Live pay ranking · August 2026

The highest-paying AI training platforms, ranked by verified rates

Most “highest-paying platform” lists repeat marketing numbers. This ranking is computed live from rates published in each platform's own job feed, counted as distinct advertised rates — a platform re-posting one pay band across 300 country variants counts once. “Up to” ceilings are excluded entirely (methodology · full pay index).

Ranked by typical verified rate (live feeds)

• 1.Mercormedian $78/hr · $44–$110 typicaltop $250/hr · 139 distinct rates (417 listings)

  One of the largest AI-work marketplaces; $10B valuation (Oct 2025). Rates and roles verified from their public listings.

  see live roles →Join Mercor ↗referral link
• 2.Meridial (Invisible)median $24/hr · $19–$45 typicaltop $115/hr · 29 distinct rates (815 listings)

  Invisible Technologies' expert-contractor network. 800+ open freelance AI-trainer projects.

  see live roles →Join Meridial (Invisible) ↗
• 3.Welo Data (Welocalize)median $22/hr · $11–$34 typicaltop $60/hr · 89 distinct rates (235 listings)

  Welocalize's AI-data arm. Steady flow of search/ads rater and AI data roles.

  see live roles →Join Welo Data (Welocalize) ↗
• 4.RWS TrainAImedian $11/hr · $7–$17 typicaltop $20/hr · 14 distinct rates (64 listings)

  LSE-listed RWS's AI-data program. Reliable, dated postings.

  see live roles →Join RWS TrainAI ↗

High-payers without public feeds (reported ranges)

These platforms don't publish rates in a readable feed, so they can't be ranked above — but reported pay runs high, especially for credentialed experts. Treat these figures as reported, not verified.

• MindriftAdvertised $15–$100+/hr depending on domain; payouts twice monthly (Payoneer/PayPal)
  Join Mindrift ↗
• CrowdGen by AppenStructured per-task payments published per project (e.g. $15–$50 per recording set)
  Join CrowdGen by Appen ↗
• Outlier (Scale AI)“Up to” rates by domain (e.g. up to $150/hr for specialists) — real project rates assigned inside
  Join Outlier (Scale AI) ↗
• micro1Reported $50–$200/hr for experts; rates shown per job after onboarding
  Join micro1 ↗referral link — never affects ranking
• DataAnnotationAdvertised $20–$30+/hr general, $40+/hr coding, $50–$100+/hr expert domains
  Join DataAnnotation ↗
• EthosThird-party reviews report $35–$225/hr by domain (median ≈$80/hr)
  Join Ethos ↗referral link — never affects ranking
• AfterQueryReviews report $35–$250/hr; PhD-level tracks at the top end
  Join AfterQuery ↗referral link — never affects ranking
• TeracThird-party reviews report ≈$78/hr average
  Join Terac ↗referral link — never affects ranking
• xAI — Specialist AI TutorsHourly ranges published on postings
  Join xAI — Specialist AI Tutors ↗
• Shipd (Datacurve)Public per-bounty pricing — “LeetCode, but paid”
  Join Shipd (Datacurve) ↗
• Clickworker (+UHRS)Per-task micro-payments; ≈$6–$15/hr reported. UHRS access after assessments
  Join Clickworker (+UHRS) ↗
• ProlificEnforced minimum £6/$8 per hour; £9/$12 recommended
  Join Prolific ↗
• AlignerrPay range shown on every listing, $20–$120/hr
  Join Alignerr ↗
• OneForma (Centific)Pay type shown per project (e.g. $60–$150 per accepted record); exact rates after signup
  Join OneForma (Centific) ↗
• Handshake AI“Up to” rates per role, $20–$125/hr — ceilings, not typical pay
  Join Handshake AI ↗
• TELUS Digital AIPay published on many roles (e.g. ¥2,450/hr Japan); varies by market
  Join TELUS Digital AI ↗

Rankings recompute automatically as feeds refresh. Some outbound links are referral links — always labeled, never a ranking factor (disclosure). Browse all live roles sorted by pay →