Engineering is the one category on the board where two completely different markets sit side by side. There is hourly contract work evaluating and correcting model-generated code, and there are full-time salaried roles at the labs themselves.
What the listings actually pay
The hourly side has a median top-of-range of $100 an hour across 114 listings. The salaried side runs into the low hundreds of thousands. They are listed together but they are not the same job, and mixing them up is how those inflated average-salary figures get made.
| # | Role | Advertised rate | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUDA Engineering Expert | $300 to $300 an hour | Mercor |
| 2 | Machine Learning Engineer Talent Network | $70 to $250 an hour | Mercor |
| 3 | UK-Based Data Engineering Experts | $140 to $200 an hour | Mercor |
| 4 | AI Software Engineering Domain Expert | $100 to $200 an hour | micro1 |
| 5 | AI/ML Engineer | $70 to $200 an hour | micro1 |
| 6 | Engineering / Platform Professionals | $80 to $160 an hour | Mercor |
| 7 | Open Source Applied Engineer Talent Network | $100 to $150 an hour | Mercor |
| 8 | Backend Engineer Talent Network | $70 to $150 an hour | Mercor |
| 9 | Software Engineering Expert | $50 to $150 an hour | Mercor |
| 10 | Design & Frontend Specialist | $90 to $140 an hour | micro1 |
Source: 114 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
For the hourly work, the useful signal is that reviewing code is valued differently from writing it. You are being paid to notice that something compiles, looks correct, and is subtly wrong. That is a distinct skill and it is the one being priced.
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 software engineering jobs pay?
The hourly contract work has a median top-of-range of $100 an hour across 114 listings, reaching $300. Separately, full-time salaried engineering roles at labs run into the low hundreds of thousands annually.
What languages are in demand?
Python dominates, followed by JavaScript and TypeScript, with systems languages appearing in infrastructure roles. Breadth matters less than being able to explain clearly why a piece of code is wrong.
Do I need machine learning experience?
For most of the code evaluation work, no. You need to be a competent engineer who can read unfamiliar code carefully. ML experience is required for research roles, which are a separate and smaller set of listings.
Is this the same as a coding bootcamp job?
No. These listings expect working engineering experience. The evaluation work in particular assumes you have shipped and debugged real systems, because that is what lets you spot plausible-looking mistakes.
Can I do it part time?
The hourly contract work yes, that is how it is designed. The salaried lab roles are full-time positions with normal employment terms.
See every live role
The full board updates several times a week, with the advertised rate on each listing and closed roles removed.