AfterQueryCoding & software eval
Machine Learning / Data Science Expert
$80/hr
About this role, in AfterQuery's words
This is a remote, project-based role for data scientists and machine learning professionals with 1–3 years of work experience. You will complete tasks similar to those performed in data science, machine learning engineering, AI research, or analytics roles. Work is over the next 2-3 weeks, asynchronous, and assigned on a project-by-project basis, with an expected commitment of 10–20 hours per week for the projects you accept. This position offers highly competitive pay, exposure to real-world ML/data problems, and an excellent opportunity to boost your resume.
What you'll do
Responsibilities
- Assist in building, training, and evaluating machine learning models for various business applications
- Develop predictive models using supervised and unsupervised learning techniques
- Optimize model performance through hyperparameter tuning and feature engineering
- Document methodologies, model assumptions, and technical approaches
Candidate background
Required qualifications
- 1–3 years of professional experience in data science, machine learning, or related fields
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently on technical tasks
- Masters degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or related quantitative field
- At least 1 first author publication or first-author equivalent work
Preferred qualifications
- TA’d courses in machine learning, data science, and applied statistics, with a strong focus on programming and empirical analysis.
Quoted from selected sections of AfterQuery's posting. The full posting may state other conditions. Read the full posting
A closer look
More context, when you need it.
Full job descriptionThe original posting, in AfterQuery's words
Posted by AfterQuery, reproduced here so you can judge the role before clicking. Original posting ↗
This is a remote, project-based role for data scientists and machine learning professionals with 1–3 years of work experience. You will complete tasks similar to those performed in data science, machine learning engineering, AI research, or analytics roles. Work is over the next 2-3 weeks, asynchronous, and assigned on a project-by-project basis, with an expected commitment of 10–20 hours per week for the projects you accept. This position offers highly competitive pay, exposure to real-world ML/data problems, and an excellent opportunity to boost your resume.
Responsibilities - Assist in building, training, and evaluating machine learning models for various business applications - Develop predictive models using supervised and unsupervised learning techniques - Optimize model performance through hyperparameter tuning and feature engineering - Document methodologies, model assumptions, and technical approaches
Required qualifications - 1–3 years of professional experience in data science, machine learning, or related fields - Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently on technical tasks - Masters degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or related quantitative field - At least 1 first author publication or first-author equivalent work
Preferred qualifications - TA’d courses in machine learning, data science, and applied statistics, with a strong focus on programming and empirical analysis.
Why apply - Flexible Time Commitment – Work on your schedule while gaining valuable experience - Startup Exposure – Work directly with an early-stage Y Combinator-backed company, gaining hands-on experience that sets you apart - Fantastic Pay & Growth Opportunities – project based pay starts at est. $60/hour and can go up to $100/hour - Portfolio Building - Gain experience with cutting-edge problems and techniques - Professional Growth - Sharpen your skills on varied, challenging datasets and models
Working with AfterQueryPay, getting started and work, from AfterQuery's own pages
What the platform publishes in general. These are not extra terms confirmed for this particular role.
- Getting paid
- Approved work is paid every Friday for the prior week, by Stripe to a bank account, with no fees. Stripe holds the first payout for 7 days. docs.afterquery.com/articles/payments-taxes/payment-setup
- Before your first paid task
- One assessment per expert pool, unpaid and with no retake. Onboarding takes about 10 minutes: legal documents, phone, ID through Persona, and payments. docs.afterquery.com/articles/onboarding/assessments, docs.afterquery.com/articles/onboarding/complete-your-onb...
- How much work
- Projects are assigned by assessment fit as they come up, and higher-rated contributors get priority. docs.afterquery.com/articles/onboarding/assessments, docs.afterquery.com/articles/about/contract-work
- Contract
- Independent contractor. Most contractors register as individuals. docs.afterquery.com/articles/about/contract-work, docs.afterquery.com/articles/onboarding/complete-your-onb...
Read on the pages linked above on 23 Sep 2026. Platforms change these terms, so check the linked page before you rely on one.
How does the pay compare?Across Coding & software eval roles, not this role alone
From our own daily reads of every open listing on the platforms we follow, not from AfterQuery's posting. How we count.
Pay across the field: Coding & software eval
Across 391 roles in this field with a stated hourly rate in US dollars, on 14 platforms, the middle half pays $65 to $120 an hour at the top of the range, and the median is $95. This role's top rate, $80, is in the middle half. Of the 140 distinct rates we count, 48 are lower and 82 are higher.
| Platform | Roles | Top of range, per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alignerr | 137 | $50 to $400 · median $100 |
| micro1 | 44 | $60 to $350 · median $120 |
| Handshake AI | 43 | $47 to $125 · median $80 |
| Meridial (Invisible) | 34 | $22 to $150 · median $60 |
| Mercor | 33 | $60 to $200 · median $105 |
Sources and listing historyWhere this information comes from
This listing's history
- First seen here on 26 Aug 2026, and still on AfterQuery's list when we last read it on 12 Oct 2026.
- Listed pay changed on 29 Sep 2026: up to $100/hr before, $80/hr after.
A change can also be a correction to how we read AfterQuery's feed. The figure at the top of this page is always the latest read.
- Posted by AfterQuery
- First seen by AIPayList
- Last seen live
- Listing ID
- 1769189600406
Pay as the source states it: “$80/hr”.
Platforms sometimes change a rate after posting. Every listing here is re-read at least once a day and corrected when its source moves, so a difference you see on the platform is usually a change made since the last read. How freshness works.
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