Data science sits in an unusual position here. You are frequently evaluating the output of systems built with tools you already use, which makes the ramp-up shorter than for almost any other background.
What the listings actually pay
Across 19 live listings in this category that publish a rate, the median top-of-range is $100 an hour, reaching $280 at the top. Rates are solid without reaching the licensed-profession tier, and the work is genuinely closer to your day job than most categories on this board.
| # | Role | Advertised rate | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data Scientist | $245 to $280 an hour | micro1 |
| 2 | Machine Learning Engineer Talent Network | $70 to $250 an hour | Mercor |
| 3 | AI Data Science Domain Expert | $100 to $200 an hour | micro1 |
| 4 | AI/ML Engineer | $70 to $200 an hour | micro1 |
| 5 | Data Scientist Talent Network | $100 to $150 an hour | Mercor |
| 6 | Revenue-cycle analytics / decision-support / RCM reporting leader | $100 to $100 an hour | Elion Health |
| 7 | Financial Crime, AML & KYC Analyst | $75 to $100 an hour | Mercor |
| 8 | ML Research PhD Experts (ICML / NeurIPS / ICLR Publications) | $60 to $100 an hour | Inherent Labs |
| 9 | ML Challenge Task Auditor | $70 to $90 an hour | Mercor |
| 10 | Data Science & Quantitative Analysis Expert | $60 to $90 an hour | Mercor |
Source: 19 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 data scientists pay?
Across 19 live listings in this category with published rates, the median top-of-range is $100 an hour and the highest currently reaches $280.
Is this the same as an ML engineering job?
Not usually. Most listings are evaluation and correction work rather than model building, though research-oriented roles do appear and pay differently.
Do I need a PhD?
Not for most listings. Research roles often want one, but evaluation work is generally open to experienced practitioners without a doctorate.
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.