Comparing a contract hourly rate to a salaried one as though they are the same number is how people end up disappointed by work that is actually paying well. They are not the same number, and the gap is predictable.
What the listings actually pay
Across 1456 live listings on our board that publish a rate, the median top-of-range is $90 an hour and the ceiling reaches $450. Those are gross contractor rates. From them come self-employment tax at 15.3%, income tax at your bracket, possibly state tax, and any costs of doing the work.
| # | Role | Advertised rate | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oncologist | $350 to $450 an hour | Mercor |
| 2 | BigLaw lawyers | $140 to $400 an hour | micro1 |
| 3 | Cardiologist | $350 to $350 an hour | Mercor |
| 4 | Arts, Media & Design Expert | $150 to $350 an hour | micro1 |
| 5 | Corporate Attorney | $140 to $350 an hour | micro1 |
| 6 | CUDA Engineering Expert | $300 to $300 an hour | Mercor |
| 7 | Equity Research Expert | $175 to $300 an hour | micro1 |
| 8 | Street Performing Musician | $100 to $300 an hour | micro1 |
| 9 | Data Scientist | $245 to $280 an hour | micro1 |
| 10 | Dermatologist | $275 to $275 an hour | Mercor |
Source: 1456 live listings on this board that publish a rate, read directly from each posting on 2026-10-24. Listings without a published rate are excluded rather than estimated.
What moves your rate
There is also the part that never appears in a rate comparison: no employer pension contribution, no paid leave, no health coverage, no sick pay. A salaried figure quietly includes those. A contract rate does not, which is part of why contract rates are higher.
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
Are advertised rates before or after tax?
Before. Contract rates are always gross, and nothing is withheld for you, so the full amount arrives and the tax is settled separately.
How do I compare a contract rate to a salary?
Subtract your expected tax and any work costs, then account for benefits a salaried job would provide and this does not, such as leave and employer contributions.
Is the higher rate worth the loss of benefits?
Sometimes clearly yes, particularly at the specialist end where rates reach $450. At the low end of general task work, often not, once unpaid gaps between projects are counted.
What about hours that are not guaranteed?
This is the biggest factor people omit. A high rate on unpredictable hours is not equivalent to a lower rate on guaranteed ones, and should be planned as supplementary income.
Where can I see real rates?
Our pay index is built from live listings that publish their own rate, with nothing estimated or averaged in from elsewhere.
See every live role
The full board updates several times a week, with the advertised rate on each listing and closed roles removed.