No Skills, No Problem? How Amazon MTurk Lets You Earn Anyway

Is it possible to make money without any skills? Many people wonder about this, and the answer depends on what you mean by “without skills.” If you’re hoping to earn money effortlessly, just sitting back and watching the cash flow in, that’s a myth. Even asking for money requires persuasion skills!

However, if you mean making money with minimal skills, then YES, it is possible. One of the most popular and legitimate online earning platforms is Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), a crowdsourcing platform that pays users to complete simple tasks that don’t require advanced technical expertise.

How Much Can You Earn?

According to a study from arXiv.org, the average MTurk worker makes around $2 per hour, with only 4% earning more than $7.25 per hour (the U.S. federal minimum wage). A report from The Hustle also found that while experienced workers can make more, most users earn at the lower end of the spectrum.

That said, earnings can vary. Some users report making between $1-$6 per hour, depending on the number and type of tasks they complete. A few dedicated workers claim to earn thousands of dollars per month, but this typically requires high activity levels and strategic task selection.

So, is MTurk worth trying? If you’re curious about how to maximize your earnings on this platform, keep reading!

What is Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk)?

Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing platform by Amazon that allows individuals and businesses to outsource small tasks to freelancers worldwide. These tasks, known as Human Intelligence Tasks (HITs), require basic cognitive skills that are difficult for computers to automate.

Why Choose Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk)?

Aside from requiring no special skills, there are several reasons to consider working on MTurk:

1. Flexibility: Work anytime, anywhere, with no fixed schedule or commitments.
2. Easy to Start: Simply sign up, choose tasks, and start working—no extensive training required.
3. Variety of Tasks: Options range from surveys and image categorization to short transcriptions.
4. No Upfront Investment: It’s free to join and start making money with no initial costs.
5. Part of Amazon’s Ecosystem: Reliable payment system through Amazon Payments or direct bank transfers (depending on location).

However, it’s important to note that earnings are generally low, and you’ll need a strategy to find the best-paying tasks.

How to Sign Up for Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk)

Signing up for Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is straightforward. Here’s how:

1. Visit the MTurk Website: Go to https://www.mturk.com/ and click “Get Started with Amazon Mechanical Turk”. Under the “Make Money” section, select “Request a Worker account.”
2. Create or Log in to Your Amazon Account: If you already have an Amazon account, enter your email/phone number and password to log in. If not, click “Create your Amazon account” and complete the registration process.
3. Fill Out the MTurk Registration Form: After logging in, complete the Worker Registration form with accurate information. Once finished, click “Agree and Create Account.”
4. Wait for Verification: After signing up, you will see the message: “We are reviewing your request to join Amazon Mechanical Turk. We will email you when we have completed our review or when your invitation is available.” This means you need to wait for your account to be approved. If accepted, you’ll receive a confirmation email from MTurk.

Note: The verification process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Not all applicants are accepted, as approvals depend on Amazon’s policies and your location.

Signing up is easy, but waiting for approval can feel like applying for a job!

Selecting Tasks on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk)

Once your account is verified, visit MTurk Worker and choose from the available tasks.

1. Look for high-paying tasks that match your skills.
2. Click on an interesting task, such as: “Find Websites of IAC-Accredited Echocardiography Healthcare Providers and Collect Information.”
3. If you see “Qualifications Required” it means there are specific requirements you must meet to complete the task.

If you encounter messages like these:

1. “Advanced Research Master has been granted: None“: This task requires a special qualification, and you do not have it.
2. “Request Qualification“: Some tasks require additional qualifications. You can click “Request Qualification,” but approval is not guaranteed.
3. “Location is one of: AS, CA, PR, UM, US“: The task is only available to workers in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, or certain regions. If you are outside these locations, you cannot complete it.
4. “ID Requirement not met“: Additional requirements may be needed, such as identity verification or a work history on MTurk.

Solutions:

• Look for other tasks that do not require additional qualifications or specific locations.
• Try “Request Qualification” if this option is available.
• Ensure your MTurk profile is complete, including identity verification and payment information.

Additional Information About Tasks on MTurk

1. Requester: The name or identity of the individual or company offering the task. Example: Crowd MT is the requester in this case.
2. Title: A brief description of the task to be completed. Example: “Find Websites of IAC-Accredited Echocardiography Healthcare Providers and Collect Information” means the task involves searching for and gathering information from accredited healthcare provider websites.
3. HITs (Human Intelligence Tasks): The number of available task units. Example: If the number is 8,129, that means there are 8,129 tasks available to work on.
4. Reward: The amount you will earn after completing a task. Example: If the reward is $0.15, each completed task will pay 15 cents.
5. Created: The time since the task was posted on the platform. Example: If it says “3d ago”, it means the task has been available for three days.
6. Actions: This column has two main options:
   • Preview: View task details before deciding whether to accept it.
   • Qualify: Check if you meet the requirements or request qualification if needed.

If you see a lock icon next to “Qualify,” it means you do not meet the requirements to work on the task. Possible reasons include:

1. The Task Requires Specific Qualifications

Some tasks are only available to workers with certain qualifications (e.g., “Advanced Research Master” or a specific experience level on MTurk). If you see the “Request Qualification” option, you can apply, but approval is not guaranteed.

2. The Task Is Restricted to Certain Locations

Some tasks are only available to workers in specific countries (e.g., the U.S., Canada, or the U.K.). If you are outside the permitted locations, you will not be able to complete the task.

3. Identity Verification Requirements

Some tasks may require workers to have a verified account or a certain work history on MTurk.

Solutions:

• Click “Qualify” to check the qualification requirements.
• Look for other tasks that do not have a lock icon.
• If available, select “Request Qualification” and submit a request.

If there is no option to request qualification, the task is only available to workers who already meet the requirements, and you will not be able to access it at this time.

Tips to Maximize Your Earnings on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk)

After successfully signing up and understanding how MTurk works, the next step is to maximize your earnings. Without the right strategy, you may end up wasting time on low-paying tasks.

Here are some tips to increase your income on MTurk:

1. Choose High-Paying HITs

Not all HITs pay well. To get the best results:

• Select tasks with a higher pay-to-time ratio: For example, a task that pays $0.50 for 2 minutes of work is better than one that pays $0.10 for 5 minutes.
• Use the HIT filters: Sort tasks by payment and check the “Hourly Wage” estimate.
• Avoid tasks that are hard to validate: Tasks that require frequent revisions can be time-consuming.

2. Use Productivity Tools & Extensions

Several browser extensions can help you work faster and more efficiently:

• MTurk Suite (MTS): Helps find the best-paying tasks.
• Turkopticon: Displays requester ratings from other workers so you can avoid scams or poorly rated tasks.
• HIT Forker & PandaCrazy: Automates finding and accepting the best HITs.

3. Obtain Additional Qualifications

Many high-paying tasks require special qualifications. Here’s how to get them:

• Click “Request Qualification” on HITs that require them.
• Take qualification tests provided by some requesters.
• Complete initial tasks carefully—workers with higher ratings are more likely to get access to exclusive HITs.

4. Work Quickly & Efficiently

• Focus on quick and accurate tasks, surveys, short transcription jobs, and content moderation often pay well.
• Use multi-tab techniques: Open multiple HITs in different tabs to reduce loading time.
• Avoid overly complicated instructions, tasks with unclear guidelines can waste time without fair compensation.

5. Join the MTurk Community

Many workers share information about the best tasks in online communities:

• Reddit r/mturk: A place to share experiences and the latest strategies.
• MTurk Crowd & MTurk Forum: Dedicated discussion groups for MTurk workers.

6. Stay Consistent & Patient

• Work daily, the more active you are, the more likely you’ll gain access to exclusive HITs.
• Don’t rely on just one type of task, experiment with different categories to find the most profitable ones.
• Patience is key, earnings may start small, but with the right strategy, they can grow over time.

Payment System on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk)

Once a HIT (Human Intelligence Task) you’ve completed is approved by the requester, your earnings will appear on your MTurk Dashboard and Earnings page. Payments are made in U.S. Dollars ($) or Amazon.com Gift Cards, depending on your chosen payment method.

Initial Holding Period for New Workers

If you’re new to MTurk, there is a 10-day holding period before you can withdraw your earnings. This period starts from the date you submit your first HIT. After this waiting period, you can withdraw your earnings once per calendar day to your selected payment method.

Payment Methods

1. For Workers in the U.S.: You can transfer earnings directly to a U.S. bank account or opt for an com Gift Card.
2. For International Workers (Outside the U.S.): Earnings are typically paid via Amazon.com Gift Card. Some international workers may qualify to transfer earnings to a U.S. bank account using third-party services like Hyperwallet. If you have a S. bank account, you may use other services to convert and transfer funds to your local currency.

Withdrawal Schedule & Processing

You can set up an automatic transfer schedule to withdraw your earnings. Options include every 3, 7, 14, or 30 days.

Key withdrawal rules:

• You can only withdraw earnings once per day.
• Withdrawable balance includes HIT earnings approved at least 1 day before the transfer request.

Confirming & Changing Your Payment Method

For first-time withdrawals to a bank account, you need to verify your account information on the Earnings Page (worker.mturk.com/earnings). If you want to change your payment method (e.g., switching from bank transfer to an Amazon Gift Card), the change will apply to your next transfer.

Bonuses from Requesters

Some requesters may offer bonus payments as a reward for high-quality work. Bonuses are optional and depend entirely on the requester’s discretion.

Disadvantages of MTurk

1. Relatively Low Pay: The average worker earns around $2 per hour, which is significantly below the U.S. minimum wage. Only about 4% of workers make more than $7.25 per hour. Some HITs pay extremely low rates compared to the time required, with hourly rates sometimes falling below $2 per hour.
2. High Competition: High-paying HITs get claimed quickly due to a large global workforce. You need a strategy to find the best-paying tasks.
3. Many HITs Require Qualifications: Some HITs are only available to workers with specific qualifications. Requesters do not always approve qualification requests.
4. Limited Payment Options for International Workers: Many workers outside the U.S. cannot withdraw earnings to a local bank account. The only available option for many international workers is com Gift Cards, which may not be cashable in some countries. Some international workers may be eligible to withdraw funds to a U.S. bank account via third-party services like Hyperwallet, but this is not available in all countries.
5. Long Verification Process & Not All Applicants Get Accepted: Signing up can take several days to weeks, and not everyone is accepted. New workers must wait 10 days before they can withdraw their first earnings.
6. Unfair Requesters & Lack of Worker Protections: Requesters can reject submitted work without a clear reason. There is no effective appeal process for workers to dispute unfair rejections. High rejection rates can lead to account restrictions or loss of access to certain HITs.

Alternatives to MTurk

If you’re looking for other ways to earn money through microtasks or online work, here are some alternatives:

1. Prolific: Higher pay than MTurk, mostly academic surveys, payments via PayPal. However, tasks are not always available, and access is limited to certain countries.
2. Clickworker: Offers various tasks like writing, editing, data categorization, and web research. The downside is inconsistent work availability and high competition.
3. Appen: Provides long-term projects with higher pay, often related to AI and linguistic work. However, it has strict selection processes and may require language or technical skills.
4. Lionbridge AI (now TELUS International AI): Focuses on AI-related tasks such as data annotation and image labeling. Pays better than MTurk, but you must pass a qualification process, and work is not always available.
5. UHRS (Universal Human Relevance System): Integrated with platforms like Clickworker and Toloka, offering better pay for certain tasks. However, you must sign up through an official partner, and some tasks require special training.
6. Toloka (Yandex Toloka): Available in many countries with simple tasks like image classification, surveys, and object recognition. Pay is relatively low, but you can improve earnings with the right strategy.

If MTurk isn’t the best fit for you, these platforms could be viable alternatives, each with its own pros and cons. Which one interests you?

Conclusion

MTurk can be a good way to earn extra income, but it’s not realistic as a full-time job unless you’re highly experienced and know how to optimize your workflow. Compared to alternatives like Prolific or Clickworker, MTurk tends to be more competitive and lower-paying.

If you plan to try it, be strategic, don’t waste time on tasks that aren’t worth the effort.

Have you tried MTurk before? Was it worth it, or just a waste of time?