Earning extra cash in your spare time sounds too good to be true, right?
Well, welcome to the world of Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk).
Over 250,810 people use this online platform to make money from home.
Also, a 2018 survey revealed that MTurk workers earn $1 to $6 on average per hour completing simple online tasks posted by companies and researchers.
This online marketplace connects people who need simple tasks done with people willing to do them. The best part is that you can make money with Amazon Mechanical Turk in your spare time.
So how does it work, and can you really make decent money with Amazon Mechanical Turk?
Let’s find out.
What Exactly is Amazon’s Mechanical Turk?
Amazon Mechanical Turk, or MTurk, is an online crowdsourcing marketplace owned by Amazon. It lets requesters post simple tasks called HITs (Human Intelligence Tasks) that require human judgment.
As a worker, you get paid for each HIT you complete, offering a way to make extra money with Amazon in a flexible way.
Related Articles:
Top 10 Digital Products To Sell On Amazon
Amazon Work From Home Data Entry Jobs
Amazon Ads For Books To Make More Money
So Who Uses MTurk and Why?
Requesters on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk come from various industries and need human intelligence for things like:
| Data processing | Transcribing audio, labeling images, data cleanup |
| Research | Surveys, user studies, academic research |
| Content moderation | Flagging inappropriate online content |
| Information verification | Fact-checking, validating listings |
For requesters, Amazon’s Mechanical Turk gives access to an on-demand workforce that’s often cheaper and faster than traditional methods.
And as a worker, you can make money with Amazon Mechanical Turk job from home on your schedule. It’s an easy side gig for stay-at-home parents, students, retirees, and anyone with spare time.
Now that you understand the basics of how to make money with Amazon through their Mechanical Turk platform let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the process step by step.
Step 1: Sign up for an Amazon Mechanical Turk ccount
Ready to start making money with Amazon Mechanical Turk? The first step is to head to Amazon’s website and sign up for an MTurk worker account. The majority of Mechanical Turk workers report it taking 10 minutes or less to get signed up, so it’s a pretty quick and painless process.
How to Create Your MTurk Account
Here’s a simple walkthrough for getting your account set up:
· Go to Amazon Mechanical Turk’s website (www.mturk.com) and click “Get Started With Amazon Mechanical Turk.”
· Choose “Request a Worker account,” and enter your Amazon account credentials if you have them, or create new ones.
· Provide your name, email address, and password. Click submit, verify your email, and you’ll be redirected to a new form.
· Fill the entire form with some basic personal information like full name, address, and phone number. Agree to MTurk’s participation agreement and policies.
· Verify your phone number.
· Complete a short captcha test to prove you’re a human, not a robot!
Once your account is approved, you’ll gain access to the MTurk worker portal and can start searching for tasks and making money with Amazon.
Tips for Setting Up Your Account
When creating your MTurk account, keep these tips in mind:
· Use an email you check frequently – Important notifications will be sent there.
· List your real name and information – Amazon requires this for identity verification.
· Select a secure password – Protect your account and earnings.
Alright, it’s time to look at how the MTurk worker dashboard works and how to find jobs.
Step 2: Understanding the MTurk Worker Dashboard
Once your MTurk account is approved, you’ll have access to the worker dashboard. This is your central hub for finding tasks, managing your work, and making money with Amazon Mechanical Turk.
Getting familiar with how to navigate the dashboard is key to succeeding on MTurk. Let’s take a quick tour of the main sections.
Searching for HITs
The HIT Groups section lets you browse available jobs by category or search for specific HITs by keyword. You can filter by things like:
| Reward amount | See high-paying tasks first |
| Time allotted | Find HITs you can do quickly |
| Requester name | Stick to your favorite employers |
Pro tip: Set up a few favorite filters for the types of MTurk jobs you prefer. This makes finding relevant HITs a breeze.
Previewing and Accepting HITs
Before accepting a HIT, you can preview it to ensure it’s a good fit. The preview lets you evaluate the following:
| Estimated time | Gauge if it’s worth the pay |
| Instructions | Assess if you can complete it properly |
| Required qualifications | See if you meet the criteria |
If it looks doable, you can accept the HIT and get started. Act fast, though, as many tasks have a limited number of openings.
Submitting Completed Work
Once you finish a HIT, submit your work through the dashboard. Requesters typically review within a few days and approve or reject each submission.
Getting HITs approved is crucial. If your work gets rejected, it can hurt your account standing. So high-quality work is key.
Let’s head over to step 3, which is how to find high-paying HITs that can actually bring substantial income.
Step 3: Find profitable HITs to make money
Now for the fun part – finding profitable HITs to start making money with Amazon Mechanical Turk! Here are some tips to help you identify well-paying tasks worth your time:
· Survey tasks pay $0.50 to $2.00 typically – Great for beginners.
· Receipt transcription pays around $0.08 per receipt – Quick money if you’re fast.
· Data labeling and content moderation pay $0.02 to $0.20 per piece – Consistent work.
· To maximize earnings, aim for HITs paying at least $3-6 per hour. Let’s go over where to find the best-paying jobs.
Search For Requesters
Rather than sifting through individual HITs, search for specific well-known requesters using filters. Checking requester ratings helps avoid rejections and wasted time on poorly paid tasks.
Join Worker Communities
Experienced workers share insider tips in communities like the MTurk Crowd forum and Reddit’s r/mturk. You can glean advice on profitable requesters, qualifications, tools, and more.
Use Browser Extensions
Extensions like MTurk Suite and Hit Finder automatically display pay rates and requester reputations, saving you time.
Take Qualification Tests
Getting qualified for certain tests expands your options. Tests are free to take, and results come within a day or two generally.
With these tips, you can find well-paid HITs that make the most of your time invested in Amazon’s Mechanical Turk.
Step 4: Boost Your Efficiency on MTurk
Once you get the hang of completing HITs, it’s time to step up your productivity. Here are some pro tips to help you make money faster with Amazon Mechanical Turk:
· Use keyboard shortcuts when possible – Saves clicks and time.
· Install scripts to auto-grab HITs – Get first dibs on newly posted work.
· Break up lengthy HITs – Alternate longer and shorter tasks.
· Work during peak times – Mornings and evenings tend to be busy
· Track your hourly rate – Identify what types of HITs are most profitable.
Create a Dedicated Workspace
Set up a comfortable workspace to avoid distractions. Having a second monitor helps you multitask, and using headphones blocks out background noise.
Master Batch Work
Certain HITs, like surveys and data labeling, involve completing the same task repeatedly. Get efficient at these batch HITs to maximize hourly earnings.
Take Breaks and Vary Work
Staring at the computer for hours on end can cause burnout. Take short breaks to stretch, hydrate, and rest your eyes. Switching between writing, research, data entry, and analytical HITs also helps provide variety.
If you follow these productivity tips, you can complete more HITs efficiently and potentially earn over $10/hour or more on MTurk with some experience.
Step 5: Transfer Your MTurk Earnings
You’ve put in the work on Amazon Mechanical Turk; now it’s time to collect your hard-earned cash! Here’s the process to withdraw your MTurk earnings:
· Earnings are paid to your Amazon Payments account weekly.
· The minimum transfer amount is $1
· Transfers to your bank account take 2-3 business days typically.
To start, link an Amazon Payments account and bank account to your MTurk profile.
Set up Amazon Payments
Amazon Payments is the disbursement method for MTurk. To get paid, you’ll need to:
· Provide your US bank account information.
· Verify your identity with tax info.
· Confirm your bank account.
This setup process takes about 1-2 days.
Schedule automatic transfers
Once your Amazon Payments account is activated, you can opt to transfer earnings automatically every 3, 7, 14, or 30 days. Just set the day of the week and the minimum transfer threshold.
Redeem for Amazon Gift Cards
Another option is to redeem your MTurk earnings for Amazon gift cards instead of cash transfers.
· Easy to redeem – Redeeming a gift card can be done in just a few clicks through your Amazon MTurk account.
· Limited to Amazon purchases – Can only be used on Amazon.com.
· Any amount – Gift cards come in denominations from $1 to $2,000, so you can redeem any amount earned.
· No fees – There are no fees for redeeming earnings for Amazon gift cards.
So go ahead and put that MTurk money to good use! Consistent transfers help ensure you stay motivated.
All you need is some effort and smart optimization, and you can transform Amazon Mechanical Turk into a steady side income stream.
Start earning money on Amazon Mechanical Turk
Amazon Mechanical Turk provides a flexible way to make extra money in your spare time. It does take some time to get familiar with the platform and how to find high-paying HITs. But with some dedication, you can start earning $10 per hour or more consistently.
Remember that Amazon Mechanical Turk is an online marketplace powered by people. So when you complete HITs, you’re helping businesses, researchers, and non-profits get important work done apart from making money for yourself.
So if you’re looking for a flexible way to supplement your income, give MTurk a try.
You can also read this fantastic guide on how to make money on Amazon. Or maybe you’re interested in the Amazon Associates program; in that case, don’t forget to check this article out!
