Amazon MTurk is an easy and flexible way to earn some side income from home without having any expertise or training. Learn about the program and its earning capacity with this Amazon MTurk review.
Whether you work from home full-time or are just getting started with remote work, you may need to supplement your income with some extra cash.
Amazon Mechanical Turkor MTurk for short, is an online service that Amazon launched in 2005 to complete small tasks known as HIT (Human Intelligence Tasks).
These tasks don’t require any special skills, but they’re things that computers just can’t do as well as humans. Some of the types of tasks you can find on the Amazon MTurk platform include data entry, surveying, transcription, and image labeling.
Amazon MTurk provides an opportunity for people earn extra money by performing simple tasks from the comfort of your home. While you probably won’t get rich doing these online tasks, it’s a viable way to supplement your income, make ends meet (or save for a vacation), and work when it’s convenient for you.
Here’s everything you need to know to determine if this is a good job opportunity for you.
Advantages and disadvantages of Amazon MTurk
This platform is worth exploring if you are looking for a convenient way to make money in your spare time.
What is Amazon Mechanical Turk
Amazon Mechanical Turk or MTurk is a crowdsourced platform that has been around since 2005. Its primary purpose is to connect individual workers with requesters (people or companies in need of help) to complete Human Intelligence Tasks (HIT)., or quick gigs that can’t be done with computers.
The name Mechanical Turk comes from a chess-playing automaton built in the 18th century by a Hungarian nobleman (Wolfgang von Kempelen) that beat almost every opponent. MTurk refers to the mixture of human and artificial intelligence on the platform.
How does MTurk work?
Workers (anyone completing microtasks) create a profile to browse and complete tasks submitted by applicants.
Advantages and disadvantages of MTurk
Here are some pros and cons of working on MTurk.
For:
- Flexible working hours – You can work at your own discretion and fit tasks into your schedule as you wish.
- Various tasks – There is a wide variety of concerts available, so you won’t be bored.
disadvantages:
- Low salary – Many tasks can be underpaid, resulting in them earning less than minimum wage. The average hourly rate is usually between $8-12 per hour, especially for new workers, but this rate can increase with experience.
- Income Inconsistency – The number and quality of tasks can fluctuate, leading to inconsistent earnings.
- Limited Tasks – High competition for jobs can result in fewer opportunities for new or less experienced workers.
- HIT tasks are subject to approval – Applicants must approve or reject completed HIT tasks and have 30 days to do so.
Getting started with MTurk
Each online earning platform has its own nuances. Here are some useful things to get you started with Amazon MTurk.
Create an account
To start earning, start by creating an MTurk Worker account. If you already have an Amazon account, you can use it to sign up for MTurk. The procedure is simple and straightforward.
Follow the instructions and enter the information requested from independent contractors (basic personal information, your country of residence and social security number) on the page. This process will guide you through setting up your Amazon payment account to receive your earnings.
Next, you must agree to Amazon Mechanical Turk Participation Agreement. Once you do this, it usually takes about three business days to get back to you to be approved for the program.
Understanding HIT
Once your Worker account is set up, you can browse available Human Intelligence Tasks (HITs). HITs are tasks given by applicants and range from simple to more complex tasks.
Here are some examples of what you might find:
How to qualify for assignments
Some tasks require meeting specific qualifications set by the applicant. These qualifications ensure that workers have the necessary skills, experience, or demographics required for a given task.
Make money on MTurk
Can you make money with MTurk? If you are looking for a simple side hustle that does not require special skills, MTurk may suit your needs.
Available task types
On Amazon MTurk, you’ll find a variety of tasks, from simple ones like data entry, surveys, and image tagging, to more complex tasks like transcribing and moderating content.
Since you have the flexibility to choose tasks, you can choose the ones that best suit your time and talents.
Payment rates
Pay rates for tasks on MTurk can vary widely, with some jobs offering just a few cents and others paying a few dollars. As a beginner in this crowdsourcing market, you will notice that many HITs pay less than minimum wage, but as you gain experience and achieve a high HIT rating, you can be more selective in choosing tasks to increase your compensation.
one user of the platform, Michael Naabwas able to earn an average of $200 per week using Amazon MTurk. If you’re wondering how he does it, he shares some tips in his ebook, Side hustle from home: How to Make Money Online with Amazon Mechanical Turk.
I see the Amazon MTurk online marketplace as a viable source of simplicity supplementary incomebut it wouldn’t earn enough to replace full-time employment.
Maximizing earnings
Here are some tips that can help you get the most out of your time on the platform:
- Be selective – Focus on tasks that pay well and fall within your expertise or skills. You will be able to complete them more efficiently and earn more time.
- Use scripts and extensions – There are various browser extensions and scripts such as Turkopticonwhich can help improve your MTurk experience by providing better task filtering and automating some actions.
- Join communities online – I have found valuable information and support from MTurk forums and discussion communities where experienced workers share tips and insights on maximizing earnings.
- Build your skills – As you complete more HITs, you can add more complex skills to your skill set to increase your ability to qualify for higher earning tasks.
The MTurk community
Want to earn more through MTurk? Online communities and forums offer a treasure trove of information!
Forums and support
Various MTurk forums and online communities are available for workers to discuss their experiences and share valuable information. One popular forum is r/mturk on Reddit for discussions on tips and tricks for efficiency, task availability, and how to solve occasional problems (eg handling rejections).
External tools and scripts
One popular tool that I find very useful is MTurk Suite. The suite offers several features such as HIT Finder, HIT Tracker and HIT Catcher. These tools help us track tasks, track earnings, and capture high-paying HITs as they become available.
Additionally, various user-generated scripts can enhance the MTurk experience by automating or streamlining various aspects of the platform. For example, you can use scripts to help you filter out low-paying tasks or notify you when specific applicants post a new HIT.
Payments and Rewards
Payment methods
Workers in the United States can withdraw their earnings directly into a bank account or earn Amazon gift card. Workers in India can transfer earnings to an Indian bank account. The availability of these payment methods may vary depending on the user’s location.
Bonuses and incentives
Requesters occasionally provide a bonus for tasks that exceed their expectations or for completing a certain number of tasks in a given period. These additional rewards can increase your total earnings.
Receipt of earnings
There is usually a waiting period before payment is approved for these tasks. This waiting time can vary, but once the funds are approved, they will be added to your MTurk account balance. You can then transfer the money to the payment method of your choice.
Note: New workers have a probationary period of 10 days, during which they must complete the tasks and cannot apply for withdrawal of earnings.
Is Amazon MTurk a Scam?
Amazon MTurk is a legitimate online opportunity; however, some gigs pay pennies per task, which is one of the reasons many people rate Amazon MTurk poorly.
Here is a sampling of reviews from other sites:
Reviews on Reddit are mixed. Some users on Reddit they state that they are able to bring in an additional $100 to $300 per week.
Since gigs can be sporadic and low-paying on Amazon MTurk, you’ll probably want to sign up with a few short-assignment or on-demand companies.
Here are some alternatives to Amazon MTurk:
Amazon MTurk Final Review
Although Amazon MTurk isn’t one of the highest paying gigs, it offers a decent path make some extra money in your spare time. With different payment methods, potential bonuses and relatively easy access to earnings, it can be a useful platform for those who want to monetize their skills and available time.
Originally published January 22, 2024. Content updated January 2025.
