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12 Online Research Jobs You Can Apply For Today

Two quick questions before you start looking for online research jobs:

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1. What was the first quarter of 2012 revenues for Sturm Ruger?

2. How much did the average U.S. wedding cost in 2019?

If you answered $112 million (surprisingly, NOT the wedding cost) and $33,900, then you may have a bright future as an online researcher.

In this article, learn more about being an online researcher, what it involves, and where you can find online research jobs to apply for.

What Does an Online Researcher Do?

Many publications are moving from print to digital format, placing a significant amount of information online for users to sift through and try to make sense of.

WIkipedia online research

However, despite the rise of powerful search engines such as Google, online information is not always readily accessible.

This is particularly true of technical and scientific data that are often restricted to subscription-based journals and esoteric publications that aren’t listed on page one of Google’s search results.

Likewise, finding correct and relevant information takes time, a luxury that many companies and businesses do not have.

Here are some scenarios that require the job of online researchers:

  • A law firm may wish to provide its readers with an article documenting traffic accident statistics per state but not have the time to research every state.
  • A debt consolidation company may wish to know about the most common sources of unsecured debt so that it can offer services tailored to those debts.

The solution to such dilemmas has been to hire online researchers who are adept at finding information on a wide variety of topics.

To qualify for online research jobs, you need to be highly skilled in using various search engines (that is, not just Google).

Your goal is to find legitimate peer-reviewed scientific research, industry-specific publications, and various other research materials to gather the information you need.

More than finding and accessing information, online researchers must also have:

  • advanced comprehension skills to be able to understand the information gathered,
  • exceptional analytical skills to be able to interpret the information, and
  • strong communication skills to be able to present the information to those who need it.

Internet Research Process

How Much Can You Make as an Online Researcher?

At the start, when you’re probably doing more generic online research, $10 an hour is the usual rate.

The pay in this field varies depending mainly on one’s research skills.

But experience and specialized knowledge can be additional factors.

When you eventually get more experience and gain positive feedback from clients, your pay can increase up to $20 per hour.

If you have a master’s or doctoral degree, and advanced or even expert-level on specific, in-demand subjects such as those in the scientific, legal, or financial fields, you can potentially earn $50 to $80 per hour.

How do you get started as an Online Researcher?

You actually don’t need to be a professional researcher to begin this career. The job doesn’t involve

Here’s the basic process online researchers

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  • Just visit various third-party answer sites. (Don’t worry, I’ll list the legitimate ones below)
  • Perform generic Internet research online on a requested topic.
  • Submit your results.
  • Wait to get paid by the client.

Unfortunately, such work is often low-paid because it is considered unspecialized.

The tasks also usually require a significant amount of time to complete because the subject matter may not be familiar to you and thus involves a steep learning curve.

However, the benefit of such work is that it’s not hard to obtain clients.

12 Places to Find Online Research Jobs

Here are a few sites that offer online research jobs:

1. Wonder

Wonder is a resource site for researchers in need of instant feedback for their studies and it’s easily the most prolific site on this list.

As part of the Wonder team, you’ll receive questions directly from customers and your job will be to find the best available information on the topic.

Jobs typically take around 3 hours to complete, making pay range around $15 to $25 per hour, depending on your speed and expertise.

Wonder prides itself on answering questions within 24 hours.

However, be prepared to work under tight deadlines.

2. Maven

Maven

Maven allows you to advertise your services as a so-called “micro-consultant” in the fields of your choosing.

You will receive contracts to answer questions and provide insights from all over the world and from all walks of life: from college students doing homework to CEOs making high-impact decisions.

Executives from some of the world’s most prestigious companies, like Boeing or Intel, have used this site.

3. JustAnswer

JustAnswer offers subject matter expert positions in the fields of medicine, law, veterinary science, etc.

To become a subject matter expert, you must show proof of a relevant degree (e.g., M.D.) and/or professional experience. Verification will take a few days.

If you’re admitted, you’ll get started by meeting with JustAnswer experts to learn how to navigate the platform.​

4. Experts123

Experts123 is constantly looking for online researchers and article writers who will create content on their site about topics that users want to know more about.

This site operates on a revenue-share platform where page views amount to a specified amount of money; for example, you might earn $1.50 for each PPM (i.e., thousand page views).

Experts123 does offer upfront payments of $10 to $20 per approved article for more seasoned researchers.

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5. PrestoExperts

This company also serves as a platform for those in need of answers to questions in the field of medicine, business, technology, social media, law, and so on.

When invited to join, freelance experts are given a profile where their education, work experience, specialization, and rates are displayed.

Clients could then contact experts directly (via phone, email, or online chat) for a job.

You are in control of your fees, so you may set it by the hour, per project, or so on.

6. Studypool

Studypool invites students around the world to submit questions about every type of subject imaginable so that online researchers (or so-called micro-tutors) can see them, bid on them, and answer them.

You’ll get paid when your answers are accepted.

There are StudyPool volunteers who earn up to $7,500 USD monthly working from home tutoring students.

7. Answeree

Earn rewards by answering questions, which you can exchange for actual dollars.

Earning here takes a bit of time because:

  • 1 answer = 10 points
  • 10 points = 1cent

You can request payment via PayPal or Binance once you reach $2.

You can make additional money by getting more users to like your answer best of all.

8. 10EQS

10EQS prides itself on providing on-demand insights and expertise to leaders and decision-makers in different industries.

To qualify as an Industry Expert, you’ll need to have extensive experience with your particular subject.

In other words, this opportunity isn’t for beginners.

That’s also a huge perk if you’re starting an online research career with decades-long experience in marketing, business, accounting, or any other industry.

It’s a perfect side hustle for retirement.

9. MyLot

myLot is an enormous discussion board, blogging community, questions and answers hub, social network and online hangout that pays you for your valuable time.

On top earning from answering questions, you also get to earn cash when you participate in discussions.

You can make a payout once your wallet reaches $5.

Anyone can join, as long as you’re 18 years and older.

10. Weegy

Anyone can join Weegy, but experts are rated better whenever they contribute excellent answers.

Newbies can keep up by improving their research and written communication skills.

All you need to do is create an account and pass a small True-or-False questionnaire, and you’re good to go.

There also aren’t any limits to the number of questions you want to answer. Just be accurate to earn points, which you can withdraw as PayPal cash once you earn enough to equal $20.

I like the simple interface of Weegy – no busy ads. Just questions and answers directly from the main page.

11. FixYa

With over 19 million products, it’s easy to find information about whatever needs fixing.

If you love DIY-ing and fixing appliance and gadgets in your spare time, you can join over 20 million Fixya users in helping others who need quick answers.

Do note that you aren’t paid for answers initially. But if you level up to “Premium Expert Level,” you can be sent special requests for reviews and be paid between $3 and $5 a pop.

You can even help customers on live sessions, which bags higher rates.

12. HelpOwl

There’s competition involved in HelpOwl, so you have to be at the top of your game.

Whenever someone posts a question, HelpOwl experts can then provide the correct answer. The poster will then decide whose answer is correct.

The one picked to have the right answer gets 100 points, while the first answer accepted gets an extra 1,000 points.

There are deductions too! For example, if you added a misleading answer, your profile gets deducted 10 points.

Save points and exchange them into gift cards (Amazon/Walmart/iCard) once you reach 50,000 points.

BONUS Resource: Online Research Jobs Posted on Job Boards

Sites such as FlexJobs, Indeed, LinkedIn, and other job sites list plenty of online research jobs.

Use keywords such as:

  • “internet research jobs,”
  • “online researcher,”
  • “work at home research jobs,”
  • “web researcher,”
  • “remote research assistant”
  • “virtual researcher”
  • and other similar keywords to find online research jobs.

The benefit of going this route is that these opportunities are usually full-time or part-time work paid on an hourly basis. Instead of just minimal earnings from get-paid-to sites.

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They pay you to use their search engine and the results are provided by Google.

It’s a great way to pull in a little extra cash while researching without changing any of your online habits.

Start Your Own Online Research Business

What if you want to strike out on your own because you don’t want to give up a portion of your earnings to a third party site?

Although it is more challenging, you can start your own Internet research business.

  • Todd Tresidder offers personal finance and investment coaching via his website FinancialMentor.

In both of these cases, Internet researchers who could have continued to sell their services through third-party sites decided to start their own businesses- and reap all the profits (and risks) as a result.

Getting new clients will probably be the trickiest part of starting your own Internet research business.

You will need to create a professional-looking website and business cards.

You will also need to network heavily.

Google Ads and Facebook ads may spark initial interest but in this line of work, a personal approach works best.

Consider joining your local chamber of commerce or civic association and marketing your services to local businesses.

Attend some professional happy hours in your chosen area(s) of expertise. Cold calling may also succeed if you’re comfortable speaking on the phone to business owners who could use your services.

You simply can’t be shy about tooting your own horn in this line of work- and putting an actual face on your business.

If you still find yourself stuck, The Association of Internet Researchers offers plenty of useful advice and networking opportunities for would-be Internet researchers. The AoIR also organizes several yearly conferences that enable you to hone your skills and make vital contacts.

For example, you could benefit by partnering with other AoIR members, gaining their client lists, and expanding your business offerings through them.

An Online Research Job is What You Make of It

You know that saying “you only get out what you put in”? This is certainly true of online research as a career and eventually as a business.

The more expertise and experience you accumulate, the more money you will make as an Internet researcher.

The more you market your services, the more clients you will gain.

If you are satisfied with just making a few bucks by answering Yahoo! Answers questions, then that’s exactly where your online research business will remain even after several years.

On the other hand, if you like helping people and are willing to learn, grow, and sometimes even take a few hits to your self-esteem, then this line of work could eventually become your calling.

You may also want to consider looking into getting paid to answer questions online. It’s a very similar field, but with more opportunities and higher pay rates. Although, you do need a little more specialized knowledge to get the big bucks.

On the other hand, if you have a legal background and like hands-on, up-close-and-personal research, being a court researcher may be more up your alley.

20 thoughts on “12 Online Research Jobs You Can Apply For Today”

  1. thank you.
    Im from fiji and a stay at home .
    This has been very helpful for someone like me .
    vinaka (means thank u in fijian)

    Reply
  2. I applied to Wonder three times and never got hired. This company asked you to answer a “rabbit hole” question! I researched, and researched, and got reliable sources. It took a very long time (about 24 hours spread over weeks) to find an answer-and it couldn’t be accurate because the answer probably changed every day-or at least every week! I hope the other companies you have posted are not like this. Because I love to research and it would be my dream job to get paid to do so. I suspect that Wonder used my well-researched answer. So, needless to say, I will not apply with them again.

    Reply
    • Don’t work for them. I worked for them six months and then they basically have stupid reasons to not pay me after spending five hours in almost every job I had and they only pay $16 per job. They’re supposed to give you ones abusing to your expertise and I never got that and so I’m trying my hardest to answer the question with their exact format (which is a nightmare) and something would be incorrect and then I wouldn’t get paid anything at all sometimes. When I first started, it wasn’t bad, but it was always stressful.

  3. This is the way that so many people are going in this day and time and that is getting involved in the online world. This is the first time that I have heard about research jobs but it seems to be a field that is worth the investment. I am sure that your readers will love what you are sharing.

    Reply
  4. Hey Steve,

    I’ve been in Yahoo Answers for quite some time now since i first have my yahoo email during those yahoo messenger times and I didn’t even know that you could earn from there, wow! How do you earn from the page views though, do you mean the pageviews from the thread you create everytime we post a question?

    Reply
  5. This sounds like it could be a lucrative opportunity for the right people. I suppose the great thing about this sort of job is the fact it can be done globally. For many of us, this is the ideal solution to freeing up our precious time. If this paid slightly more than what you suggest here, I’d image many more people would take up researching jobs. Having said that, it could be the perfect balance for someone that loves researching. By the way Steve, who’d have thought there would be an Association of Internet Researchers!

    Reply
  6. This is actually the first time I’ve of an online research job, and honestly is sounds very boring lol.

    I mean I get that companies will need people like this to help consolidate information for them — but personally I think I would fall asleep if I had to do this to make money.

    Have you ever done this kind of work yourself? And if so how did it go?

    Reply
  7. Hi Steve!

    Great article! The tips are valuable! Great information about making money online!

    The right info at the right time can help a lot. Sometimes it is essential for having success, especially in a such a rapidly changing environment as the internet.

    Knowing what is working and what not, finding the right program, becoming an affiliate with the right product to service, all this can help to gain success! There are literally thousands, millions of jobs available online today! Choosing the right now is not easy!

    You will definitely help anyone to take the proper decision and to choose the right program, product or service!

    Thanks for sharing such valuable info!

    Best regards!

    Reply
  8. Hey Steve, nice post. I have to hand it to you, your post really does give people an opportunity to look into other avenues that will make them money.
    An online researcher isn’t a bad idea and here’s something I didn’t know, there were more companies hiring online researchers than I previously though.
    Are you an online researcher and if so, how long have you been doing it? I can tell you this, I think I might’ve found another monetary source of income. Thanks buddy.

    Reply
  9. Thanks Halina. First of all this is just great article. I just landed on this it and I am seriously thinking about to be internet researcher. I also have database querying skills. I can also read research paper along with blogs to read bloggers’ mind to produce some results. I want to start it today, any advice what would be the first step.

    Reply
  10. great article. i’ve been seriously considering beginning a internet researching service since i do a lot of surfing the internet just as a hobby because i love to learn new stuff, and i also had a job for several years that required me to perform research constantly. only difference was that it was a huge organization that had access to all the information free-of-charge to me. so i have determine which one-stop-shop subcription service to begin with that isn’t too pricey. thanks very much for this article

    Reply
  11. This is a great guide to making money as an online internet researcher. I have never really thought of this kind of work, but I am glad to be informed on it. If I can get big enough, I will definitely look into getting an internet researcher who can prove beneficial to my cause.

    This post shows just how to start a career or even a freelance business as an internet researcher. Great work.

    Reply
  12. Is the internet research just to make online surveys and sell data to journals or corporates, or there another meaning is to search for information on the web and sell these information to a client who needs it? What is the name of this kind of work?

    Reply
    • Yes and no. It could simply be online surveys or literature review for a research problem. Can be simple or complex, basic as well as detailed.

  13. Imshopping does not offer any money for answering q’s. I was just on the site for half an hour and did not see anything claiming that.

    Reply
  14. Very well explained article. This was very helpful for me while I was writing job description for a researcher in my company. Thanks Regina

    Reply
  15. Love the article — just what I was looking for. Other articles I’ve read on becoming an internet researcher make it appear too simple or a get rich opportunity, however, your article gives me food for thought. Mentioning the use of subscription based websites and journals is lacking in a lot of the articles I have read on the subject. Thanks for your Insight – Regina

    Reply

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