Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a legitimate platform that lets you earn money by completing small online tasks. Joining is free, but getting accepted can be challenging, and the work requires patience.
I’ve tested hundreds of ways to make money online, and MTurk is indeed a real earning option. However, that doesn’t automatically make it the best fit for everyone.
In this Amazon MTurk review, I’ll break down exactly how it works, including the types of tasks available—such as surveys and micro-jobs—so you can see what to expect. By the end, you’ll know whether MTurk is worth your time or if you’re better off exploring other earning opportunities.
What Is Amazon MTurk and How Does It Work?
Amazon Mechanical Turk, or MTurk, is a microtask platform owned by Amazon. When a company of Amazon’s scale backs a service, it instantly boosts its credibility, making it worth exploring for anyone interested in online income opportunities.
To be clear, Amazon MTurk is a legitimate platform where you can earn some extra money. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for everyone, which is why it’s important to understand exactly what it offers.
MTurk serves as a marketplace for small online tasks that require human judgment rather than automation. These tasks, known as HITs (Human Intelligence Tasks), can include anything from categorizing data to reviewing content—simple jobs that computers can’t accurately perform on their own.
Amazon MTurk Task Examples: What HITs Can You Do?
One of the main advantages of Amazon MTurk is the variety of HITs (Human Intelligence Tasks) available. There’s no single definition for a HIT because the tasks change daily based on what requesters need.
- Finding contact details on websites
- Checking websites for inappropriate content
- Extracting information from images
- Transcribing audio or data
- Completing data entry projects
While most jobs on MTurk are data entry-based, surveys provide an additional way to earn—something many users overlook. If you’ve read my other reviews, you’ll know I consider paid surveys an excellent method for making extra cash, so it’s worth exploring how they work on MTurk.
How to Find Paid Surveys on Amazon MTurk
Amazon MTurk offers a decent selection of paid surveys, but you’ll need to know how to locate them efficiently. When you log in, you’ll see a long list of all available HITs. You can scroll through them manually, but the quickest method is to use the search bar at the top of the page.
Type “survey” (singular) into the search box and hit Enter. Avoid typing “surveys” in plural, as it will drastically reduce your results. This is because MTurk’s search function filters tasks based on their exact title or description—most simply include the word “survey.”
For example, on the day I tested this, searching for “survey” returned 374 results, while “surveys” showed only 2. Not every result will be relevant, but many will be genuine opportunities.
Keep in mind, though, that you won’t qualify for every survey. Many have strict requirements, such as your location or demographic profile. Finding ones you can complete may take patience, but with the right search strategy, you’ll improve your chances.
How to Earn More on MTurk by Becoming a Master Worker
While Amazon MTurk’s pay rates aren’t especially high, there is a way to access better-paying opportunities—by achieving Master Worker status.
A Master Worker is someone who has consistently completed HITs with high accuracy over time. This status isn’t something you can apply for; instead, Amazon automatically awards it to workers who demonstrate exceptional quality and reliability.
Once you’re a Master Worker, you’ll gain access to exclusive tasks that require master qualifications, which often pay more than standard HITs. Earning this status takes patience, as it requires steadily completing tasks while maintaining top performance, but it can significantly improve your earning potential on MTurk.
How Much Can You Actually Earn on Amazon MTurk?
- Beginners: Usually earn between $2 to $4 per hour at first, as they need time to get familiar with the system and find suitable tasks.
- Experienced users: Can reach $6 – $8 per hour by focusing on higher-paying tasks and avoiding low-paying ones.
- Master Workers: Sometimes make $10 – $15 per hour, but reaching this status requires months of consistent, high-accuracy work.
Amazon MTurk Payment Methods and Withdrawal Options
- United States: You can transfer your MTurk earnings to your Amazon Payments account, then move the funds to your bank account, or redeem them for Amazon.com gift cards.
- India: Payments can be sent directly to your bank account or redeemed as Amazon.com gift cards.
- Other countries: The only option is Amazon.com gift cards, which can be limiting. This may mean dealing with extra taxes, long delivery times, or difficulty using the rewards for physical goods.
New MTurk workers should also note that payouts are not available during the first 10 days after joining. After that, you can request a withdrawal once per day.
While the payment system is convenient for US and Indian users, the lack of broader payout options makes MTurk less appealing for international workers. However, with the right strategy, even gift cards can be turned into valuable tools for learning, entertainment, or online business.
Who Can Sign Up for Amazon MTurk?
In theory, anyone can apply to join Amazon Mechanical Turk, but acceptance isn’t guaranteed. Unlike most survey or GPT (Get-Paid-To) sites, you won’t be approved instantly after registering. Instead, MTurk reviews each application manually, which can take several days.
The frustrating part is that MTurk doesn’t disclose the criteria they use to decide who gets accepted. On other platforms, eligibility is often determined by your country, and you’ll know right away if you qualify. With MTurk, you simply have to apply and wait.
If you’re rejected, you’ll only receive a brief email stating that your application was declined without explanation. From my experience—and from talking to other users—this could be related to your location, country, or the number of active members at the time, but there’s no way to know for sure.
Ultimately, there’s no guaranteed method to ensure approval. If you’re interested in joining, the only option is to apply and hope for the best.
Amazon MTurk Customer Support Options
Amazon MTurk provides a detailed FAQ section that covers most common questions about the platform. If you can’t find the answer you need, there’s also a way to contact support directly.
While I haven’t personally needed to reach out to MTurk’s support team, the fact that Amazon operates the platform suggests that response times are likely reasonable. Still, your experience may vary depending on the nature of your request and overall support demand at the time.
Amazon MTurk Review: Reliable but Requires Patience
Amazon Mechanical Turk is a legitimate platform backed by one of the world’s most trusted companies. It offers a large number of tasks and surveys, making it appealing to those looking for flexible online earning opportunities. However, it’s not without its drawbacks.
- Backed by a trusted, reputable company
- Wide variety of tasks and surveys available
- Low pay rates for most tasks and surveys
- Limited payout options for users outside the US and India
- Daily limits on the number of HITs you can complete
- Unclear acceptance criteria and long approval wait times
While MTurk is reliable, the low earning potential and limited payout options make it less attractive for many, especially if you live outside the US or India. The unclear membership process can also be frustrating, as you won’t know whether you’re accepted until days after applying.
If you’re patient and don’t mind modest earnings, MTurk can be a decent way to earn extra income from surveys and microtasks. However, if you prefer faster, higher-paying opportunities, you might want to explore alternatives.
- You can apply for Amazon MTurk here and see if you get accepted.
- Or check out my reviews of Prolific, Clickworker, and Appen—platforms that often offer higher pay rates and broader payment options.