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If you’re looking for a simple way to start earning money from home, microtask platforms are one of the easiest entry points. These sites pay you for completing short, repetitive online tasks, and the best part is that you don’t need any experience or technical skills to begin.
Amazon Mechanical Turk—commonly known as Amazon MTurk—is one of the most popular microtask platforms on the internet. It pays people to complete tasks that can’t be automated or handled by AI yet, and it’s fully owned and operated by Amazon.
But is Amazon MTurk actually legit? How much do workers typically earn? In this detailed MTurk review, we’ll break down how the platform works, what kind of income you can realistically expect, and what other workers have experienced—so you can decide if it’s the right side hustle for you.
What Is Amazon MTurk?
Amazon Mechanical Turk is a global online marketplace where people can complete small digital tasks to earn extra cash.
Registration is free, and the platform is backed by Amazon.
For businesses, MTurk offers an affordable way to access human workers for tasks that still require real human judgment. For individuals, it’s one of the simplest online side hustles available—and one of the fastest ways to earn money with Amazon.
The marketplace connects businesses with workers who want to earn money by completing microtasks such as data entry, image labeling, transcription, and more. If you’ve ever worked on sites like Appen or Clickworker, many MTurk tasks will feel familiar.
Is Amazon MTurk Legit?
Yes—Amazon MTurk is legitimate. The platform has hundreds of thousands of global workers and plenty of documented payment proof.
However, many negative reviews point out the very low hourly pay. It’s true—most tasks only pay a few cents to a couple of dollars, so most workers earn just a few dollars per hour.
Think of MTurk as a part-time side hustle, not a full-time income source.
How Does Amazon MTurk Work?
I signed up for Amazon MTurk myself and also gathered feedback from friends and experienced workers to better understand the process. Earning money mainly involves three simple steps:
- Sign Up
Registering for Amazon MTurk is quick, especially if you already have an Amazon account.
.Free to join
.Available in 40+ countries
.Approval may take up to 48 hours
You’ll receive an email once approved, and then you can start browsing available tasks on the dashboard. You must be at least 18 years old to work on MTurk.
- Complete HITs
Tasks on MTurk are called HITs—Human Intelligence Tasks. These are small jobs that require human judgment rather than automation.
You can browse available HITs from your dashboard and accept any that interest you. Many take less than a minute, while others can take several minutes and pay slightly more.
Common MTurk HITs include:
.Identifying objects in images or videos
.Transcribing short audio clips
.Cleaning up datasets
.Finding duplicate information
.Completing paid surveys
.Rating content
.Writing descriptions for images
.Simple typing tasks
.Performing quick research
.Website evaluation tasks
Once you submit a HIT, the requester reviews your work to ensure it meets their instructions. Your approval rate is extremely important—higher approval unlocks higher-paying tasks.
- Get Paid
When your work is approved, the money appears in your MTurk earnings dashboard.
Withdrawal options:
.U.S. workers: Bank deposit or Amazon gift card
.International workers: Amazon gift card (some may qualify for bank transfers)
Amazon pays daily, making MTurk a quick-paying side hustle. However, new users may have their earnings held for up to 10 days after completing their first HIT.
How Much Does Amazon MTurk Pay?
Most HITs pay pennies, and high-paying tasks are locked behind a large number of completed HITs.
On average, workers earn $1–$10 per day.
A Cornell University study found:
.Average MTurk worker earns $2 per hour
.Only 4% earn over U.S. minimum wage
Experienced workers who access high-paying HITs earn more, but overall, MTurk’s income potential is very low. Treat it as a small side income—not a real job.
Tips to Earn More on Amazon MTurk
If you want to maximize your earnings, these tips help significantly:
.Avoid low-paying penny HITs
.Always follow instructions carefully
.Use MTurk browser extensions to auto-capture high-paying HITs
.Join CloudResearch for better-paying tasks
.Keep your approval rate high
The last tip is key: MTurk tasks disappear quickly, and extensions give workers a huge advantage.
Is Amazon MTurk a Scam?
No. MTurk is not a scam—it pays workers and is owned by Amazon.
However, many people feel the platform exploits cheap labor, and the work itself is repetitive and boring. After trying the platform myself, I can confirm most HITs involve mindless clicking or simple data entry.
But MTurk does pay, and it’s a legitimate way to make small amounts of money online.
Pros and Cons
Pros
.Most HITs require no skills
.Available in 40+ countries
.Good for quick, flexible income
.Beginner-friendly
.No withdrawal minimum
.Pays daily
.Cash or Amazon gift cards
Cons
.Approval can take 24–48 hours
.First earnings are held for 10 days
.Many international workers get gift cards only
.Low hourly pay
.High-paying HITs disappear fast
.Takes time to unlock better tasks
What Other Workers Say About MTurk
Here’s what some workers on Reddit report about their earnings:
.LaughingAllTheWay83: Earned $250–$350 weekly before summer slowdown; now around $125–$150.
.Intelligent_Donut125: Makes $10–$30 weekly, “just beer money.”
.ShaiNYC: Averages $38 per day, around $200–$400 weekly.
.Jen29H: Weekly income ranges from $112 to $295 depending on task availability.
Results vary widely, but most people earn modest side money.
Best Amazon MTurk Alternatives
MTurk is popular, but not the highest paying. Consider mixing in other platforms like:
.Branded Surveys, Survey Junkie (paid surveys)
.Appen, Clickworker, Remotasks, Rev.com (microtasks)
.Prolific, Respondent.io (paid research studies)
.Freelancing on Fiverr or Upwork
.Website testing through Userlytics or TestingTime
Most of these options pay more than MTurk.
Is Amazon MTurk Worth It?
MTurk is worth it only if:
.You want a flexible online side hustle
.You have low expectations
.You’re okay with earning a few dollars per hour
MTurk is not worth it if you want:
.Stable hourly pay
.A job that pays above minimum wage
.A full-time income
Common Questions
Can I earn $50 a day on MTurk?
Possible, but rare. Only highly experienced workers with access to premium HITs can earn this much.
Can you make a living on MTurk?
No. Most people only earn a few dollars per hour.
Can you make $100 a day on MTurk?
Highly unlikely. Only a few advanced workers occasionally reach this level.
What is the average MTurk task payout?
Most HITs pay only a few cents.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this Amazon MTurk review helped you understand how the platform works and what kind of earnings you can expect. After testing dozens of earning apps and websites, I can confidently say MTurk won’t replace a real job.
But it is legitimate. It’s flexible, requires no skills, and offers an easy way to earn small amounts of money in your spare time.
If you go in with realistic expectations—and use browser tools to secure better HITs—MTurk can be a simple, low-stress side hustle.
If you’re ready to give it a try, dive in and see how much you can earn!