Security professionals map onto AI red teaming more directly than any other background. The motion is identical: find the input that makes the system do something it should not, then document it precisely enough to be fixed.
What the listings actually pay
Across 8 live listings in this category that publish a rate, the median top-of-range is $120 an hour, reaching $250 at the top. The category is small in listing count but the rates are strong, and demand has been rising as labs formalise their safety testing.
| # | Role | Advertised rate | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cybersecurity Research Expert, Offensive Security & Vulnerability Research | $200 to $250 an hour | Mercor |
| 2 | Cybersecurity / IT GRC Evaluator | $80 to $120 an hour | Dorado |
| 3 | AI Red-Teamer - Adversarial AI Testing (Advanced) | $50 to $120 an hour | Mercor |
| 4 | Applied Cryptographer | $45 to $120 an hour | Mercor |
| 5 | AI Red-Teamer - Adversarial AI Testing (Novice) | $45 to $120 an hour | Mercor |
| 6 | Cybersecurity Expert | $80 to $90 an hour | Mercor |
| 7 | LLM Red Team Specialist, Failure Modes & Edge Cases | $60 to $90 an hour | Mercor |
| 8 | AI Safety Red Teamer | $70 to $84 an hour | AIUC |
Source: 8 live listings on this board that publish a rate, read directly from each posting on 2026-09-05. Listings without a published rate are excluded rather than estimated.
What moves your rate
Every listing below links to the full role with its own requirements and application link. Rates shown are what the listing itself advertises, and listings without a published rate are left out rather than estimated.
How to apply
Every role above links to its own page with the full requirements and a direct application link. Applications are completed on the hiring platform and typically take a few minutes, with a short skills assessment in place of an interview.
Two things are worth doing before you apply. Check whether the role accepts applicants from your country using the eligibility checker, and run the advertised rate through the take-home calculator, because this is contract work and the headline rate is before self-employment tax.
Frequently asked questions
What do AI jobs for cybersecurity professionals pay?
Across 8 live listings in this category with published rates, the median top-of-range is $120 an hour and the highest currently reaches $250.
Is AI red teaming the same as penetration testing?
The mindset transfers directly but the target is different. You are probing model behaviour rather than infrastructure, so the techniques are linguistic rather than technical.
Do I need security certifications?
Helpful but not usually required. Demonstrated adversarial thinking matters more, and many listings are open to people without formal security credentials.
Is this contract or employment?
Nearly all of it is contract work, paid hourly for approved hours. That means no benefits and you handle your own taxes, which our take-home calculator accounts for.
Can I do this alongside a full-time job?
Yes, and most people do. The work is asynchronous with no set shifts, so it fits into evenings and weekends without a scheduling conflict.
See every live role
The full board updates several times a week, with the advertised rate on each listing and closed roles removed.