internet research

How to Make Money Online Doing Research

by

This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Many readers over the years have asked me about ways to make money online doing research.

There's no question that being good at online research is a profitable skill, so if you're someone who is a master of Google, or the person everyone else goes to when they need specific info because you can find it faster than anyone else, then you'll want to read this post.

Below you'll see some companies that pay you just for doing research, and a list of work at home industries where these skills are important to have.

Real quick — if you want to stay in the loop on new remote jobs and work-at-home opportunities, my free email newsletter is the easiest way to do that. Sign up here and I'll bring the leads to you.

More of a do-it-yourself researcher? Check out my e-books for solid work-at-home information you can come back to again and again!

Can You Get Paid To Do Online Research Without Experience?

Yes, in many cases you absolutely can. While some online research jobs prefer people with industry expertise or degrees, many companies care more about your ability to find accurate information quickly, follow instructions carefully, and communicate clearly.

If you're naturally curious, organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable using Google and online tools, you already have a strong foundation for this type of work!

For beginners, some of the easiest entry points into online research work include:

Keep in mind that most people don't replace a full-time income overnight with research work. In many cases, it starts as supplemental income that grows over time as you gain experience and find better-paying opportunities.

That said, it definitely can turn into something bigger over time.

Companies That Are Regularly Looking For Online Researchers

1 – 10EQS – This company connects independent consultants and subject matter experts with paid consulting and project management opportunities across a wide range of industries. The work is more expert consulting than traditional research, but if you have a strong business background and industry knowledge, it may be worth looking into. They prefer people with business degrees or relevant professional experience.

2 – RWS – RWS is a global intellectual property research company that accepts researchers from a wide range of backgrounds and locations. The work involves competitive research projects where you submit findings and get paid based on the quality and relevance of your results. Experienced researchers who build a strong track record can earn a “Study Expert” designation, which opens the door to invitation-only projects with fixed fees or hourly pay arrangements.

Please note that as of late 2025, a number of researchers have reported payment delays with RWS, with some waiting weeks or months to receive payment for completed work. RWS is a legitimate and established company, but you should read current reviews on Trustpilot and other job review sites before committing significant time to their projects. It appears that experiences seem to vary a lot from person to person.

3 – 60 Decibels – Remote Research Assistant. This is a global opportunity. 60 Decibels has a network of over 1,600 research assistants across 80 or more countries, and they hire on a rolling basis worldwide. The role involves conducting phone surveys with customers or beneficiaries of client products and entering responses into a remote platform. Contracts are project-based and flexible, with pay based on hours worked or interviews completed. Prior experience in data collection, research, or call center work is preferred but not always required. To apply, look for the application form link on their job listing page.

4 – Outlier AI – Outlier is a platform operated by Scale AI that connects subject matter experts with AI companies looking to improve their language models. The work involves tasks like writing and evaluating prompts, rating AI-generated responses, fact-checking information, and providing expert feedback in your field.

This type of work is often referred to as AI training or AI data annotation because you're helping improve artificial intelligence systems by reviewing, labeling, correcting, and evaluating information. Projects vary by subject area, and task availability can fluctuate, so it works best as supplemental income rather than something to rely on full-time right away.

Outlier is open to many countries worldwide, and pay can range anywhere from around $15 to $100+ hourly depending on the project and your expertise level.

Honestly, this is one of the more talked-about options right now for people wanting flexible online research-style work.

5 – BOLD – BOLD is the company that owns FlexJobs, and they occasionally hire part-time freelance researchers to source and verify remote job listings for publication on their platforms. If you enjoy hunting down legitimate work at home opportunities and vetting companies, this is about as on-the-nose as a research job gets for the audience of this post. Don't get discouraged if you don't see this role posted now, it comes and goes.

Work at Home Industries Where Online Research is a Big Part of What You Do

Not all online research work involves being hired specifically as a “researcher.” In many remote industries, strong research skills are a huge advantage and can make you much better at the work.

1 – Freelance Writing – For most freelance writers, research is half the job! If you're a good researcher and you are also a good writer, then this is an industry you might want to look into.

A few well-known companies that are always looking for freelance writers:

2 – Transcription – Because transcription is technically listening to audio files and typing out what you hear, it doesn't seem as though online research would factor in, but it definitely does.

Transcribers often have to listen to audio where people are discussing subjects they know nothing about, and looking things up is key in order to ensure everything is typed out correctly.

If you're good at online research and you're also a fast typist with a good ear, then transcription might be something to think about.

Here are some well-known companies that regularly hire transcribers:

3 – Search Engine Evaluators – People who do search engine evaluation need to be very comfortable using Google and also very internet savvy in general. Being a good online researcher lends itself well to this type of work.

These companies hire search engine evaluators on a regular basis:

If you specifically want non-phone work, search engine evaluation, AI training, AI data annotation, freelance writing, and many online research projects are good options because they usually involve little or no customer interaction.

4 – Online “Experts” – There are many sites that pay people who are experts in specific industries to answer questions for people who need answers. Though you might be an expert on a topic, you may still need to do some research to answer certain questions well.

Keep in mind that many of these sites let you work when you want, but they are also often just good for a little extra money here and there.

Some companies in this space worth checking out:

5 – Paid Research Studies – Another option that fits well for people with strong research and communication skills is participating in paid research studies and user interviews. These opportunities usually involve giving feedback about products, apps, websites, or services.

While this is a little different from being hired as a researcher, it can still be a legitimate way to earn extra money online by sharing your opinions and experiences.

A few popular platforms include:

Remote Research Assistant Jobs

Another area to think about is remote research assistant work. These jobs are often tied to universities, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, market research firms, or private businesses that need ongoing help gathering and organizing information.

Typical tasks can include finding and verifying online information, compiling spreadsheets and databases, conducting competitor research, summarizing reports, and tracking trends or statistics.

Good places to search for these opportunities include Indeed, FlexJobs, LinkedIn, Upwork, and university job boards. Search terms like “remote research assistant,” “internet researcher,” and “online research analyst” can help narrow down relevant openings.

6 – Court Research – There are several legitimate companies that pay researchers to go out and visit courthouses in or near their local areas and hunt down documents for research purposes.

This work is technically not all done from home and much of it may not be conducted online, but it can be a very flexible way to work independently and earn money.

How to Find More Companies Looking For Online Researchers

There are many companies that don't have an ongoing need for online researchers, but do occasionally have these types of openings. If you want to search for these jobs on your own so you don't miss them when they go live, I recommend doing so via Indeed and also FlexJobs.

Another option is Upwork, a popular platform for freelancers where companies post many types of jobs and projects.

Other freelance marketplaces that sometimes feature research-related projects include Fiverr, Contra, Freelancer, and PeoplePerHour. You could maybe find some quick one-off projects there just so you can build experience.

On Indeed, just make sure you put “research” or “researchers” in the search form, using the word remote for your location to find the home-based jobs.

FlexJobs has an entire section for research jobs, all from guaranteed legit companies. There is a $2.95 fee to access the listings for a few weeks, but I have found that to be worth it considering no scams are guaranteed to be posted there, and many reputable companies choose to list their leads exclusively with FlexJobs.

What To Know Before You Start

While online research work can absolutely be legitimate and flexible, it's important to go in with realistic expectations.

One thing many beginners don't realize is that workloads can fluctuate a lot. Some weeks you may have plenty of projects available, while other times work can slow down unexpectedly. This is especially common with AI training and AI data annotation platforms where projects come and go depending on client demand.

It's also important to remember that many online research jobs are independent contractor positions rather than traditional employment. That means you may be responsible for tracking your own taxes and managing inconsistent income.

Another thing to be aware of is that some companies require unpaid assessments or qualification exams before allowing you to access paid work. This is very common with search engine evaluation and AI training companies.

Finally, be careful about scams! Legitimate research companies will not ask you to pay upfront fees for access to work, send checks for you to deposit, or conduct interviews entirely through Telegram or WhatsApp.

Just know that if something feels off, you should trust your instincts!

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Research Jobs

Are online research jobs legit?

Yes, many online research jobs are completely legitimate. Companies regularly hire remote workers to help with internet research, AI training, market research, data collection, and search engine evaluation. That said, scams are also common in the work at home space, so it's important to research companies carefully before applying.

Can beginners do online research jobs?

Absolutely. Many beginner-friendly research jobs focus more on attention to detail, internet skills, and the ability to follow directions than formal education or prior experience.

How much do online researchers make?

Pay varies widely depending on the type of work. Some beginner research gigs may only pay a few dollars per hour, while specialized research, AI training, consulting, and expert-based work can pay $25 to $100+ hourly.

What is AI data annotation?

AI data annotation involves helping train artificial intelligence systems by labeling, evaluating, correcting, or rating information. Companies may hire remote workers to review AI-generated responses, compare search results, fact-check information, or help improve large language models.

Are online research jobs usually full-time?

Sometimes, but many are project-based or part-time. A lot of people use online research work as supplemental income alongside other freelance or remote jobs.

Looking For More?

If so, FlexJobs is a good way to find them if you create an account and do a search. Their job board isn't free, but I've been a member and found it to be really useful for me because all the job leads fit the following criteria:

  • All jobs are either remote or flexible in nature
  • Scam-free (all jobs vetted by humans before posting)
  • No ads or junk on their site, so you can browse distraction-free
  • Hundreds of jobs posted every day across tons of categories
  • Respected, long-standing, and truly useful

They let you try them out for 14 days for $2.95. So there is not much risk if you just want to create an account and see if you find anything you may want to apply for.

Go here to check them out.

Good luck!