Closed Captioning

TL;DR

What it is: Converting spoken audio from videos into accurate, time-synchronized text that appears on screen. Different from transcription because captions must match exact timing and include sound effects and speaker identification.

What you'll do:

• Listen to video audio and type out everything that's said
• Add speaker labels, sound effects, and music descriptions
• Time each caption segment to match when words are spoken
• Format captions according to style guides and accessibility standards
• Proofread for accuracy, grammar, and proper synchronization

Time to learn: 1-3 months to get proficient at pre-recorded captioning if you practice 1-2 hours daily. Real-time live captioning requires 3-6 years of intensive training.

What you need: Fast typing, good hearing, strong language skills, attention to detail, and a computer with headphones. Software for beginners is often provided by platforms or available free.

What This Actually Is

Closed captioning is the process of creating text versions of spoken dialogue and relevant sounds in videos. Unlike simple transcription, captions are time-coded to appear exactly when words are spoken, and they include non-speech information like sound effects, music cues, and speaker changes.

The work exists because accessibility laws require captions on most public content, streaming platforms mandate them, and global audiences need them to understand content in different languages or noisy environments.

There are two main types: pre-recorded captioning (offline) where you caption already-recorded videos with no time pressure, and real-time captioning (live) where you caption events as they happen. Most beginners start with pre-recorded work.

The difference between this and transcription matters. Transcription just converts audio to text in a document. Captioning requires timing each line to sync with video, formatting text to fit on screen, identifying speakers, and describing sounds. The technical requirements and pay rates differ significantly between the two.

What You'll Actually Do

You'll watch videos while listening through headphones and type what's being said. Every word needs to be accurate, properly spelled, and grammatically correct.

Beyond dialogue, you'll add descriptions of relevant sounds in brackets or parentheses. Things like [door slams], [upbeat music playing], or [audience laughing]. You'll identify speakers when multiple people talk, especially in interviews or panel discussions.

Timing is critical. You'll set when each caption appears and disappears, making sure viewers have enough time to read without captions lingering too long. Most captions stay on screen for 2-7 seconds depending on word count and reading speed.

You'll follow specific style guides that dictate caption length (usually 32-42 characters per line), line breaks (breaking at natural phrases), and formatting rules. Different clients have different standards.

Quality checking is part of the job. You'll review your work for typos, timing errors, missing sounds, and synchronization issues before submitting.

For pre-recorded work, you'll receive video files through a platform or client. You'll download, caption, review, and upload completed files. A typical captioner can process one hour of clear audio in 4-5 hours when starting out, faster with experience.

Skills You Need

Fast typing is essential but the required speed depends on the work type. For pre-recorded captioning, 60-80 words per minute with high accuracy works fine since you can pause and replay. For real-time live captioning, you need 180-200+ words per minute with 96-98% accuracy, which requires stenography training.

Language mastery matters more than most people expect. You need excellent grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary in the language you're captioning. You'll encounter technical terms, slang, accents, and unclear audio where you must make educated guesses.

Hearing ability and audio comprehension are obvious requirements. You need to distinguish words in poor audio conditions, understand various accents, and catch mumbled or overlapping speech.

Attention to detail separates adequate captioners from good ones. You'll catch small errors, notice when timing drifts, and maintain consistency across long projects.

Time management helps you meet deadlines while maintaining quality. You'll estimate how long projects take and pace yourself accordingly.

Technical comfort with software is necessary but not difficult. You'll learn captioning software, video players, and file management. Most platforms provide training or use intuitive interfaces.

Getting Started

Start by testing your typing speed and accuracy online. If you can type 60+ words per minute with 95%+ accuracy, you're ready to begin. If not, practice typing until you hit these benchmarks.

Familiarize yourself with caption formats like SRT, VTT, and SCC. Understanding these helps you work across different platforms and software.

Apply to entry-level platforms that hire beginners. Rev is known for accepting new captioners and providing training. You'll typically take a test that involves captioning a short video according to their style guide. Pass rates vary, and you may need to try multiple times.

Other beginner-friendly platforms include CaptioningStar and TranscribeMe. Each has different requirements, pay rates, and application processes.

When applying, read style guides carefully. Each platform has specific rules for how to format captions, when to break lines, how to describe sounds, and caption length limits. Following these exactly during tests increases your pass rate.

Start with short, clear videos. Documentaries with single narrators are easier than fast-paced interviews or content with background noise. Build your skills on simple content before tackling complex projects.

Invest in decent headphones. You don't need expensive studio monitors, but clear audio helps you work faster and more accurately.

Income Reality

Pre-recorded captioning rates vary significantly based on where you work and your experience level.

Platform work typically pays per video minute captioned. Rev pays $0.40-$0.75 per video minute. At the low end ($0.40/minute), if you caption 10 hours of clear video in a week (which might take 40-50 hours of work when starting), you earn $240/week or roughly $960/month. Experienced captioners working efficiently can earn more.

Direct client work bypasses platforms and pays better. Freelance rates range from $1-$15 per video minute depending on turnaround time, complexity, and client budget. At $2-$5 per minute, captioning 20-30 hours of video monthly could generate $2,400-$9,000, but finding consistent direct clients takes time and marketing effort.

Real-time live captioning pays substantially more. Remote live captioners earn $60-$75 per hour. Aberdeen offers positions at $75/hour. Experienced real-time captioners working full-time can exceed $100,000 annually, but this requires 3-6 years of stenography training and certification.

Factors affecting your income:

• Typing speed determines how much volume you can handle
• Audio quality affects completion time (poor audio takes much longer)
• Specialization in technical fields or foreign languages commands higher rates
• Turnaround time (rush jobs pay more)
• Whether you work through platforms (lower rates) or find direct clients (higher rates)
• Your accuracy and reputation affect repeat business

Most people starting with platform work earn $500-$1,500/month working part-time. Those who transition to direct clients and work full-time hours can reach $2,000-$4,000/month. Real-time captioning represents a different career path with significantly higher earning potential but substantial training requirements.

Note: Platforms may charge fees or commissions. We don't track specific rates as they change frequently. Check each platform's current pricing before signing up.

Where to Find Work

Captioning platforms are the easiest entry point. Rev, 3Play Media, Aberdeen Broadcast Services, AI Media, and CaptioningStar regularly hire captioners. Create profiles, pass their tests, and start receiving work assignments.

Freelance marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr have captioning jobs, though competition is heavy and rates are often low. Build a strong profile with samples and positive reviews to stand out.

Direct outreach to content creators works once you have experience. YouTubers, podcasters, course creators, and businesses need captions. Many don't know where to find captioners or assume it's expensive. Reach out with competitive rates and quick samples.

Video production companies and marketing agencies outsource captioning. They handle multiple clients and need reliable captioners. Building relationships here can provide steady volume.

Educational institutions need captions for lecture recordings and online courses. Accessibility requirements make this a growing market.

Transcription companies often offer captioning services. If you already do transcription, ask about adding captioning to your services.

Search job boards specifically for remote captioning positions. FlexJobs, Remote.co, and We Work Remotely occasionally list captioning jobs.

Networking in accessibility and content creation communities can surface opportunities. Join groups focused on video production, e-learning, and accessibility to connect with potential clients.

Common Challenges

Poor audio quality is the biggest frustration. Background noise, echo, mumbling, thick accents, and multiple people talking over each other turn a 1-hour video into 8 hours of work. You can't fix bad audio, only do your best to caption what's audible.

Repetitive strain injuries affect captioners who don't take breaks. Typing for hours daily can cause wrist pain, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Ergonomic setup and regular breaks are essential but cut into productive time.

Low platform rates mean you need high volume to earn decent income. The pressure to work fast can conflict with quality requirements, and rushing leads to rejection or low ratings.

Inconsistent work flow is common on platforms. Some weeks you'll have more work than you can handle, other weeks almost nothing. This makes income unpredictable.

Strict quality standards with little tolerance for errors. Platforms may deactivate accounts after too many rejections. One bad day of rushed work can affect your standing.

Technical terms and jargon in specialized content. Medical, legal, scientific, and technical videos contain terminology you might not know. You'll spend extra time researching correct spellings and meanings.

Tight deadlines create pressure, especially when audio quality is poor or content is complex. Clients want fast turnaround but perfect quality, which can be unrealistic.

Auto-generated captions from YouTube and other platforms are getting better, reducing demand for simple captioning while raising quality expectations. Clients increasingly expect human captioners to edit auto-captions rather than create from scratch, which changes the work but not always the pay.

Tips That Actually Help

Use keyboard shortcuts in your captioning software to speed up workflow. Learning to navigate without constantly clicking saves significant time over hundreds of projects.

Invest in transcription foot pedals if you do high volumes. They let you control playback with your feet while your hands stay on the keyboard, improving efficiency.

Create templates for common sounds and formats. If you frequently caption [audience applause] or speaker labels, save these as shortcuts to avoid retyping.

Slow down audio for difficult sections rather than replaying endlessly. Most software lets you play at 0.75x or 0.5x speed, making unclear speech easier to understand without losing hours on rewinds.

Focus on accuracy over speed initially. Fast but inaccurate captioning gets rejected and hurts your reputation. Speed develops naturally with practice.

Take breaks every 45-60 minutes. Stretch your hands, wrists, and arms. Captioning injuries are real and can end your ability to work.

Read style guides thoroughly before starting on new platforms. Most rejections come from formatting errors, not transcription mistakes.

Build relationships with project managers on platforms. Being reliable, communicative, and consistent can lead to priority assignment of better-paying projects.

Track your per-minute completion rate. Understanding how long different content types take helps you decide which projects are worth accepting at given rates.

Don't underprice when seeking direct clients. Charging $1-2 per minute when the work takes 4-5x the video length means you're earning $12-24 per hour before expenses. Price based on time invested, not just video length.

Specialize in a niche if possible. Medical, legal, or technical captioning requires more skill but pays better and has less competition.

Learning Timeline Reality

For pre-recorded captioning: 1-3 months to become proficient if you practice 1-2 hours daily. The first few projects will be slow and frustrating. By week 4-6, you'll have basic competency. After 3 months of regular work, you should be reasonably efficient.

For real-time live captioning: 3-6 years of dedicated training. This requires learning stenography, practicing 3-5 hours daily, passing certification exams (typically requiring 180-200 WPM at 96% accuracy), and purchasing professional stenography equipment ($1,500-$5,000). Court reporting schools offering this training typically require 60-70 credits.

Most people entering closed captioning start with pre-recorded work through platforms. You can begin earning within weeks of starting, though income will be modest while you build speed and accuracy. Real-time captioning represents a separate career path with substantial investment but much higher earning potential.

Is This For You?

This works well if you have strong language skills, enjoy detail-oriented work, and can handle repetitive tasks without losing focus. People who succeed tend to be patient, accurate, and comfortable spending hours at a computer.

It's good for supplementary income on a flexible schedule. You can work evenings, weekends, or whenever suits you with pre-recorded captioning. Parents, students, and anyone needing schedule flexibility often find this appealing.

It's not ideal if you need high income quickly. Platform rates are low when starting, and building a direct client base takes time. Hand strain is a real risk if you already have wrist or typing-related issues.

Consider whether you can handle inconsistent audio quality. If poor audio, background noise, and unclear speech frustrate you quickly, much of this work will be aggravating.

Real-time captioning is a legitimate career with good income, but requires years of training and significant upfront investment. Treat it as a separate decision from pre-recorded captioning.

If you're looking for straightforward remote work that requires no special equipment to start, pays weekly or monthly, and lets you work independently, pre-recorded captioning fits that profile. The work itself is not exciting, but it's legitimate, accessible, and has consistent demand driven by accessibility laws and content growth.