If you’ve ever been told that you have an amazing voice, you might be surprised to learn that you can actually make money with your voice. That’s right – your vocal cords are a great tool that you can use to make a decent amount of money.
Whether you have a beautiful singing voice or an engaging way of speaking, there are numerous ways you can make money using your voice, and the best part is that all of these professions can be done remotely, as long as you have the right equipment and a strong internet connection.
Here are some of the best ways to make money with your voice and some tips for breaking into the industry.
1. Become a professional voice actor
Voice actors provide voice overs for characters in movies, television shows, radio ads, cartoons, video games, telephone system recordings, commercials, foreign films, e-learning workshops, and more.
Depending on the project, voice acting jobs can command high pay, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per project.
Some voice actors work full-time, while others work as freelancers and set their own hours.
To get a job, research the type of voice acting job you want to do and the skills it requires. You may need to take acting classes or hire a voice acting coach to hone your skills.
You don’t necessarily need a soundproof studio, but you will need a quiet space and some essential equipment, like a quality microphone, noise-canceling headphones, and a pop filter (which will help reduce plosives, or the popping sounds that come when you say words that start with p and b).
Audacity is a great software option and is free to download, but you should also learn some basic sound editing to clean up your recordings before sending them to potential clients.
Create a demo of your voice acting and submit it to ad agencies and auditioning sites like Voices.com and Castingworkbook. If you speak multiple languages, you can apply to Bodalgo, a site where you can find professional voiceover jobs in 80 languages.
2. Audiobook narration
Audiobook narration is a special type of voice acting that involves reading an entire book aloud to create an audiobook that consumers can listen to. Thanks to platforms like Amazon’s Audible, audiobooks have become increasingly popular and are a $1.8 billion industry, which means there are plenty of opportunities to make money as an audiobook narrator.
If you’re just starting out, you can expect to make between $180 and $200 per hour, but experienced narrators can make over $300 per hour. They also often receive royalties on sales, which can add up to a lot more profit if your book sells.
The most important skill required of a voice actor is the ability to bring a story to life with a wide range of emotions, which means being able to use a variety of voices and accents, and having the stamina to speak aloud for extended periods of time.
How to become an audiobook narrator
Because voiceover is a type of voice acting job, you’ll need to invest in the same equipment as you would for voiceover (quality microphones, headphones, etc.).
First, practice reading out loud. Record yourself from a variety of sources and mark areas where you could improve. You could also hire a voice coach or take a course to hone your technique. (Voice actor Julie Eickhoff has narrated over 100 audiobooks and has some great training and resources!)
To gain experience, volunteer to read stories to children or the visually impaired. This will give you much-needed practice and looks great on your resume. It’s also a great time to start networking through organizations like LinkedIn and the Audio Publishers Association.
When you’re ready to start looking for paid work, check out job sites and freelance platforms like Upwork and Voice123. Another option is to look for work on ACX, a marketplace that connects authors with narrators. All you have to do is set up a profile, upload some samples, and audition for books you’re interested in narrating.
It’s also important to establish a presence on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc. New opportunities are always emerging, so you just need to keep an eye out.
3. Take singing lessons
Vocal coaches help singers improve their vocal quality and may be employed by schools, performance groups, or even individuals who want to improve their singing ability.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average pay for a vocal coach is $23 an hour, or about $47,000 a year, with the top earners making over six figures, but most vocal teachers can set their own rates and hours, making them a good fit for those who want a flexible schedule.
You don’t need any formal qualifications to become a vocal coach, but it’s important that you have a strong foundation in musical training and that you can sing well yourself.
Additionally, taking classes in voice pedagogy can give you additional qualifications and help you learn how to teach.
Once you feel confident in your teaching abilities, you can find work through word of mouth or online directories. Another option is to look for work through a platform such as Superprof, which connects students with vocal teachers based on location.
You can also create a profile on freelancing platforms like Fiverr and find teaching jobs.
If the gig is local, I can give singing lessons in you or your client’s home, or I can offer singing lessons remotely to anyone around the world via Skype or Zoom.
4. Start a podcast
If you’re passionate about a particular topic, why not start a podcast about it?
A podcaster is someone who creates, edits, and publishes online audio or video episodes similar to radio or television shows, usually made available as downloadable mp3 files.
Podcasts often include music, sound effects, interviews, and other forms of entertainment or information.
The amount you can make varies greatly depending on the niche, content, quality, quantity, and popularity of your podcast, but podcasts with a solid following can make a decent living, with an average salary of around $33,000 per year.
Popularity is important for attracting more sponsors and is one of the main ways podcasters make money.
Additionally, many podcasters partner with brands related to their niche and insert affiliate codes that listeners can use to earn money from each purchase. Another source of income for podcasters is promoting their own products or services through each episode.
How to start a podcast
To start a podcast, choose a niche and research other podcasts in that field. It’s important to determine the style of the podcast (single host, multiple hosts, guest interviews, etc.) and the target audience. Once these key elements are decided, podcasters can move on to coming up with a memorable name for their show and creating a website and RSS feed.
After that, record your first couple of podcast episodes and upload them to your platform of choice, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc. Promote your show across social media platforms to grow your audience.
5. Create a meditation YouTube channel
Guided meditation allows you to listen to another person guide you through the process, and for many people this is more effective than meditating alone.
So, if you have a very calming or soothing voice, you can consider starting a YouTube channel for meditation and relaxation. Once you reach 1,000 followers and 4,000 hours of watch time on your YouTube videos, you can apply for the YouTube Partner Program and monetize your channel with ads.
The amount of money a YouTuber can make through the Partner Program varies depending on their niche, audience, and number of views, but can range from a few hundred dollars to a full-time income.
How to get started on YouTube
The first step is to learn how to write a script for a guided meditation. Search online for guided meditations to see how they work and get inspiration. Guided meditations typically use descriptive, calming language to encourage the listener to relax and focus on their breathing, inducing a relaxed state.
Next, use a high-quality camera to film 10-15 minutes of a natural, relaxing setting, such as a beach, park, or forest. Purchase some commercially licensed meditation music to accompany your footage. Finally, record your meditation script onto your video.
Repeat this process for each video, using different footage, music and meditation scripts for other purposes (meditations for work, rest, anxiety, etc.) It is essential that you create an original, new meditation each time and not reuse the same footage, music or narration across your channels.
This is because reused content violates the Partner Program guidelines, and if you are found to be repeatedly reusing the same content, you may not be allowed into the program.
This process takes time — it takes most channels several months to qualify for the program — but if you enjoy it and are patient, it can be very rewarding.
6. Help train AI tools
Combining voice recognition with AI results in tools like Siri, Apple’s digital assistant. With new and improved tools emerging every day, companies are looking for AI trainers to help build and teach them. Tasks can include search relevance, video or image annotation, data collection including audio, speech, and video, and more. These jobs allow you to choose the tasks you want to work on and create your own schedule. Voice tasks typically include recording audio samples, participating in conversations, and categorizing audio clips.
To get started in AI training, check out these companies:
7. Express your opinion
Most surveys require you to answer multiple choice questions, but survey companies like Gauge Research and Mindswarms will pay you handsomely to share your thoughts via audio or video. Many companies want more detailed responses from participants, and recording your thoughts via audio or video is a great format for that. Gauge Research will pay you $10 for a quick POV text response and up to $500 for a detailed video or audio response. Mindswarms can pay you $10-50 for a video response, sometimes even more.
Summary of making money with your voice
As you can see, there are many different ways to make money with your voice, from singing lessons and voice acting to podcasts and YouTube. The amount of money you can make will depend on the type of work, but if you’re passionate about getting your voice out there, there’s no reason you can’t make money with your craft – or even turn it into a full-time side hustle. These money-making ideas have a learning curve, but with consistency, dedication, and persistence, you can be successful at making money with your voice.
Originally published on September 19, 2022. Content updated September 2024.
