10 Data Entry Side Hustle Ideas for 2024

The digital landscape has shifted significantly in the past several years. Companies globally rely on data more than ever to function—and because of that, they’re frequently outsourcing data management tasks to professionals looking for data entry operator roles. This trend has opened up numerous opportunities for those seeking jobs from home.

Data entry is the process of entering data into computer systems. The data can be in the form of text, audio, video, or images. Data entry specialists also work on data classification, validation, and other data manipulation techniques. These are just some of the types of data entry tasks available in the field.

The shift to outsourcing has opened the door for professionals who want to earn extra cash part time. And data entry jobs offer more than that—a way to grow, learn, and become financially stable. The good news is that there are various options for people with different skill sets and interests, many of which are at attractive pay rates. However, it’s important to be aware of potential scams when looking for online work opportunities.

This guide will go into the details about data entry and the roles you can expect to find when looking for data entry positions. You’ll learn why data entry makes sense as a side gig and discover 10 of the best data entry jobs to explore.

Is data entry a good side hustle?

Data entry is a popular side gig for people looking for an easy way to make extra cash. It doesn’t require higher education training in most cases—which makes it an attractive option for people who want to make extra money without investing in years of schooling to get educated in a specialized subject area.

You can expect to make anywhere from $10 to $20 an hour as a data entry specialist, with some high-paying opportunities available for those with specialized skills.

There are many pros and cons to data entry to consider.

Pros:

• Flexibility. You can handle many remote data entry jobs from anywhere in the world. If you’re looking for a remote role, this is a job you can accomplish from home or while traveling.
• Lack of educational requirements. Many data entry jobs only require users to have basic computer skills, which means you can quickly learn on the job to provide your client with what they need.

Cons:

• Repetitiveness. Many data entry jobs require you to enter information over and over again. This repetitiveness can be challenging for people looking for varied work.
• Competition. Due to the lower barrier of entry for data entry work, you may see more competition for these roles.

Data entry skills requirements

Although there aren’t strict educational requirements for many roles, some data entry skills will make you a more attractive hire for clients looking for data entry expertise.

• Attention to detail. Companies rely on data entry experts to enter accurate information and verify it’s correct. You need good attention to detail for that.
• Fast typing speed. You need to enter a lot of information fast and accurately when working in data entry jobs.
• Software skills. Many data entry jobs require software like Microsoft Office and Google Docs or Google Sheets. You’ll need experience with these tools to handle the job.
• Reliable internet. A work-from-home data entry job is convenient, but you need ready access to reliable high-speed internet.
• Confidentiality. In many cases, you’ll be dealing with information about people or organizations that needs to be kept private. You may be asked to sign and comply with an NDA (non-disclosure agreement).

Related:

• How To Get a Data Entry Clerk Job
• 11 Best Data Entry Tools To Automate Your Workflows

Let’s look at the top data entry jobs to explore as a side hustle.

1. E-commerce data entry

E-commerce stores rely on accurate data to provide the best information to customers. Product listings need accurate information so customers understand what they’re buying, and companies need accurate information about their operations to make intelligent business decisions.

Data entry specialists help online store owners in several ways.

• Input product information. Data entry specialists enter product information in the e-commerce store back end. They ensure product information is correct and accurate—as well as create product descriptions to inform customers more about what they’re buying and how it meets their needs.
• Order management. Orders must flow to the right people once customers place the orders. Data entry specialists take orders, confirm the details, and send the information to the right people so the product heads to the customer quickly and correctly.
• Inventory management. Data entry specialists keep track of current inventory levels in the warehouse. They track new orders, ensure they’re entered correctly, and audit current levels to correct errors.
• Email marketing management. Email provides powerful marketing and sales opportunities for e-commerce sellers. Data entry specialists often keep email lists up to date, manage scheduling, and make inputs to the customer relationship management (CRM) system.
• Data analytics. Data entry specialists help ensure data in the system is accurate and may get involved in analysis to help in business decision-making.

This role is good for anyone who can keep track of a lot of information for e-commerce brands and will work to ensure customers are happy.

Related:

• 10 Tactics for Increasing E-Commerce Sales
• The 4 Types of Data Analytics and How They Work

2. Transcription services

Transcription workers transform the spoken word—whether live in-person or audio files—into text. Companies hire workers for transcription jobs to keep track of meetings, interviews, phone calls, and other events. A transcriptionist transcribes what they hear into documents for their clients.

Several platforms are available for taking on transcription job opportunities, as well. Scribie and Rev are two of the most popular transcription websites available. They cater to beginner transcriptionists who want to learn the craft and experienced transcribers looking for more work.

You can start transcribing as a beginner—but you’ll need to get up to speed quickly to produce quality work. Use the following tips to improve your transcribing skills and work speed.

• Use good equipment. Good equipment is a must for quality transcribing. Purchase good quality headphones for listening to audio and hardware like foot pedals to process audio files.
• Keep practicing. You won’t have only crystal-clear English audio when transcribing. Practice listening to poor-quality audio and accents you don’t hear often to improve your accuracy.

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• The 4 Types of Transcription, With Examples
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• The Best Transcription Jobs Online and Where To Find Them
• The Best Headsets for Working From Home (2024 Comparison)

3. Microtasking and clickworking

Microtasking and clickworking are small data entry tasks you can complete online. They range from entering a few lines of text (such as reading receipts and entering the data) to larger tasks (like categorizing data).

To perform microtasks, sign up for a platform that offers them. Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and Clickworker are two of the best options for remote workers who want to make money online.

To get the most out of your time on these Microworker platforms, learn what types of tasks they have and how to get through them quickly. For instance, you’ll find a lot of data categorization tasks on MTurk. Learning the categorization process from the task requester and what they expect can help you understand what they’re looking for and speed up the work.

Clickworker has many rating tasks. You’ll need to read their content guidelines to learn what they expect if you want to maximize your earnings on the platform.

4. Legal data entry

Law firms rely on accurate and quick data entry. They need information for court documents, case files, and legal research. Data entry professionals for law firms work to enter, review, and fact-check the information used by law firms.

This side hustle is rewarding for people who want to be in the legal field and haven’t taken the first steps yet. They can get exposure to the profession and contribute to cases to gain experience in the field.

Due to the importance of accurate information in the legal profession, you need an eye for detail to avoid making mistakes. Lawyers will rely on your information to make decisions about their cases.

You’ll also need good time management skills to handle the work given by your clients. Many lawyers have heavy workloads with strict deadlines. You’ll need to manage your time well to get your work to them on time.

Some legal data entry jobs may require knowledge in specific fields. You may need to have some experience before applying for those roles.

5. Real estate data entry

Real estate professionals work with a lot of data to do their jobs. They manage property databases, update listings, handle client information, and much more. They rely on correct information in their systems to do their jobs.

Offering data entry services to real estate professionals means you’ll manage that work for them. A few examples of work you’ll handle in real estate include:

• Property information management. Manage property information for new markets and current real estate agent listings. Monitor prices, amenities, specifications, and more.
• Client details. Keep track of buyer and seller information for your clients. You’ll monitor communication details, client preferences, contact information, and other details that make a real estate professional’s job easier.
• Market research. Gather data about current market conditions and compile it for clients. They’ll use this information to understand the market conditions and better help clients.

6. Accounting data entry

Accountants rely on accurate information to offer working solutions to their clients. Inaccurate numbers mean their clients don’t have correct information, which can result in costly mistakes.

As a data entry specialist for accounting, you’ll ensure that your clients have accurate records. You’ll enter transaction details, invoice information, payment details, and other finance information.

If you have an eye for detail and love numbers, this is an excellent opportunity. It allows you to see more about how companies work and can provide a steady source of income once you prove yourself to an organization.

Related:

• 8 Main Types of Accounting in 2024
• Adjusting Journal Entries: Bookkeeping and Accounting Basics
• Bookkeeping vs. Accounting: The Key Differences
• General Ledger Basics: Definition and Examples
• Double-Entry Accounting Basics Guide: How it Works & Why It Matters‍‍

7. Social media data entry

Social media has transformed how companies interact with their customers. Companies now engage directly with their audience on social media platforms to offer interesting content and build their profiles on external websites.

As a data entry worker for social media managers, you’ll aid in managing social media accounts. You have several tasks when managing social media, including:

• Review analytics. Social media provides a ton of data about social media content. You can look at views, engagement, demographics, and more. This data is useful for learning about your audience and what they want to see.
• Content scheduling. Social media managers don’t want to be around at the exact time a post needs to go live. Your job will be to set a schedule for social media posts, set them up on the platforms, and tell the websites when to display the content.

Being involved with social media data entry can help you learn about marketing. You’ll see how to find, track, and schedule marketing material—skills you can carry over to other jobs. Many companies are also increasing their presence on social media, so you’ll find many social media work-from-home job postings.

Related:

• How To Measure Social Media Engagement
• How To Grow Your Social Media Following: Tips and Tricks
• Top 15 Social Media Tools for Businesses in 2024 (Free & Paid Options)
• Getting the Most Out of Social Media for Your Business

8. Market research data entry

Market research is the backbone of most businesses. It drives decisions by giving business owners insights into market trends and the most likely route to success.

Data from market research offers information about customer preferences, emerging trends, and competition. But for those insights to be impactful, they must be accurate and organized.

Working at a market research data entry company means you’ll verify the accuracy of market data and organize it for business owners. You’ll look at research data, compile survey results, and use software to generate reports.

This side gig is great for people with analytical minds who enjoy looking at data. You’ll learn much about different markets and what makes them tick.

9. Data verification specialist

Business owners use accurate data to forecast inventory demand, predict future market trends, analyze past performance, and perform countless other tasks. Without accurate data, companies may use bad information and make bad decisions.

The job of a data verification specialist is to analyze a company’s data, look for errors, and correct issues they find. Working as a verification specialist means you need to be able to analyze information carefully and spot small errors. You need to be able to research information and cross-check it with your current data to verify accuracy and correct it if necessary.

This can take many forms. You can find a job proofreading reports for accuracy or analyzing numbers on an Excel spreadsheet to ensure correct calculations. The type of verification you choose to do will depend on your current skill set and the work that appeals to you the most.

Related:

• ​​Proofreading: The Last Opportunity To Fix Your Writing Errors
• Excel Data Validation: Uses, Steps, and Examples

10. Typist

Many companies didn’t start as digital companies. They used pen and paper to manage their companies and didn’t migrate their data to digital form. And even if a company did have access to technology, they may have still used paper for certain work.

Many of those companies are now digitizing their operations—which is where a typist helps. Taking on typist jobs can mean you’ll help organizations take handwritten or scanned documents and turn them into computer documents.

This is less of a research-focused role, so great typing skills are a must. Make sure you have a comfortable keyboard and type at a fast words per minute (WPM) speed.

Taking on a remote work position for a typing job is beneficial because you can work from home. Companies like Sig Track offer workers a platform to enter data remotely, and the ability to work on their own time. Interested in taking on a side hustle as a typist? You can get started on Upwork.

Related:

• The Best Monitors for Working From Home in 2024
• The 20+ Best Work-From-Home Desks of 2024

Unlock your potential with Upwork

Working a data entry job offers great entry-level opportunities for independent contractors who want to make some money on the side. You don’t need a ton of data entry experience. In some cases, you can even get a data entry clerk job with no prior experience.

As you can see from the 10 data entry gigs, you have many options to choose from—many without needing to give up your full-time job. Browse the online data entry job boards or reach out to recruiters to see what’s available.

Log into the Upwork to find data entry freelance jobs available for people who want to earn extra money. If you’re a job seeker, browse the available opportunities to start the job search and land your next project.