Speech data collection is different from annotation. Rather than labelling existing audio, you are producing new recordings, and what is wanted is usually the voices that current datasets handle worst.
What the listings actually pay
That makes it one of the few categories where being outside the mainstream is the qualification. Regional accents, less widely spoken languages, dialects and age groups underrepresented in training data are what projects are actively short of.
| # | Role | Advertised rate | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French Professional Voice Actor | $45 to $225 an hour | Comet |
| 2 | Mexican Spanish Professional Voice Actor | $35 to $175 an hour | Comet |
| 3 | Voice Actor: CX Agent Voice Cloning (Swiss German) | $50 to $150 an hour | Mercor |
| 4 | Japanese language / cultural fluency Evaluator | $80 to $120 an hour | Dorado |
| 5 | Arabic Language Consultant (Saudi Arabia) | $45 to $120 an hour | Mercor |
| 6 | Audio Expert | $50 to $100 an hour | micro1 |
| 7 | Audio Tutor (Full Time) | $45 to $100 an hour | Mercor |
| 8 | Audio and Video Technicians | $50 to $90 an hour | Mercor |
| 9 | Sound / Audio Editor | $40 to $90 an hour | Mercor |
| 10 | AI Rater Guidelines Writer (Linguist / Instructional Designer) | $45 to $65 an hour | Mercor |
Source: 86 live listings on this board that publish a rate, read directly from each posting on 2026-09-29. Listings without a published rate are excluded rather than estimated.
What moves your rate
Across 86 live listings on our board matching speech and language work that publish a rate, the median top-of-range is $40 an hour, reaching $225. Collection work is often priced per completed set rather than strictly hourly, so read the terms carefully.
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
Do I need a professional microphone?
Usually not professional grade, but a decent microphone and a genuinely quiet room are typically required. Poor audio gets rejected.
What does speech collection pay?
Across 86 live listings publishing a rate, the median top-of-range is $40 an hour, with the highest at $225. Much of this work is priced per completed set.
Which accents and languages are wanted?
Generally those underrepresented in existing datasets, which means regional accents and less widely spoken languages are an advantage rather than a barrier.
What happens to my voice recordings?
They are licensed for AI training under the agreement you sign. Read that agreement carefully, because terms vary on how the data may be used.
Can I do this from anywhere?
Yes, provided you have a quiet recording environment. Many projects specifically want speakers in particular regions.
See every live role
The full board updates several times a week, with the advertised rate on each listing and closed roles removed.