How to use MTurk to make $50/day

Have you ever heard of Amazon Mechanical Turk (also known as MTurk)?  It’s a crowdsourcing marketplace where people can earn money by completing small jobs called microtasks.

The most common way to make money on MTurk is by answering survey questions and doing data entry, but there are also other ways to do it.

In this article, I’ll teach you how to make $50 a day on MTurk.  Keep reading to learn how you can use this easy money-making side gig to help you achieve your financial goals!

What is Amazon Mechanical Turk?

Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing site where people can make money by completing small tasks, such as surveys or data entry. These are known as Human Intelligence Tasks (“HITs”).

With this site, MTurk workers (called “Turkers”) can complete tasks that are too repetitive or difficult for computers, but easy enough for humans to accomplish.

How does MTurk work?

To make money on MTurk, you complete tasks and then submit them for approval. You are given the instructions, the time needed to complete the task, and how much you will earn. After you’ve completed and submitted the HIT, your work will be reviewed. If it’s accepted, you’ll be approved for payment.

The website has lots of jobs posted by people who need help. You can choose from hundreds of tasks! A Turker can potentially complete up to 5,000 HITs in a single day. The more HITs you perform, the more you can earn.

But, just like with any other job, there are some good days and bad days. There are ways to maximize your earnings on MTurk, and I’ll give you some helpful tips a little later.

What jobs will you find on MTurk?

On MTurk, there are 3 main types of tasks that you’ll find as you search available jobs:

1. Surveys:  If you enjoy filling out questionnaires and offering your opinions, you can make money on MTurk by filling out quick surveys. There is a wide variety to choose from, spanning multiple topics, and they are easy and quick to complete. You can even filter the types of surveys you want to take.
2. Search engine descriptions: These tasks require you to perform a Google search for a specific term or phrase, then submit a sample of your search results to the requester. Super simple and quick!
3. Transcription services: Are you a fast typist? If so, you can make easy money on MTurk completing short transcription tasks. Simply listen to a short audio file and convert the content into text form.

According to the website, other jobs you’ll find on MTurk are editing videos, data verification, information gathering, and data processing.

There are hundreds of small tasks to choose from, but beware – there are also some illegal requests you want to avoid.  These include any job that asks you to download software or enter your credit card information.

How to make $50 a day on MTurk

Now that you know what MTurk is, let’s go over how you can start making good money on this platform. Here are 15 smart tips to make $50 a day on MTurk.  

1. Use browser extensions and scripts to increase efficiency

Using the right browser extensions and scripts will help you be more efficient with your time when searching for tasks on MTurk. You’ll be able to find and complete the best tasks faster, which means making more money in less time.

A popular extension is the MTurk Suite Chrome extension, which is a collection of tools to help you work more efficiently within MTurk. You can also check out Panda Crazy Max, which will collect HITs for you at a set time value.

MTurk scripts are small bits of code that you install on your computer to increase efficiency. They can provide added functionality or change the default settings in MTurk. You can find helpful scripts on MTurkGuide.com, or do a Google search for “MTurk scripts”.

One word of warning when choosing which scripts you’ll use:  never use a script that will automate your tasks for you! These scripts go against MTurk’s terms of service and can get you kicked off the platform. Always complete the tasks you accept yourself!

Another thing to keep in mind about extensions and scripts is that new ones are always being created and old ones become outdated and nonfunctional. Be sure to occasionally check the ones you use to confirm they’re still working for you.

2. Use forums to stay informed and updated

One of the best things you can do as a Turker is to check out the forums where other Turkers share their experiences and insights.

MTurk is a platform that changes quickly from day to day. Creating a habit of checking these forums for updates will help you stay informed of the best HITs to accept.

Forums such as MTurk Crowd and Turker Nation have an abundance of information and tips to help you increase your earnings. The daily updates you’ll find in these threads will help you save time and effort when choosing and completing HITs.

Besides getting informed on the best-paying jobs that are listed, you’ll also learn about what scams and unreliable providers to avoid.

It’s a good idea to find the forums that work best for you and check them daily before you start looking for HITs on the MTurk job board.

3. Decide your minimum hourly payout

Time is money, right? This means you should decide how much your time is worth before you start accepting a bunch of low-paying HITs on MTurk.

For example, let’s say you want to make at least $8 an hour. You will need to find HITs that pay enough and that you can complete fast enough to reach this goal.

If you choose lower-paying tasks that don’t generate a minimum of $8 an hour, you’ll probably want to skip over them. (Keep in mind that tasks won’t take you an hour to complete, but rather seconds or minutes. Do the math to calculate how many of the same tasks you could complete in an hour and what your payout would be.)

Choose tasks that you find interesting and that you feel you could complete quickly. Typically, you can look at the details of the HIT before you start working on it and decide for yourself if it’s worth it. Just remember – the well-paying HITs will go quickly!

Over time, you’ll get faster at picking those tasks that will help you achieve your hourly goal.

*TIP: Many Turkers recommend filtering your HIT search to show only those that pay a minimum of 35-40 cents a task. Completing these higher-paying tasks within 2-3 minutes each will help you average at least $8/hour.

4. Qualify for higher-paying HITs

You can qualify for higher-paying HITs by completing sample tests and participating in quick surveys. Meeting these qualifications usually only takes a few minutes but will give you access to a wider variety of tasks offered by a certain provider.

Building a strong profile that reflects a high number of HITs completed and good approval rates will also increase your qualifications.

If you want to maximize your earnings on MTurk, try to increase your qualifications so you can accept these well-paying HITs.

5. Build trust with a strong Amazon MTurk profile

As a Turker, you will have a profile that shows the number of HITs you’ve completed and your approval rate. These metrics can influence requesters on whether or not to choose you for a task.

Basically, the Turker with more completed HITs and a higher approval rate will most often be chosen over others. Therefore, it’s critical to build your profile so you can build trust and credibility. This will take time, but your efforts will pay off in the long run.

One way to speed up your results is to complete many easy, low-paying tasks quickly to increase your numbers. You’ll sacrifice some income in the beginning, but you’ll gain access to better opportunities faster.

Once you’ve completed 500-1,000 HITs, you’ll qualify for more tasks. And, after you’ve reached “master qualification” with 5,000 completed HITs, your acceptance rate will skyrocket.

Just keep in mind that every HIT completed needs to be approved after submission. You want to maintain a HIT approval rate of at least 95% – but 99% is better! With these numbers, you’ll easily make $50 a day on MTurk.

6. Log on when the best HITs are available

To increase your chances of success on Amazon MTurk, you’ll need to know the best times to look for those high-paying tasks.

The experienced Turkers don’t spend 12 hours at their computers every day, waiting and hoping for the best opportunities to pop up. They know that the majority of the HITs they’re looking for typically become available at certain times of the day.

Most of the competitive tasks will pop up during the weekday hours of 9 to 5 since it’s usually regular businesses that are posting jobs. If you’re free during these hours, maximize your efforts by logging in during this timeframe to find the best HITs.

*TIP:  To catch the ones that go quickly, keep refreshing your screen so you have a chance to grab them!

7. Take advantage of batch HITs

Batch HITs are those jobs that allow you to select multiple tasks and work on them at the same time. Whether it’s a small batch of 20 or one with hundreds, the idea is to help you complete more tasks in a shorter period of time.

Completing batch HITs is a faster way to rack up the numbers you need for better qualifications. You can find these batch HITs in your search results, and they will usually show how many tasks are available, as well as their average time needed to complete them.

The best way to find batch HITs is by using Turkopticon. This website has a list of providers that offer them, along with reviews submitted by other workers. You can also use MTurk Crowd to search for them – the best ones will have “Batch” in the title.

Although many people ignore batches because of the low payout number attached, these jobs can be a gold mine once you start to dig deeper.

8. Filter the requesters

You can filter requesters on MTurk to see only those that fit your qualifications. You can search by the type of work, which tasks they’re offering, and their approval rating.

This is a good way to identify those bad requesters that have a low ranking due to a high unapproval rate or are difficult to work with.

Keep in mind that there are requesters who offer good-paying HITs but have a low approval rate to balance it out. Turkopticon is a handy tool that can help you filter out undesirable requesters.

9. Use the search function

After you’ve accumulated a good number of completed HITs, you’ll realize there are certain tasks you’re better at than others. Take note of these task titles, so you can search for them specifically. This will keep you focused on the jobs that give you the greatest return.

You can also bookmark requesters that offer these types of tasks so you can search by their names as well.

Using the search function to your advantage will help you narrow down your choices and save you time.

10. Increase your payout with surveys

Surveys are an easy way to add to your daily earnings. Simply search for surveys with the search function to find opportunities that will pay you up to $5 a task.

If you can complete 1 or 2 high-paying surveys daily, this will help you reach your goal of making $50 a day on MTurk.

Just be cautious of scams! Never enter any personal details or financial information.

11. Watch out for the scammers

Although Amazon MTurk is a legit site to make extra cash, you still have to be aware of those who use the platform to scam others.

If you ever come across a requester asking for personal details such as your name, credit card information, or social security number, that is a big red flag. Scammers want this information to commit identity theft or credit card fraud.

A good way to protect yourself is to always take HITs from highly-rated requesters. You can highlight any requester’s name to view their ratings and activity.

Stay away from any that have bad reviews or low activity, no matter how tempting the payout is. The last thing you want is to lose money when you’re trying to make it! It’s best to be safer than sorry. If something seems fishy, don’t take the HIT!

12. Set specific goals you can reach

If you want to eventually make $50 a day on MTurk, you can set daily goals from the start to help you get there.

As you complete HITs, you’ll soon learn which jobs make you the most money per hour. Then, you can figure out how many you need to accomplish in a day to reach your $50 goal.

Keep a log of HITs you complete, how long they took, how much they paid, and how much you would make an hour for each one. Each day, add up your earnings so you can track how your income increases over time.

If you’re super motivated, set a deadline for when you want to achieve your income goal. It’s important to monitor your daily progress so you stay focused and on track. Before you know it, you’ll have reached your goal of $50 a day!

13. Stay consistent and active

Amazon MTurk is a great opportunity to make some extra income if you put in the time and effort. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme.

If you want to make $50 a day on MTurk, the key is being consistent and staying active on the platform. The more HITs you complete, the faster you’ll get and the better you’ll be at finding those with the greatest return for your time.

Having a daily routine will help you stay disciplined with your efforts. Block out time during specific days where you can commit to looking for tasks and completing them quickly. Be sure you’ve eliminated distractions so you can focus on doing your best work and make the most use of your time.

14. Learn new skills

If you keep skipping over certain HITs because you don’t have the right skills, consider learning something new. The larger your skillset, the more opportunities you’ll have to make more money.

15. Practice patience

As a new Turker, it will take time to identify which tasks will give you the most return, build a strong profile, and learn how to be the most efficient with your time. Be patient with yourself.

Stay focused on building those daily habits that will lead to success. If you really want to make $50 a day on MTurk, it’s definitely possible! But you need to stay committed even when things aren’t moving as fast as you’d like.

You will have some great days when you surpass your goal, and other days that seem like a total bust. Stay the course and keep moving forward. The only reason you’ll fail is if you give up!

How to sign up with MTurk

If you don’t yet have an Amazon Mechanical Turk account, you can follow the steps outlined below. It’s super simple and takes just a few minutes.

1. Go to Amazon’s Mechanical Turk signup page
2. Click on “Request A Worker Account”
3. Sign in with your Amazon account login, or create a new Amazon account
4. Once you’re signed in to Amazon, you’ll create your MTurk account
5. Wait for verification of your MTurk account, which can take up to 48 hours
6. Once verified, you’ll set up your payment information to receive your payouts

As a new Turker, you’ll be on probationary status for the first 10 days. During this time, you’ll be expected to complete up to 100 HITs per day. After this time, you can complete as many tasks as you like.

Is MTurk really legit?

Amazon Mechanical Turk, a part of Amazon.com, is a legitimate opportunity to earn extra cash. It’s an easy way to make money on the side, during your free time. You are paid real cash directly to your bank account or with an Amazon gift card.

It’s important to keep your expectations realistic. You won’t get rich on MTurk, and you won’t be raking in a $50,000 annual income. However, if you put in the time and effort, you can add to the income you already make from a regular job.

These extra funds can help you get out of debt faster, save more for retirement, and reach your other financial goals.

The pros of MTurk

There are several positive features and benefits to working on the MTurk platform:

• Amazon Mechanical Turk is part of Amazon.com, so you know it’s credible, reliable, and trustworthy.
• You set your own schedule and choose the tasks you want to complete.
• There are a wide variety of tasks to choose from, so you’ll always find something that will make you money.
• You have the opportunity to qualify for higher-paying tasks.
• You can request a payout at any time.
• There is no training required to get started.
• There are resources available, such as forums, browser extensions, and scripts to help you increase your payout.
• It’s a simple way to earn some extra money from the comfort of your own couch!

The cons of MTurk

Here are a few drawbacks to working on MTurk:

• The pay is very low for each task and there is no set hourly wage. This means you’ll need to be quick to get the best jobs, be fast to complete them, and perform many tasks to achieve a $50 daily payout.
• The tasks are typically tedious.
• You must be available during normal business hours to get the best jobs. If you can only search the job boards on nights and weekends, you’ll make less money.

FAQs

Still have more questions about Amazon MTurk? Check out these additional FAQs to find the answers you’re looking for.

FAQ: How much can you make on MTurk in a day?

If you are focused, consistent, and disciplined, you could easily make between $50 and $100 a day on MTurk. It all depends on how quickly you can complete tasks, and knowing how to get the highest-paying jobs.

In addition, if you continue to increase your qualifications and strengthen your profile, it’s possible to make $200-$250 a day! Just keep in mind that this is not passive income – you’ll need to put in the time and effort to make it worth your while.

FAQ:  How long does it take to earn good money on MTurk?

You can start earning good money on MTurk about 2 to 3 weeks after you sign up.

When you first create your account, you’ll need to wait up to 2 days for your information to be verified. Then, you start a 10-day probationary period, during which you’re limited to only 100 HITs a day. After that, the number of tasks you complete is unlimited, and you can make more money.

You’ll probably need a week or two to learn the best strategies and tools to use so you can maximize your efforts.

FAQ: What qualifications do you need to work on MTurk?

The qualifications required to work on Mturk are that you need to be at least 18 years old and have an internet connection.

FAQ:  What are the complaints about MTurk?

Some complaints about MTurk include giving no explanation for rejecting an application, a lack of customer service support, and low-paying jobs that only pay pennies.

FAQ: How do I get paid on MTurk?

You can get paid by MTurk in two different ways. The first is getting your payout deposited into your bank account, which can take up to 3-4 days. The second is with an Amazon gift card, which is available within 24 hours. You must have at least $1 in your MTurk account to request a payout.

FAQ: What are other sites like MTurk?

If you want to explore more micro-tasking opportunities, there are lots of other crowdsourcing websites you can check out like Clickworker, Appen, and Microworkers. These are all very similar to MTurk’s structure and platform.

FAQ: Do I have to pay taxes on my MTurk earnings?

MTurk earnings are considered self-employment income. If you make over $400 in self-employment income within the tax year, you will need to pay taxes on your MTurk earnings.

FAQ: Is it safe to give MTurk my Social Security number?

MTurk is owned by Amazon and therefore you can feel safe that they won’t use your Social Security number for fraudulent purposes. The reason you must submit your Social Security number is to verify your identity for tax purposes.

FAQ: Why did I get rejected from MTurk?

A common reason your application could get rejected by MTurk is that they were unable to verify your identity. However, one of the main complaints of the platform is that no explanation is given when an application is denied.

FAQ: Does Amazon Mechanical Turk pay through PayPal

At this time, Amazon MTurk only deposits earnings directly into your bank account or to an Amazon gift card.

In conclusion

Amazon MTurk can be a great opportunity to start making extra income very quickly.  If you’re looking for ways to speed up your debt payoff plan or increase your 401(k) contributions, consider using MTurk as a way to generate some easy money.

Don’t be deterred by the low-paying tasks you’ll see.  Follow the tips above to find the best jobs and learn how to become qualified for better-paying HITs.

Make the most of your spare time by making a little extra daily income. Once you can make $50 a day on MTurk, you’ll start achieving your financial goals faster.