ WPM with stenography). Post-production captioning allows you to work on pre-recorded content at your own pace, typically requiring 60-80 WPM typing speed with high accuracy.

Types of Remote Captioning Jobs

Real-Time Captioner

$25-45/hour

Caption live events, broadcasts, and meetings as they happen using stenography equipment or voice writing.

Required Skills:

• Stenography certification (often required)
• 200+ WPM typing speed
• Real-time accuracy under pressure
• Specialized equipment proficiency

Equipment Needed:

• Stenography machine ($1,500-3,000)
• High-speed internet (50+ Mbps)
• Backup internet connection
• Quality headphones

Post-Production Captioner

$15-30/hour

Create captions for pre-recorded videos, ensuring accuracy, timing, and proper formatting.

Typical Turnaround:

• 24-48 hours for standard projects
• Rush jobs pay premium rates
• 4:1 ratio (4 hours work per 1 hour video)
• Flexible scheduling

Software Used:

• CaptionSync, Rev, 3Play Media
• Subtitle Edit (free)
• Aegisub (free)
• Company-specific platforms

Broadcast Captioner

$30-50/hour

Provide captions for TV networks and streaming services, ensuring FCC compliance and broadcast standards.

FCC Requirements:

• 99% accuracy standard
• Proper speaker identification
• Sound effect notation
• Synchronization requirements

Career Path:

• Start with smaller networks
• Build portfolio and reputation
• Advance to major broadcasters
• Potential for specialization

CART Provider

$40-80/hour

Communication Access Realtime Translation for educational and legal settings, providing real-time text for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

Certification:

• CART certification required
• State licensing (varies)
• Continuing education requirements
• Professional association membership

Specialization Benefits:

• Higher pay rates
• Consistent client base
• Professional development
• Industry recognition

How Much Do Captioning Jobs Pay?

Pay Rates by Experience Level:

Entry-Level: Post-production captioning$15-20/hour
Experienced: Real-time captioning$25-40/hour
Specialized: Broadcast and CART$40-80/hour

Pay Models: Per-minute rates ($1-3/minute of finished content) or hourly rates. Rush jobs and specialized content (legal, medical) command premium rates.

Getting Started in Remote Captioning

Required Skills:

• Typing Speed: 60-80 WPM (post-production), 200+ WPM (real-time with stenography)
• Accuracy: 98%+ accuracy rate required
• Grammar: Excellent grammar and punctuation
• Listening: Strong audio comprehension
• Attention to Detail: Catch every word and sound
• Time Management: Meet tight deadlines

Training Programs and Certifications:

• Court Reporting Schools: Offer stenography and CART training (12-36 months)
• Online Courses: Captioning fundamentals and software training (self-paced)
• Certifications: CART certification, broadcast captioner credentials
• Company Training: Some employers provide paid training for post-production work

Common Software Platforms:

Professional Platforms:

• 3Play Media
• Rev.com
• CaptionSync
• Vitac

Free Tools:

• Subtitle Edit
• Aegisub
• YouTube Studio (practice)
• Amara (community)

Building Your Portfolio:

• Start with free projects on Amara or YouTube to gain experience
• Create sample captions for different content types (educational, entertainment, news)
• Take typing tests to demonstrate speed and accuracy
• Apply to entry-level positions with established captioning companies
• Network with other captioners in professional associations

Equipment Needed for Captioning Work

Post-Production Setup:

• Computer: Standard laptop or desktop
• Internet: 10+ Mbps reliable connection
• Headphones: Quality over-ear headphones ($50-150)
• Software: Usually provided by employer
• Foot Pedal: Optional but helpful ($30-60)

Real-Time Setup:

• Stenography Machine: $1,500-3,000 (or rent $100/month)
• High-Speed Internet: 50+ Mbps (hardwired)
• Backup Internet: Mobile hotspot or secondary ISP
• Professional Headset: Broadcast-quality ($100-300)
• Quiet Workspace: Soundproofed area essential

Related Job Categories

Transcription Jobs

Related audio-to-text work

Data Entry Jobs

Entry-level remote positions

Administrative Jobs

General remote admin work

How to Spot Legitimate Captioning Jobs

Remote captioning is a growing field, but that growth has also attracted scammers. Knowing how to tell a real opportunity from a fraudulent one can save you time and money. Use the checklist below to evaluate any captioning job posting before you apply.

Green Flags (Legitimate)

Real company website with an About page, contact information, and verifiable history
Clear job description that specifies duties, required skills, hours, and content types
No upfront fees -- the employer never asks you to pay for training, software, or equipment access
Reasonable pay range of $15-25/hr for post-production work, consistent with industry standards
Professional hiring process with a skills test, interview, or sample captioning assignment
Established reputation -- you can find reviews from other captioners on forums or Glassdoor

Red Flags (Potential Scams)

Asks for money upfront for training materials, certification programs, or software licenses
Vague job descriptions that do not specify what content you will caption or what tools you will use
Unrealistic pay promises such as "earn $60/hour with no experience" or "make $5,000 your first week"
No company information -- no website, no physical address, and no way to verify the business exists
Pressure to act immediately with claims like "only 3 spots left" or "offer expires today"
Requests sensitive information early such as your Social Security number or bank details before any interview

Remember: Legitimate captioning employers will never ask you to pay for the opportunity to work. They invest in your training because quality captioning protects their business reputation. All positions listed on ClickClickJob are screened, but always research a company independently before sharing personal information.

How to Get Started in Remote Captioning

Breaking into captioning work is achievable at any experience level. Post-production captioning has a lower barrier to entry than real-time work, making it an ideal starting point. Follow these steps to build a captioning career from scratch.

1. Assess and Improve Your Typing Speed

Post-production captioning requires a minimum of 60-80 words per minute with at least 98% accuracy. Use free tools such as TypingTest.com or Keybr.com to measure your current speed. If you are below the threshold, dedicate 20-30 minutes per day to typing practice. Most people can gain 10-15 WPM within a month of consistent practice. For real-time captioning, you will eventually need 200+ WPM using stenography, but that is an advanced skill to develop later.

Tip: Many captioning companies include a timed typing and accuracy test as part of their application. Practicing beforehand gives you a significant advantage.

2. Learn Captioning Standards and Get Certified

Captioning follows specific formatting rules that differ from general transcription. Study the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) captioning guidelines, which cover timing, placement, speaker identification, and sound effect notation. For post-production work, a formal certification is not always required, but completing an online captioning course demonstrates commitment to employers. If you plan to pursue real-time or CART captioning, consider enrolling in a court reporting or stenography program, which typically takes 12-36 months.

Tip: Free resources like the DCMP guidelines and YouTube tutorials on subtitle timing can help you learn the basics before investing in paid training.

3. Choose Your Captioning Niche

Captioning spans many content types, and specializing can help you stand out and earn higher rates. Entertainment captioning covers movies, TV shows, and streaming content. Educational captioning focuses on lectures, courses, and training videos. Legal captioning involves court proceedings and depositions. Medical captioning covers healthcare conferences and patient education materials. Consider your existing knowledge and interests when choosing a niche. Captioners with subject-matter expertise produce more accurate work and are more competitive for specialized positions.

Tip: Specializing in a technical field like legal or medical captioning can increase your hourly rate by 30-50% compared to general captioning work.

4. Apply to Reputable Captioning Companies

Start by applying to established captioning companies that hire remote workers. Companies such as Rev, 3Play Media, Vitac, and CaptionSync regularly hire post-production captioners and often provide their own training and software. When applying, highlight your typing speed, accuracy rate, and any relevant experience with audio-to-text work. Tailor each application to the specific company rather than sending identical submissions. Expect to complete a skills assessment that tests your ability to caption a short audio or video clip with proper timing and formatting.

Tip: Apply to 3-5 companies at a time and follow up after one week if you have not received a response. Persistence matters in this field.

5. Build Your Portfolio and Advance Your Career

Once you land your first captioning role, focus on building a strong track record. Maintain a 98%+ accuracy rate and meet every deadline. Save examples of your best work (with permission) to build a portfolio you can show to future clients or employers. As you gain experience, you can take on more complex projects, move into real-time captioning, or transition to broadcast work for higher pay. Joining professional organizations like the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) provides networking opportunities, continuing education, and access to higher-paying positions.

Tip: Volunteer to caption content for nonprofits or community organizations on platforms like Amara. This builds your portfolio while contributing to accessibility.

Frequently Asked Questions About Remote Captioning

What do remote captioners do?

Remote captioners convert spoken audio into written text for videos, broadcasts, live events, and pre-recorded content. Captions are time-synchronized with audio and include speaker identification and sound effects. Captioners work across entertainment, education, legal, and medical industries.

How much do captioning jobs pay?

Entry-level post-production captioning pays $15-20/hour. Experienced real-time captioning pays $25-40/hour. Specialized broadcast and CART captioning pays $40-80/hour. Rush jobs and specialized content like legal or medical captioning command premium rates.

What equipment do I need for remote captioning?

For post-production captioning, you need a standard computer, reliable internet (10+ Mbps), quality headphones ($50-150), and optionally a foot pedal ($30-60). For real-time captioning, you need a stenography machine ($1,500-3,000), high-speed internet (50+ Mbps), a backup internet connection, and a professional headset.

What types of captioning jobs are available?

The main types are: Real-Time Captioner ($25-45/hour) for live events using stenography, Post-Production Captioner ($15-30/hour) for pre-recorded videos, Broadcast Captioner ($30-50/hour) for TV networks ensuring FCC compliance, and CART Provider ($40-80/hour) for educational and legal accessibility services.

What skills are needed for captioning jobs?

Required skills include typing speed of 60-80 WPM for post-production or 200+ WPM with stenography for real-time work, 98%+ accuracy rate, excellent grammar and punctuation, strong audio comprehension, attention to detail, and time management skills.

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What Do Remote Captioners Do?

Types of Remote Captioning Jobs

Real-Time Captioner

Post-Production Captioner

Broadcast Captioner

CART Provider

How Much Do Captioning Jobs Pay?

Pay Rates by Experience Level:

Getting Started in Remote Captioning

Required Skills:

Training Programs and Certifications:

Common Software Platforms:

Building Your Portfolio:

Equipment Needed for Captioning Work

Post-Production Setup:

Real-Time Setup:

Related Job Categories

Transcription Jobs

Data Entry Jobs

Administrative Jobs

How to Spot Legitimate Captioning Jobs

Green Flags (Legitimate)

Red Flags (Potential Scams)

How to Get Started in Remote Captioning

1. Assess and Improve Your Typing Speed

2. Learn Captioning Standards and Get Certified

3. Choose Your Captioning Niche

4. Apply to Reputable Captioning Companies

5. Build Your Portfolio and Advance Your Career

Frequently Asked Questions About Remote Captioning

What do remote captioners do?

How much do captioning jobs pay?

What equipment do I need for remote captioning?

What types of captioning jobs are available?

What skills are needed for captioning jobs?

Get the latest captioning job opportunities

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