Video annotation is image annotation with time added, and that addition changes the work more than it sounds. Objects have to stay consistently identified as they move, get occluded, leave frame and return, and events have to be marked with boundaries that are genuinely ambiguous.
What the listings actually pay
That difficulty is why it pays better than static image labelling. It is slower per unit, harder to do consistently, and much easier to do badly in ways that quietly degrade a dataset.
| # | Role | Advertised rate | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UI / Visual Designer Specialist | $90 to $140 an hour | micro1 |
| 2 | LLM Research Scientist (Pre-training & Computer Vision & Adversarial Robustness) | $100 to $120 an hour | Mercor |
| 3 | Visual Annotation Expert | $45 to $120 an hour | Mercor |
| 4 | Visual Quality Expert (Film, VFX & Animation) | $60 to $90 an hour | Mercor |
| 5 | Audio and Video Technicians | $50 to $90 an hour | Mercor |
| 6 | Video Prompting Expert | $40 to $85 an hour | Mercor |
| 7 | Video related professional for AI training | $65 to $80 an hour | micro1 |
| 8 | Video Editor | $40 to $80 an hour | micro1 |
| 9 | Adobe Video Editor (Premiere Pro & After Effects) | $15 to $80 an hour | micro1 |
| 10 | Visual Creative Expert | $21 to $70 an hour | micro1 |
Source: 41 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 41 live listings on our board matching visual and video work that publish a rate, the median top-of-range is $40 an hour, reaching $140. Specialist domains such as medical imaging, autonomous driving and sports analysis sit above general object tracking.
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 video annotation pay?
Across 41 live listings publishing a rate, the median top-of-range is $40 an hour, with the highest at $140. Specialist domains pay well above general work.
Do I need special software?
Platforms generally provide their own annotation tools, so the requirement is a reliable computer and a decent screen rather than your own software.
Is it harder than image annotation?
Yes, because objects must stay consistently tracked across frames and event boundaries are often genuinely ambiguous. That difficulty is reflected in the rate.
What makes someone good at it?
Consistency above all. An annotator who applies the same judgment every time is worth more than a faster one who does not.
Which specialisms pay most?
Those requiring domain knowledge to interpret what is on screen, such as medical imaging and industrial inspection.
See every live role
The full board updates several times a week, with the advertised rate on each listing and closed roles removed.