Bioinformatics sits at an awkward and valuable intersection. It needs real biology, real statistics and real programming, and the number of people who genuinely have all three is small. That scarcity is why this category is hard to staff and priced accordingly.
What the listings actually pay
The AI training work here is specific: evaluating whether a model's reasoning about sequences, structures, pathways or experimental design is sound. These are domains where confident nonsense is easy to generate and hard to detect without training, which is exactly the profile that commands a rate.
| # | Role | Advertised rate | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Structural Biologist (Protein Design, AI Evaluation) | $150 to $220 an hour | Mercor |
| 2 | Biology Expert | $150 to $150 an hour | Handshake AI |
| 3 | Computational Genomics, Statistical Bioinformatics Expert (PhD) | $120 to $120 an hour | Mercor |
| 4 | Bioinformatics Scientist | $90 to $120 an hour | micro1 |
| 5 | Biology / environmental science Evaluator | $80 to $120 an hour | Dorado |
| 6 | Bioinformatics Researcher | $45 to $120 an hour | Mercor |
| 7 | Computational Biology & Cheminformatics Expert | $80 to $110 an hour | micro1 |
| 8 | Molecular Biology Experts | $70 to $105 an hour | Mercor |
| 9 | Bioinformatics & Computational Single-Cell Genomics Expert | $70 to $100 an hour | Mercor |
| 10 | Biology Research Scientist (BA, MS, PhD's) | $60 to $100 an hour | Mercor |
Source: 26 live listings on this board that publish a rate, read directly from each posting on 2026-09-19. Listings without a published rate are excluded rather than estimated.
What moves your rate
Across 26 live listings on our board matching computational biology expertise and publishing a rate, the median top-of-range is $105 an hour, reaching $220. Contract research engagements and longer project work both appear.
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 background do these roles want?
Computational biology, genomics, structural biology or a closely related field, usually at doctoral or senior industry level. Specific requirements are stated per listing.
What does it pay?
Across 26 live listings publishing a rate, the median top-of-range is $105 an hour, with the highest at $220.
Is programming required?
Usually some. The work involves evaluating computational reasoning, so being able to read and assess code and pipelines matters more than writing production software.
Can I do this alongside academic work?
Commonly yes, since it is asynchronous and remote. Check your institution's outside-work policy first, as many require disclosure.
Is this wet lab work?
No. It is entirely computational and remote, which is what makes it compatible with an existing position.
See every live role
The full board updates several times a week, with the advertised rate on each listing and closed roles removed.