If you’re internet savvy, self-motivated, and searching for a flexible work from home job, becoming a search engine evaluator could be a good opportunity for you. You don’t need any special equipment, and there’s no speaking on the phone. All you need to get started is a laptop or desktop computer, a high-speed internet connection, and a smartphone.
Remember, though, that the work from home world is highly competitive, so be prepared for extensive training and a qualification exam; plus, you’ll also need to have sound knowledge of current events, popular culture, places, and people.
If you think you have what it takes, let’s explore what a search engine evaluator does, how to find a job, how much it pays, and the pros and cons of this.
What Does a Search Engine Evaluator Do?
A search engine evaluator evaluates search results and webpages (and sometimes ads and social media content) and rates them according to the guidelines given by companies like Google, Yahoo, or Bing (Microsoft) to ensure that users find the most helpful, relevant, and high-quality content on any given topic.
Do a quick internet search for something and see what the results are. Are they relevant? Did you find exactly what you’re looking for? A lot of time and effort goes into creating algorithms that give you those results, but search engines don’t always get it right.
Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t always good at interpreting intent, especially if it’s a string of unrelated words rather than questions. That’s where search engine evaluators come into the equation.
What are the Requirements to Become a Search Engine Evaluator?
Google contracts companies to perform search engine evaluations, and those companies then hire you as an independent agent. You don’t need to have experience or a college degree, but there are several testing stages to get through first and a lot of guidelines to follow. You will need to put the work in initially, but once you learn the procedures and get your foot in the door with one of the companies, you can have a fun and flexible ongoing job for years to come.
For positions, you’ll need to be a native English speaker at least 18 years of age. You should have excellent communication and computer skills. You’ll also need to be up-to-date with current business, media, sports, news, social media, and pop culture in the US. Lastly, you should be detail-oriented, have strong analytical skills, and enjoy doing online research.
How Much Do Search Engine Evaluator Jobs Pay?
The hours available and the hourly rate depends on the project and the company. Sometimes, the need is immediate or large, so set your availability on your profile and check in regularly to snag any jobs quickly. You may have a minimum number of set hours or a limit to the hours and weekly projects you can work on. According to ZipRecruiter, the pay averages $24 per hour, depending on where you live and the company for which you work. You can work part-time hours, so it suits introverts, stay-at-home parents, college students, or those looking to supplement their income.
Where to Find Search Engine Evaluator Jobs?
Here are eight companies to explore for search engine and social media evaluation jobs that you can do from home.
1. Appen CrowdGen
While Appen CrowdGen lost its contract with Google, it still hires freelancers as social media evaluators and in other AI training roles. In these positions, you may evaluate content, such as images, ads, and videos, for certain qualifying criteria. These are independent contracting roles that you can work when you want. Appen CrowGen hires workers in 170 countries and pays individuals using platforms like PayPal, Payoneer, and Airtm, among others.
- Appen CrowdGen gets a 3.7-star rating out of 5 on Glassdoor.
2. Centific
Centific hires part-time internet evaluators to give feedback on search queries. In these roles, you’ll have a flexible schedule, and you’ll earn $14 to $16 per hour. You must be a native English speaker, and you’ll need to pass their certification to begin working on projects.
- Centific receives a 3.2-star rating out of 5 on Glassdoor.com.
3. Clickworker
Clickworker is an AI crowdsourcing platform where you can earn extra money taking surveys, conducting online research, text creation, mystery shopping, app testing, photo, video, and audio collection, and more. Pay is per task, and payments are issued via PayPal, Payoneer, direct deposit, and other methods. According to Glassdoor, the median pay for search engine evaluators is $26 per hour.
Clickworker gets a 3.5-star rating out of 5 on Glassdoor.com
4. Datavio.ai
Datavio.ai, which is part of iSoftStone, hires freelancers for linguistic, testing, technical, search engine evaluation, and crowdsourcing gigs. For these positions, you’ll need excellent communication skills, strong computer skills, and a PC running running Windows OS. While you’ll have a flexible schedule, you’ll need to commit to at least 10 hours per week. According to their current job posting, the search engine evaluation job pays $0.60 per judgment, with the expected time per judgment being 120 seconds or less.
- iSoftStone receives a 3.1-star rating out of 5 on Glassdoor.com.
5. FlexJobs
While FlexJobs does not hire search engine evaluators, they often have legitimate job postings for this type of work. To access their job board, you will need to pay a small membership, which includes vetted job leads, career resources, skills tests, educational webinars, and more. Another nice aspect of FlexJobs is you can set up a job alert so that you’ll always know when an opening becomes available. To learn if a FlexJobs membership is right for you, check out our in-depth review.
- FlexJobs gets a 4.3-star rating out of 5 on Glassdoor.com.
6. RWS Group
RWS Group hires freelancers to provide translation, localization, and AI training services to the world’s largest companies. Like other platforms, you’ll create an account and browse available projects. Some projects will require you to complete unpaid training and qualifying tests in order to access more challenging tasks. With RWS Group, you are paid per completed task, and payments are issued via PayPal or direct deposit.
- RWS gets a 3.6-star rating out of 5 on Glassdoor.
7. TELUS Digital
TELUS Digital, formerly Lionbridge, hires online data analysts to determine the relevancy and accuracy of search engine results. In these roles, you’ll work as an independent contractor, and you can create your own schedule. TELUS also has AI openings for internet assessors, ad quality raters, online mystery shoppers, and lots more.
- TELUS Digital receives a 3.6-star rating on Glassdoor.com.
8. Welocalize
Welocalize hires for a wide variety of remote jobs, including quality raters, reviewers, analysts, web search evaluators, translators, and more. To find the positions you’re qualified for, select your country and language from the search inputs. Each project has different qualifying requirements and pay rates, but most positions allow you to work whenever you want.
- Welocalize gets a 3.5-star rating out of 5 on Glassdoor.com.
What are the Pros and Cons of Being a Search Engine Evaluator?
Pros:
- The schedule and workload are flexible.
- You’re your own boss.
- No technical expertise is necessary.
- The pay is decent for this type of online work.
- No software or special equipment is necessary.
- You don’t need a college degree.
- No phone work is required.
Cons:
- Work hours can be limited.
- The work is project-based, so there may be waiting between projects.
- You won’t have guaranteed hours.
- As an independent contractor, you will be responsible for your taxes.
- Projects can end unexpectedly and without notice.
Is Search Engine Evaluation a Good Work From Home Job?
Now that you know what a search engine evaluator does, what you need to get started, how much it pays, and you’ve weighed up the pros and cons of the industry—what do you think? Are you willing to give it a shot?
If you’re looking for some extra income, lots of flexibility, no start-up costs, and minimal prerequisites, then this job opportunity could be perfect for you. To make it work, you just need to put some plans in place for the downtime between projects or, if contracts suddenly end, perhaps with another flexible work from home job. That’s the beauty of working from home: You can have more than one income stream to fit in with your needs and lifestyle!
If you’re looking for a way to turn this into a full-time job, you may want to consider becoming an SEO (search engine optimization) specialist. Go here to learn more about becoming a home-based SEO specialist!
Originally published June 22, 2020. Content updated September 2024.