Last Updated on: March 23, 2026
If you have a felony and need a way to make a little extra money from home, Amazon Mechanical Turk may still be worth knowing about.
But here is the truth. It is not what it used to be.
Amazon Mechanical Turk, usually called MTurk, is still live and Amazon still describes it as a marketplace where workers complete online tasks for pay in their spare time. But for most people today, it is not one of the best online income options anymore. Good tasks are harder to find, pay is often low, and it works better as occasional side money than serious income. Amazon’s own worker materials also make clear that requesters approve or reject completed work, which adds another limit to how dependable the platform is.
Quick Answer
Amazon Mechanical Turk can still be a small side income option for some felons, but it is much weaker than it used to be. It may be easier to access than a normal job because it is task based work, not a traditional employer application. But it is usually not dependable enough to treat like a real job, and many people will be better off using stronger remote work options.
Think of this more like a gig, than a job.
What Is Amazon Mechanical Turk?
MTurk is an online marketplace where businesses and other requesters post small digital tasks for workers to complete. Amazon says these tasks can include things like data validation, surveys, research, and content related review work. Amazon also describes it as a way to earn money in your spare time, which is an important clue about how the platform should be viewed.
These tasks are usually called HITs, short for Human Intelligence Tasks. Workers choose tasks, complete them, and then wait for the requester to approve the submission before payment is released.
Why Some Felons May Still Use It
There are still a few reasons MTurk can appeal to people with records.
It is not a normal hiring process
This is not like applying to a warehouse, retailer, restaurant, or office job. The platform is built around worker access and task completion instead of interviews and standard employment screening. That can make it easier for some felons to try than a regular job application.
You can do it from home
Everything is online, so it can be a simple way to try earning something without transportation problems.
It can still produce a little extra money
That is the best way to think about it now. Small extra money. Not reliable income. Amazon itself positions it as spare time work.
The Real Problem With MTurk Now.
MTurk is no longer one of the better online work options for most people.
The platform still exists, but the opportunity is weaker than it used to be. Pay is often low. Better tasks can be limited. Some work is not worth the time. Amazon also states that requesters decide whether to approve work and may take up to 30 days to do so.
There is also outside evidence that MTurk is not as strong as it once was. A recent Johns Hopkins public health piece discussing online survey platforms notes that MTurk has become less attractive relative to newer platforms because of declining data quality and a smaller, more problematic respondent pool, which supports the broader idea that the platform has lost a lot of its old value.
That does not mean nobody can earn on it. It means this should be presented as an older gig platform with shrinking value, not as some hidden gem.
Does MTurk Do Background Checks?
No, There is no background check for MTurk.
Types of Tasks
Workers may see tasks such as:
- surveys
- data categorization
- image labeling
- research tasks
- data validation
- basic text or content review
Amazon’s marketplace overview lists several of these task types directly.
Best Way To Think About MTurk
MTurk may be okay if you:
- want to try earning a little money from home
- need something flexible
- are stuck between jobs or just want some extra hours
- want a platform that is not a standard employer application
MTurk is probably not a good fit if you:
- need dependable weekly income
- need strong hourly pay
- want a real job replacement
- get frustrated by low paying repetitive tasks
- need something with clear advancement
Better Alternatives
This is where the article should help people instead of just describing MTurk.
For many felons, better remote income options may include:
- customer service jobs
- chat support jobs
- appointment setting
- freelance writing or editing
- virtual assistant work
- data entry, if legitimate
- online marketplaces for simple service work
Those options usually require more effort to land, but they often have more upside than grinding low value microtasks.
Disclaimer
Platform rules, earnings, approval practices, and availability can change over time. Information on this page is based on publicly available information and general platform structure and is not a guarantee of acceptance, account approval, earnings, or ongoing access. Nothing on this site should be considered legal or financial advice.