What are the highest paying AI training jobs?
The best-paid AI training jobs are expert roles: people with a graduate degree, a licence or years in a field, writing and grading hard questions in law, finance and medicine. They advertise $100 to $200 an hour or more at the top of their range. General rating and writing work pays far less, and you are paid only for the hours you log on tasks.
How many AI training jobs pay $100 an hour?
Counted from the 1,713 open listings that state an hourly rate, by the top of their advertised range. Each row includes the rows above it.
| Top of range | Listings | Share of priced listings |
|---|---|---|
| $200/hr or more | 103 | |
| $150/hr or more | 172 | |
| $100/hr or more | 544 | |
| $75/hr or more | 790 | |
| $50/hr or more | 1,266 | |
| $25/hr or more | 1,596 |
Best-paid AI training jobs open now
See all 544 on the job boardHighest top rate first, at most five per platform in the first thirty. Apply opens the platform's own page.
$350–450/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
Mercor is collaborating with a leading AI research lab on a project to advance frontier medical problem-solving in oncology.
Score 60/100: pay 40/40, recency 0/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- MD or DO who is currently pursuing or has completed a fellowship in medical oncology or hematology/oncology
Apply on Mercor for Oncologist on Mercor (opens in a new tab)
$140–400/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
micro1 is engaging Consumer Product Safety Attorney to participate in a unique project supporting a customer’s regulatory initiatives. In this role, you'll apply your expertise to help train next-generation AI systems.
Score 63/100: pay 40/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 7.5/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent legal degree with a focus on product safety, consumer protection, or regulatory compliance.
- Significant experience advising on compliance with federal, state, and international product safety regulations (e.g., CPSC, EU directives, FDA, etc.).
- Demonstrated ability to interpret, distill, and communicate complex legal concepts in both written and verbal formats.
Apply on micro1 for Consumer Product Safety Attorney on micro1 (opens in a new tab)
$140–400/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
micro1 is engaging experienced Energy Regulatory Counsels to contribute to a customer’s AI training initiative.
Score 67/100: pay 40/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 7.5/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 10/10. How we score
What they ask for
- J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and active U.S. bar admission.
- 4+ years of substantive energy and utilities regulatory practice — hands-on, not supervisory-only or adjacent exposure.
- A corporate law foundation, ideally built at a Vault 100 firm.
Apply on micro1 for Energy Regulatory Counsel on micro1 (opens in a new tab)
$140–400/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
micro1 is engaging Gaming/Gambling Regulatory Attorneys to contribute to a customer's project focused on elevating the legal and regulatory capabilities of next-generation AI solutions in the gaming and gambling sector.
Score 63/100: pay 40/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 7.5/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent legal qualification with a valid license to practice law.
- Extensive experience in gaming, gambling, or betting law, including regulatory frameworks, licensing, and compliance matters.
- Demonstrated ability to clearly articulate complex legal issues in both written and verbal forms.
Apply on micro1 for Gaming/Gambling Regulatory Attorney on micro1 (opens in a new tab)
$140–400/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
micro1 is engaging Civil Rights Attorney (BigLaw Firms) professionals to contribute expertise to a client-focused project centered on civil rights law.
Score 56/100: pay 40/40, recency 0/20, payouts 7.5/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school with admission to the bar in at least one jurisdiction.
- Substantial experience practicing civil rights law, preferably with a background in prominent (BigLaw) firms.
- Strong track record of legal research, writing, and case law analysis in complex and high-stakes matters.
Apply on micro1 for Civil Rights Attorney on micro1 (opens in a new tab)
$140–400/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
micro1 is engaging Litigation Associate Attorneys from top-tier US law firms to contribute expertise to a dynamic customer project. In this role, you'll apply your expertise to help train next-generation AI systems.
Score 56/100: pay 40/40, recency 0/20, payouts 7.5/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- JD from a US law school and active bar admission in good standing within the United States.
- Experience at an AmLaw 100 or similarly prestigious law firm, specifically with litigation and complex transactional matters.
- Demonstrated expertise in M&A, private equity, capital markets, contract drafting, and data privacy.
Apply on micro1 for Litigation Associate Attorney (BigLaw Firms) on micro1 (opens in a new tab)
$300–350/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, McLaren, Maserati) for a short, focused advisory engagement.
Score 43/100: pay 16/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- 10+ years of experience in business strategy , with substantial, demonstrable focus on the luxury automotive sector.
Apply on Mercor for Luxury Automotive Strategy Expert on Mercor (opens in a new tab)
$350/hr
Needs a US licence: the post asks for US-based applicants with a US licence or board certification, so it is listed as open in the US only.
The job
Mercor is hiring board-certified cardiologists (MDs and DOs) to evaluate health AI models in partnership with a leading AI lab.
Score 60/100: pay 40/40, recency 0/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- MD or DO from an accredited medical school
- Board certified in ABIM Cardiovascular Disease through an ABMS member board or the AOA
- Active, unrestricted US medical license
Apply on Mercor for Cardiologist on Mercor (opens in a new tab)
$350/hr
Needs a US licence: the post asks for US-based applicants with a US licence or board certification, so it is listed as open in the US only.
The job
Mercor is hiring board-certified orthopedic surgeons (MDs and DOs) to evaluate health AI models in partnership with a leading AI lab.
Score 60/100: pay 40/40, recency 0/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- MD or DO from an accredited medical school
- Board certified in ABOS Orthopaedic Surgery through an ABMS member board or the AOA
- Active, unrestricted US medical license
Apply on Mercor for Orthopedic Surgeon on Mercor (opens in a new tab)
$350/hr
Needs a US licence: the post asks for US-based applicants with a US licence or board certification, so it is listed as open in the US only.
The job
Mercor is hiring board-certified radiologists (MDs and DOs) to evaluate health AI models in partnership with a leading AI lab.
Score 60/100: pay 40/40, recency 0/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- MD or DO from an accredited medical school
- Board certified in ABR Diagnostic Radiology through an ABMS member board or the AOA
- Active, unrestricted US medical license
Apply on Mercor for Radiologist on Mercor (opens in a new tab)
$250–280/hr
The job
What if your voice could directly shape how AI communicates with millions of German speakers around the world?
Score 80/100: pay 40/40, recency 20/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Native or near-native fluency in German with a strong, expressive vocal presence
- Professional background in voice acting, narration, audiobooks, dubbing, or related performance-based audio work
- Access to a large diaphragm microphone and a quiet, acoustically controlled recording environment
Apply on Alignerr for Professional Voice Actor – German on Alignerr (opens in a new tab)
$250–280/hr
The job
What if your voice could directly shape how AI speaks to millions of German speakers around the world?
Score 54/100: pay 16/40, recency 18.6/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Full fluency in spoken German — native or near-native level
- Prior experience in voice acting, narration, audiobooks, dubbing, or comparable audio-focused work
- Access to professional recording equipment and a quiet, controlled recording environment
Apply on Alignerr for German – Generalist Voice Actor on Alignerr (opens in a new tab)
$250–280/hr
The job
What if your voice could directly shape how AI communicates with millions of German speakers around the world?
Score 75/100: pay 40/40, recency 15.7/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Native or near-native fluency in German with a strong, clear speaking voice
- Professional background in voice acting, narration, audiobook recording, dubbing, or similar fields
- Access to a high-quality microphone and a quiet, controlled recording environment
Apply on Alignerr for Voice Actor – German Speakers on Alignerr (opens in a new tab)
$170–200/hr
The job
What if your Italian voice could directly shape how AI communicates with millions of people around the world?
Score 78/100: pay 40/40, recency 18.6/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Experienced in voice acting, narration, audiobooks, or related performance-based audio work
- Native or near-native fluency in Italian
- Owner of a high-quality microphone and access to a quiet, controlled recording environment
Apply on Alignerr for Professional Voice Actor – Italian on Alignerr (opens in a new tab)
$170–200/hr
The job
What if your voice could directly shape how AI communicates with millions of Italian speakers around the world?
Score 77/100: pay 40/40, recency 17.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Fluent in Italian — native or near-native speaker with strong command of natural spoken Italian
- Experienced in voice acting, narration, audiobook recording, dubbing, or similar professional voice work
- Equipped with a high-quality microphone and access to a quiet, controlled recording environment
Apply on Alignerr for Voice Actor – Italian Speakers on Alignerr (opens in a new tab)
$65–158/hr
still listed todayExpert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
As a CBRNE Red Teamer, you will evaluate whether AI models appropriately handle queries related to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats.
Score 58/100: pay 36.1/40, recency 0/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
$50–150/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
We're hiring PhD-level quantitative finance experts to help train and evaluate advanced AI models on financial and quantitative reasoning.
Score 50/100: pay 22.9/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- A PhD (completed or in final stages) in Quantitative Finance, Financial Engineering, Financial Mathematics, or a closely related quantitative field with a strong finance focus
- Deep familiarity with quantitative methods such as stochastic modeling, derivatives pricing, econometrics, risk modeling, or computational finance
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to spot subtle errors in quantitative reasoning
$50–150/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
We're hiring PhD-level experts to help train and evaluate advanced AI models. This is remote, flexible contract work where your academic expertise directly shapes how cutting-edge models reason, answer, and improve.
Score 50/100: pay 22.9/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- A PhD (completed or in final stages) in one of the following fields: Machine Learning / AI, Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, or a closely related quantitative subdomain…
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to spot subtle errors in technical reasoning
- Fluent written English and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly
up to $150/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
Models are surprisingly bad at reasoning about themselves: training dynamics, evaluation design, data pipelines, and deployment trade-offs. Plausible-sounding ML advice is often subtly wrong.
Score 60/100: pay 34.3/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 5/10, who can apply 2/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Hands-on experience training, evaluating, or deploying models professionally or in serious personal work.
- Comfort with the modern ML stack; most tasks assume Python and PyTorch or JAX.
- Clear written English: your explanations are the training signal.
Apply on DataAnnotation for Machine Learning Engineer on DataAnnotation (opens in a new tab)
up to $150/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
In this hourly, remote contractor role, you will work as a Medical Doctor (Specialist) Subject Matter Expert (SME) to review AI-generated clinical responses and/or create expert medical content, evaluating reasoning quality and step-by-step clinical problem-solving while providing precise written feedback.
Score 63/100: pay 34.3/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 8/10. How we score
What they ask for
- MD/DO (or equivalent) with completed specialty training (residency/fellowship as applicable) and board eligibility/certification (or local equivalent).
- 5+ years of post-training clinical experience in a specialty setting (hospital, outpatient, academic, or community practice).
- Confident in advanced clinical reasoning: differential diagnosis, triage, red flags, and escalation pathways appropriate to specialty practice.
Apply on SME Careers for Medical Doctor (Specialist) on SME Careers (opens in a new tab)
up to $150/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
A model will hand you a pipeline and an infrastructure change that apply cleanly and quietly leave a security group open to the world, a state file that will corrupt on the next run, and a rollback path that does not exist. In production those mistakes page someone at 3am. Reasoning about the whole system is the job.
Score 60/100: pay 34.3/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 5/10, who can apply 2/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Hands-on experience running CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, or cloud operations.
- Comfort with a major cloud and tools like Terraform, Kubernetes, or Docker.
- Clear written English: your explanations are the training signal.
Apply on DataAnnotation for DevOps Engineer on DataAnnotation (opens in a new tab)
up to $150/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
The newest models can vibe-code a whole feature in minutes. Someone has to check whether that code actually works, and that someone is you.
Score 60/100: pay 34.3/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 5/10, who can apply 2/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Professional or serious open-source experience shipping production code.
- Comfort in at least one major stack; most tasks use Python, C++, Rust, Go, or JavaScript.
- Clear written English: your explanations are the training signal.
Apply on DataAnnotation for Software Engineer on DataAnnotation (opens in a new tab)
up to $150/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
Models write backend code that passes the happy-path test and falls over on everything else: the race condition under load, the N+1 that melts the database, the API contract that breaks every client the day you change it. Someone has to reason about the system, not just the snippet, and that someone is you.
Score 60/100: pay 34.3/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 5/10, who can apply 2/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Professional or serious open-source experience building backend services.
- Comfort with databases, APIs, and concurrency; most tasks assume a language like Python, Go, Java, or Rust.
- Clear written English: your explanations are the training signal.
Apply on DataAnnotation for Backend Engineer on DataAnnotation (opens in a new tab)
up to $150/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
The newest models can spin up a full analysis in minutes — load the data, pick a method, produce charts and a confident conclusion. Someone has to check whether the statistics actually hold up, and that someone is you.
Score 60/100: pay 34.3/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 5/10, who can apply 2/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Professional or academic experience doing real data analysis — industry, research, or serious independent work.
- Fluency with the standard toolkit; most tasks use Python, SQL, and notebooks.
- Clear written English: your explanations are the training signal.
Apply on DataAnnotation for Data Scientist on DataAnnotation (opens in a new tab)
$135/hr
Needs a US licence: the post asks for US-based applicants with a US licence or board certification, so it is listed as open in the US only.
The job
Bring your emergency medicine physician expertise to the development and evaluation of advanced AI systems.
Score 61/100: pay 30.9/40, recency 10/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
$65–125/hr
still listed todayExpert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
As a Cybersecurity Red Teamer, you will evaluate whether AI models can be manipulated into generating functional malware, viable exploit code, attack tooling, or step-by-step operational guidance that could give a threat actor meaningful assistance in carrying out cyberattacks.
Score 51/100: pay 28.6/40, recency 0/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Professional experience in offensive security, penetration testing, red teaming, vulnerability research, malware analysis, threat intelligence, or incident response
- Ability to read, write, and evaluate code in languages commonly used for offensive tooling, such as Python, PowerShell, Bash, C/C++, or JavaScript
- Understanding of common attack frameworks, techniques, and procedures, including MITRE ATT&CK and OWASP
Apply on Handshake AI for AI Red Teamer, Cybersecurity (Remote) on Handshake AI (opens in a new tab)
up to $120/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
In this hourly, remote contractor role, you will work as a Radiologist Subject Matter Expert (SME) to review AI-generated radiology and medical-imaging responses and/or create expert imaging content, evaluating reasoning quality and step-by-step clinical problem-solving while providing precise written feedback.
Score 56/100: pay 27.4/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 8/10. How we score
What they ask for
- MD/DO (or equivalent) with completed Radiology residency (Diagnostic Radiology) and board eligibility/certification (or local equivalent).
- 5+ years of professional experience in radiology practice (academic, community, teleradiology, or subspecialty practice).
- Strong clinical reasoning: translating clinical presentations into imaging strategy; constructing and prioritizing differentials based on imaging + context.
Apply on SME Careers for Radiologist on SME Careers (opens in a new tab)
up to $120/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
In this hourly, remote contractor role, you will work as a Legal & Compliance Subject Matter Expert (SME) to create challenging professional questions, evaluate AI-generated legal and regulatory content, and design high-quality rubrics defining what a complete, well-reasoned, and professionally appropriate response should contain.
Score 54/100: pay 27.4/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- JD, LLB, LLM, law degree, compliance qualification, or equivalent professional background relevant to the stated specialty.
- Professional legal qualification or bar admission is strongly preferred for attorney-focused roles.
- Strong professional proficiency in English, minimum C1.
$40–120/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
In this hourly, remote contractor role, you will work as an Attorney / Lawyer Subject Matter Expert (SME) to review AI-generated legal responses and/or create expert legal content, evaluating reasoning quality and step-by-step issue analysis while providing precise written feedback.
Score 47/100: pay 18.3/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 8/10. How we score
What they ask for
- JD/LLB (or equivalent law degree) and active bar membership (or eligibility) in at least one jurisdiction.
- 5+ years of professional experience practicing law (law firm, in-house, government, or legal aid).
- Strong ability to perform issue spotting and structured legal analysis (rules → application → conclusion), including identifying assumptions and uncertainty.
Apply on SME Careers for Attorney and Lawyer on SME Careers (opens in a new tab)
up to $120/hr
Expert level: most of these want a degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
The job
In this hourly, remote contractor role, you will work as a Python (ML-Focused) Quality Assurance Lead (QAL) to oversee quality, consistency, and trainer performance across Python machine learning AI training projects.
Score 54/100: pay 27.4/40, recency 7.1/20, payouts 11.3/15, steady work 2.5/10, who can apply 6/10. How we score
What they ask for
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a closely related quantitative field.
- Strong grasp of English to follow guidelines, communicate with teams, and provide clear technical feedback.
- 3+ years of professional experience in Python development, machine learning, data science, ML engineering, model evaluation, research engineering, technical review, or ML…
Apply on SME Careers for Python (ML-Focused) Team Lead on SME Careers (opens in a new tab)
Which kinds of AI training work pay the most?
Kinds of work ranked by typical top rate (the middle listing's top rate). Only kinds with at least five priced listings are shown.
Which platforms post the $100+/hr jobs?
| Platform | $100+/hr listings | Typical top rate of those | Open worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|
| micro1 | 152 | $120/hr | 17 |
| Mercor | 143 | $120/hr | 0 |
| Alignerr | 142 | $120/hr | 7 |
| DataAnnotation | 62 | $125/hr | 0 |
| SME Careers | 33 | $100/hr | 0 |
| Braintrust | 5 | $135/hr | 0 |
 Invisible | 4 | $125/hr | 3 |
| Handshake AI | 2 | $125–158/hr | 0 |
 Mindrift | 1 | up to $100/hr | 0 |
Who gets the $100+/hr listings?
Mostly experts. 506 of the 544 listings at $100/hr or more are marked expert level, and only 38 ask for entry level or some experience. The common asks are a PhD or master's in the field, a medical or law licence, or several years as a working engineer, analyst or researcher. Platforms check this with a resume screen, a subject test or an AI interview before you see any paid work.
If you don't have that background, the honest route is general writing and rating work first, then a specialty. See AI training jobs with no experience.
Will you actually earn the top rate?
Not always. The figure on a listing is the top of a range, and many projects pay by the hour you log on tasks, not the hours you are available. Onboarding and assessments are usually unpaid, and a project can pause for weeks. At $70/hr (today's typical top rate) and 10 hours a week, you'd make about $3,033 a month before tax. Try your own numbers in the pay calculator, and read how much AI trainers really make.
Across whole platforms, DataAnnotation has the highest typical top rate among platforms with at least 10 priced listings: $125/hr. The pay report has every platform side by side.
Other questions people ask
What is the highest paying AI training job?
Right now the best-paid open listing on Rubric is "Oncologist" on Mercor, at up to $450/hr. In general, expert law, finance and medicine roles pay the most.
Can you make $100 an hour training AI?
Yes, if you have expert credentials. 544 open listings advertise $100/hr or more at the top of their range. Most want a graduate degree, a licence or years of work in the field.
Do high paying AI training jobs need a PhD?
Many do, but not all. Licensed doctors and lawyers, and senior engineers, also qualify for $100+/hr work. See AI training jobs for PhDs for the listings that ask for one.
Are $200/hr AI training jobs real?
They exist on real platforms such as Mercor and Braintrust, usually for doctors, lawyers and PhD researchers. 103 open listings advertise $200/hr or more today. Treat any "$200/hr, no experience" offer on Telegram or WhatsApp as a scam.
How is "typical top rate" worked out?
It is the median of the top hourly rates on listings that state one: half the listings offer that or more at the top of their range. Listings posted more than a year ago are not counted.