Are you looking for a work-from-home opportunity that allows you to use your voice? If so, then a voice over job may be the perfect fit for you.
Voice-over jobs are a great way to make money from home, and there are plenty of opportunities available. You can find work doing voice overs for commercials, corporate videos, audio books, and more.
One of the best things about voice over jobs is that they can be done from anywhere in the world. This means that you can work from home, on your own schedule. All you need is a computer with a microphone and an internet connection.
If you’re interested in finding out more about doing voice overs for money, then check out some of the best websites below. These websites are a great place to start if you’re looking for work as a voice-over artist.
What are Voice Over Jobs?
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To help you better understand what voice overs are, think of those explainer videos you’ve seen on YouTube, or those documentaries you love to watch on National Geographic. These materials need a voice talent or voice actor to convey their message. And what these talents do for a living are voice over jobs.
You don’t even have to go very far when exploring how we consume voice overs in our daily lives. You’ve seen cartoons like The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Surely, there’s someone, a real person, behind the voices of Ariel and Jasmine. You’ve heard a PSA on the radio, and that too uses professional voice actors. And let’s not forget the voices used in podcasts, webinars, audiobooks, and live events.
So, basically, anything that comes with a narration of some sort, and you can’t see the person speaking, then you actually hear a voice over.
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What Do You Need to Get Started as a Voice Talent or Voice Artist?
So, you see, if you have quite a talented voice, you could make money from it. But before you go sending out applications and demo tapes, you want to be fully prepared for the battle ahead.
If you think voice over jobs are something you can and probably enjoy doing, here are a few things you need to get started:
Equipment
You don’t need to have the fanciest, most advanced equipment to start with. But at the very least, you’ll need a microphone, recording, and audio mixing software. It’s also best to work in a very quiet, isolated space to keep background noise from interfering.
Demos
Determine the niche you want to break into, and then record a few demos for each niche. Make sure to study the requirements, when it comes to accent, personality, and stamina of the voice required, record a few samples, and then pick the best ones.
Training
Getting specific training as a voice artist can prove to be a worthwhile investment, especially if you’re just getting started.
A voice over coach can point out your strengths and weaknesses, as well as help you develop a connection with your audience. You can find a couple of online voice training at a reasonable price or find free ones on YouTube. Voice123 also has a voice over guide to help you find voice over jobs and prepare for auditions.
I also recommend this free Intro Course to Voice Overs by Julie Eickhoff. Julie has been working from home as a voice artist for a range of projects, including eLearning training modules, web videos, movie theater ads, radio ads, television ads, and more.
In this intro course, you’ll learn how to get work, how much voice actors make, skills to learn, and more!
Marketing
Finally, you have to know how to get yourself out there. There are a couple of job sites where you can find voice over jobs, but you also have to make sure clients can find you, even when you’re not actively looking.
To start with, it’s good to have a business website dedicated to your voice-over services. Here’s an easy-to-follow step-by-step tutorial to help you set up your own website for your professional voice-over service.
Also consider doing email marketing, tapping social media, and face-to-face networking.
Skills you need to work as a voice-over artist
Having a pleasant-sounding voice is a primary requirement among voice actors, but there’s more to this profession than meets the eye.
Every voice talent, especially those who are freelancing, needs to cultivate a few important skills to survive the competition, and continuously wing fantastic gigs. So, if you want to start scouting voice over jobs from home for beginners, you might want to build and strengthen the following skills first:
- Act with your voice – your voice carries a character’s persona. Are you voicing over for a successful, educated woman, or do you embody the character of an evil antagonist? Whatever it is that your character portrays, it should come out from the way you use your voice.
- Technical skills – this is particularly important if you are working as a voice-over actor from home or freelancing. You need to know how to operate a recording software, use the microphone and edit the recording to remove errors, time gaps, background noise, and such.
- Business acumen – if you’re dead set about making a living from voice acting, then you should also understand the business side of things. Whether you do this as a freelancer or with an agent, you have to be aware of the industry, how to network with potential clients, bookkeeping, tax filing, budgeting, and so on.
How Much Do Voice Over Artists Get Paid?
It’s not easy to pinpoint the exact salary of professional voice actors. How much you get paid depends on several things, including experience, the type, and the size of the project. Gravy For The Brain elaborates that well-known actors doing voice-over jobs can earn millions while a new voice-over freelancer may only make a few dollars on his first project.
Meanwhile, Indeed shows some interesting figures. According to their website, professional voice actors $39,100 per year. There are companies that pay $20 per hour, while others pay $100 per day.
Voice over jobs, therefore, can get lucrative if you know how to network and market yourself. In the beginning, you’ll spend most of your time auditioning for voice over jobs. But as you build yourself up, gain more experience, and put together an impressive portfolio, there’s a good chance of earning good money from it.
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Where to Find Voice Over Jobs From Home for Beginners
Here are some of the best places to find full-time or freelance voice over jobs from home!
1. Voices.com
Voices.com dubs itself the voice marketplace where you can find all sorts of voiceover jobs including audiobook narrator jobs.
The company is one of the popular voice over freelance websites for voice-over artists seeking legitimate gigs as well as for individuals and companies needing quality voice-over talents. They have been around since 2003, and have managed to establish a good reputation between voice actors and their clients.
To join Voices.com, sign up on their website, complete your profile, and upload a demo. You’ll then have access to numerous online voice over jobs posted by clients. You can audition, get in touch with potential clients, and also get paid for your work — everything happens on the platform.
You may or may not take advantage of their premium account for voice-over talents. While the free account readily gives you access to lots of voice over jobs, the premium account unlocks even more opportunities and features. However, the cost of the premium account is $499/year, so you might want to keep that in mind before you upgrade.
Voices.com also has a rating system. Clients can rate and review their experience of working with you. If they were pleased and left a good rating, it would be easier for you to attract the next client.
Read: Voices.com Review
2. Snap Recordings
Snap Recordings has been around since 1996 and hires voice actors for business projects including phone greetings, and messages on holds. They currently have a roster of 100 male and female voice-over artists, and occasionally hire to add more. They prefer applicants who are bilingual (English and Spanish).
Voice actors at Snap Recordings read scripts, records the audio, and then send the file through the website. Their team of audio producers handles the next stages, such as editing and mixing.
The exact pay that voice actors at Snap Recordings isn’t published, but some people claim the company pays $10 for the first 100 words of the script, and the pay increases for the next number of words.
3. Voice Bunny
Voice Bunny is a site that matches clients with the right voice talents. They have almost 30,000 voice-over artists on their platform, as well as thousands of clients looking for the perfect voice for their brands.
To work for Voice Bunny, you need to create an account, submit your test, and have the test reviewed. Once you pass the test, you can start applying to voice jobs on the site. You can also obtain wider exposure through bookings (get found through samples in their search engine), contests, and speedies (you will receive notifications on jobs that interest you).
I’ve also read that Voice Bunny is quite picky with the voice actors they hire, so be sure to give your best shot in the application process. The upside is that there are no membership fees, so you can look and apply for jobs without the recurring monthly cost. You can also set your own rates and work around your schedule.
Read: Voice Bunny Review
4. Mandy Voices
Mandy Voices is like a massive community where you can look for voice over jobs, as well as network and connect with other professionals in the industry.
It is part of the Mandy Network and primarily caters to voiceover jobs in the entertainment industry, such as TV and film. They have over 600,000 creatives on their network.
It looks like Mandy Voices offers quite a comprehensive voice job posting with its massive employer directory. The website says their job listings are updated every month, often amounting to 6,500 new “voiceover jobs.” You’ll also receive tailored alerts of jobs that match your skills, as well as the opportunity to network with fellow voice-over professionals.
5. Voice 123
Voice 123 is the brainchild of husband and wife tandem, Alexander and Tania Torrenegra. Tania wanted to become a voice-over artist, but at that time in 2002, they realized how complicated the casting process was.
So, they built a “marketplace” where voice-over actors could see and be seen, and therefore eliminate the role of middlemen in the casting process.
Today, Voice 123 has built a solid reputation for massive voice over jobs opportunities, amounting to hundreds of thousands. The platform also gives clients the liberty to post their jobs and accept applications or pick an artist they deem fit for their projects.
Like Voices.com, Voice123 allows you to sign up for free, and/or later decide to upgrade your membership. The paid membership costs you $395/year and comes with nifty features like the ability to audition for projects while they are open, appear in searches, and receive project invitations.
6. Earworks Media
Earworks Media is a full-service digital production company that works with advertisers and television production companies in the US. The company produces videos, so they hire creative talents like voice over professionals.
Earworks has worked with the biggest brands such as Toyota, Chevrolet, Discovery Channel, and Nike, among others. Their website says they have a roster of 200 voice-over professionals ready to work on projects.
To work for Earworks Media, you need to have a home studio set up, some experience behind the microphone, and a demo in mp3 format. You can apply directly to their website to get hired for voice over jobs.
7. LinkedIn
Dubbed as the social media for professionals, you should consider building a profile and network on LinkedIn to get voice over jobs. LinkedIn is free to join, and within minutes, you can have a professional profile showcasing your experiences and skills.
The good thing about LinkedIn is that you can network with people in specific industries. So, if you’re interested in working as a voice-over talent for TV animations and films, it makes sense to connect with professionals in the entertainment industry. At LinkedIn, you’ll find marketing managers, creative directors, CEOs, and every important decision-maker. Being on their radar gives you the opportunity to “expose” your talents.
8. ACX
Want to work as an audiobook narrator? Then sign up for Amazon ACX!
Amazon ACX is a platform that transforms books and audiobooks. Once completed, the audiobook will be sold on iTunes, Audible, and Amazon. You can choose from thousands of titles to audition for as a narrator.
To get started, sign up with your Amazon account and fill up your profile. It’s good to have a number of samples handy that showcase your voice-over talent in different styles and genres. Then, start looking for narrator or voice-over jobs posted by the Rights Holder.
Each project has an indicated budget, and you’ll see many of the titles with hundreds of dollars to spare for their chosen narrators. Plus, you can audition for several jobs per day, which helps increase your opportunity to land more voice over jobs from home.
9. Voice Crafters
Voice Crafters is an established voice acting agency that has been around since 2008. The agency accepts various forms of voice-over jobs from home, such as voiceovers for E-learning materials, commercials, promotional videos, videogames, audiobooks, and more.
Another good thing about Voice Crafters is that it accepts voice actors in different languages. You can sign up at Voice Crafters if you are willing to work full-time, you have experience doing voice-over work, and own a professional recording studio at home. It is also essential to submit a professional demo along with your application as this will be a significant basis for acceptance or rejection of your application.
10. Findaway Voices
Findaway Voices is a similar platform to ACX in that it connects authors with narrators. Basically, authors upload their books into the platform, and narrators will apply for voice-over jobs through chat. Once both parties agree to do the project, the narrator creates a sample and submits it to the author. If the author likes what he hears, he can hire the narrator and the narrator records the entire book.
According to the website, your earnings at Findaway Voices are based on the cost per finished hour. For instance, if a manuscript is 53,000 words long, your income will be somewhere between $1,350 to $1,650. The longer the book, the more money you make.
11. Bodalgo
Bodalgo is an online casting platform that accepts all sorts of voice-over jobs from clients all over the world. The company was founded in 2008, and it has worked on over 40,000 projects, hired over 10,000 voiceover talents in over 80 languages.
Joining Bodalgo as a voice-over artist is free and easy. All you need to do is sign up for an account and wait for the admin’s approval. Once in, you can create a public profile and you’ll get a contact form so that potential clients can reach you.
However, you want to invest in a premium account that costs 269 Euros or $317 per year. With a premium account, you can access all the job postings and you can audition for castings. To compensate for this expense, Bodalgo will let you keep 100% of your earnings from the voice-over jobs you get on the platform.
12. Backstage
Backstage is a popular casting company that supplies voice-over talents to Disney, HBO, Netflix, and Amazon Studios, among others. So if you are looking for voice over talent jobs online in the entertainment industry, Backstage is an excellent option.
Backstage has been in the industry for the past six decades, so it’s become one of the trusted go-to platforms for casting talents. Right now, there are over 260,000 creators looking for talents, while there are over 7 million talents who are subscribed to this service. Thousands of new roles are posted on the site each week.
To join Backstage and start to get paid for voiceovers, simply sign up and create a profile. Find voice-over jobs that interest you and audition for the role. Unfortunately, the rates for voice-acting roles are not disclosed on the website.
13. Voquent
Voquent is an online voice-over agency based in the UK. It takes pride in hiring only vetted and professional voice actors, so having previous experience as a voice-over talent is a must.
Additionally, you need to have access to a professional recording studio to join the ranks of voice-over actors in Voquent.
Voquent caters to various voice acting needs, including but not limited to video games and animation, e-learning, corporate presentations, TV and online commercials, and more.
If you’d like to become a voice actor on Voquent, sign up on their website for free. Then, send in your demos and set your rates. Each project will have different rates, based on the length of the material, usage, and how the script is read.
14. The Voice Realm
The Voice Realm acts more like a directory for companies or individuals needing voice talents and for voice actors needing voice over jobs. Some of its notable clients include PayPal, Spotify, and FedEx.
The site works by allowing clients to invite actors to audition to their projects. Voice talents will send in their auditions and the clients take a pick.
While there are thousands of voice actors on-site, the company strives to level the playing field by setting a flat rate for each project which prevents bidding among competing actors. According to its website, the rate for each project is determined by the number of words on the script and where the material will be used.
To join the Voice Realm, simply fill up an application online and upload your demo. You can start auditioning for jobs once your account has been approved.
Voice Over Jobs from Home FAQs
Is it hard to get voice over work?
According to the NYU Dispatch, the voice-over industry continues to grow, especially now with the rise of e-learning materials, podcasts, and animation. Also, technology allows voice-over actors to work remotely as long as they have a professional recording set-up, which means competition can be stiff. Remember that having the best voice for the role is one thing, and it’s another to use that voice to give life to the role.
So yes, it can be hard to get voice-acting jobs if you don’t have the technical set-up and knowledge. But thanks to so many resources online, voice-over acting is something you can learn and in the long run, make money with.
How to become a voice over actor with no experience?
Many of the casting agencies require experience, but there are others that don’t. You might find opportunities for voice-over jobs from home for beginners on sites like UpWork or Fiverr. But it’s best to practice voice-over acting first by studying a lot of materials or perhaps getting a voice-over coach. These will help you get your feet wet as an online voice-over artist.
Who is the highest-paid voice actor?
Payment for voice-over jobs varies wildly. But if you’re interested in knowing who the highest paid voice actor is and derive some inspiration from his success, it is Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons. He has an estimated net worth of $650 million.
Do you need a degree to become a voice actor?
You don’t need a degree to become a voice actor. Voice acting is a skill that you can learn from constant practice and internalization. Also, you need to know how to network, market your services and have the confidence to audition to roles. With that said, voice acting is one of the legit online jobs that don’t require a diploma.
How to become a voice actor for video games?
If you’d like to hear your voice in games, then you should audition for gaming voice-over jobs. According to the Games Industry, voice acting is an essential part of the development of a game, so voice actors connect with game developers and voice directors to give life to the game. Apart from having the “voice”, you must also know how to do sound engineering as the recording will primarily take place in home studios.
Are You Ready to Make Money with Your Voice?
We may not always be aware, but voice-overs are actually part of our daily lives. We hear them on the phone, on the TV, radio, and on the internet. They educate and entertain us. But wouldn’t it be exciting to actually be the one doing the voice-overs, instead of the one listening?
And what’s even more remarkable is that voice-over jobs from home can make an amazing income. So, if people often point out that you have a great speaking voice, this might be just the right side hustle for you.
Have you tried voice-over acting jobs from home? How did it go for you? Let’s connect in the comments below.
Thank you for having all this information inside one blog. Super Grateful
That means the world to me! Thank you for stopping by!
Many thanks for such a great article. Interesting to read and very helpful.
Appreciate your dedication and keep up the great job!!
You might want to either change the title of this blog to “13 BEST VOICE OVER JOBS FROM HOME FOR the Experienced” or remove Mandy.
I spent 20 minutes trying to open an account only to find out the sign up will not allow you to sign up unless you add your industry experience. It also asks what school you studied.
I’m a beginner, I have nether.