Get paid to train AI — from someone actually doing the work
AI labs pay anywhere from $6 to $300 an hour for human judgment: evaluating model answers, writing expert data, reviewing outputs. I do this work myself. This is my running log of what each platform actually pays, how hard they are to get into, and which ones are worth your time.
The platforms
Guides & reviews
- Outlier Review (2026): Pay Rates, Empty Queues, and How to Actually Get Tasks
The biggest name in AI training work — and the one where how you apply decides whether you ever see a task.
- Outlier vs micro1 vs Mercor vs Handshake AI (2026): Compared by Someone on All Four
The four-way head-to-head: pay, gates, task volume, and the right order to apply — from someone on all four platforms.
- Handshake AI Review (2026): Fellowship Pay, Application Process, and Who It Fits
A quick form, no interview, and they often pay you for onboarding assessments — the one everyone should have running in the background.
- How Much Does Training AI Actually Pay in 2026? Real Listed Rates
What generalists, experts, and specialists really earn per hour, from actual listings — and what determines your tier.
- Mercor Review (2026): Real Pay Rates and How Hard the Interview Actually Is
The highest ceilings of any platform — real dashboard rates up to $300/hr, reusable assessments, and months-long response times.
- micro1 Review (2026): Pay Rates, the Zara Interview, and Whether It's Worth It
Long-running, well-managed gigs that pay well — if you can get past the Zara interview. Here's what it pays and how to get in.