This post exists to correct something. When articles quote AI training pay, they usually mean annotation, and when they quote high figures for it, they are wrong.
What the listings actually pay
Across 25 live annotation listings on our board, the median top-of-range is $24 an hour. Compare that with legal work on the same board and the gap is roughly six to one for work that takes similar hours.
| # | Role | Advertised rate | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visual Annotation Expert | $45 to $120 an hour | Mercor |
| 2 | Chess Expert (1800+ ELO), Game Reconstruction & Transcript Correction | $90 to $90 an hour | Mercor |
| 3 | CAD Engineer, ScreenSpot Plus (Screenshot Capture & UI Annotation) | $70 to $90 an hour | Mercor |
| 4 | Video Annotation Specialist | $50 to $90 an hour | micro1 |
| 5 | Network Engineer - Data for Autonomous Systems annotation | $50 to $70 an hour | Meter |
Source: 25 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
None of which makes annotation worthless. It is genuinely the most accessible paid work in AI, it requires nothing to start, and it is real income. But it should be entered with accurate expectations, and it should be treated as a starting point rather than a destination. If you have a credential or a specialty, the same platforms have work that pays several times more.
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 does data annotation pay?
Across 25 live annotation listings, the median top-of-range is $24 an hour. Some specialized annotation reaches $120, but that is the exception rather than the typical rate.
Why does annotation pay so much less?
Because the pool of people who can do it is very large. Rates on this board track scarcity of judgment, and general annotation requires care rather than credentials, so it is priced accordingly.
Is annotation work still worth doing?
As accessible income with no barrier to entry, yes. As a long-term plan, treat it as a first step. The realistic move is to use it to get established on a platform and then apply to specialist work you qualify for.
Do I need experience?
No. This is the one category where genuinely no experience is required. Most platforms use a short unpaid assessment instead of an interview.
How much can I earn per week?
At these rates and typical available hours, expect a few hundred dollars a week at most. Anyone promising full-time income from general annotation is not being straight with you.
See every live role
The full board updates several times a week, with the advertised rate on each listing and closed roles removed.