DataAnnotation Tech and Mercor take different routes to the same kind of work. DataAnnotation states $25 to $150 an hour on its homepage, admits you through one Starter Assessment with no retakes, and pays by PayPal on request, with no minimum hours. Mercor screens with an AI interview and a one-time ID check, lists the most open roles of any platform we track, with a $75 median listed rate, and pays every Wednesday in 130+ countries. DataAnnotation suits flexible hours around another job. Mercor suits professionals who want to apply to named roles.
Quick verdict
DataAnnotation Tech has too few listed rates for a median (0 of 0 open listings state one); Mercor $75/hr median (middle half $50 to $100, 1,361 distinct listed rates across 1,404 open listings). Updated October 4, 2026. How we count.
Typical Pay (Median)
Mercor
$75/hr · 200% higher
Faster Onboarding
Similar
DataAnnotation Tech: Variable (no notice if the assessment does not pass) Mercor: Varies (AI interview, then a client match)
Global Access
Limited to Specific Regions
DataAnnotation Tech: Not published (FAQ lists no countries) Mercor: 130+ countries via Stripe, plus Brazil, UAE, Nepal and Turkey via Wise
Trustpilot Score
Mercor
DataAnnotation Tech: 4.25/5 Mercor: 4.5/5
The Case for DataAnnotation Tech
DataAnnotation admits you through a one-hour Starter Assessment that can only be taken once. Its homepage states $25 to $150 an hour, and its FAQ lists general projects from $25 to $50+ and coding projects from $40 to $150+. You withdraw whenever you like and PayPal delivers within a few days. The FAQ does not list which countries are eligible.
The Case for Mercor
Mercor screens every applicant with an AI interview and a one-time Persona identity check, then matches you to roles as clients need them. It lists more open roles than any other platform we track, with a $75 median listed rate and an average contracted rate of $109 an hour stated on its homepage. Pay lands every Wednesday through Stripe or Wise, in 130+ countries, into an account in your own legal name.
| Metric | DataAnnotation Tech | Mercor |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Pay (Median) | $25/hr
Generalist median: $25/hr
Specialist median: $40/hr
| $75/hr
Generalist median: $75/hr
Specialist median: $75/hr
|
| Payment Schedule | On request (PayPal, delivered within a few days) | Weekly, every Wednesday (Stripe or Wise) |
| Geo Accessibility | Not published (FAQ lists no countries) | 130+ countries via Stripe, plus Brazil, UAE, Nepal and Turkey via Wise |
| Onboarding Speed | Variable (no notice if the assessment does not pass) | Varies (AI interview, then a client match) |
| Top User Complaint | "Sudden 'ghosting' (No work available)" | "Strict activity tracking" |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.25/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Interview Required (from listings) | Not enough tracked listings yet | 98% (n=143) |
| Typical Contract Length (from listings) | Not enough tracked listings yet | 3–23.5 weeks (n=121) |
| Full-Time Commitment (35+ hrs/wk, from listings) | Not enough tracked listings yet | 4% (n=554) |
Interview, hours, contract-length, and timezone figures come directly from live job listings we track and manually verify, not platform marketing copy.
DataAnnotation Tech
DataAnnotation pays remote contractors to rank AI responses, check facts, label data and write code, on their own schedule with no minimum hours. Its homepage states $25 to $150 an hour: general projects start at $25 to $50+ and coding projects at $40 to $150+. You get in by passing a one-hour Starter Assessment that can't be retaken, and you withdraw by PayPal whenever you like. Its FAQ doesn't list eligible countries, and support is minimal.
- ✓ States $25 to $150/hr, with coding projects at the top
- ✓ Withdraw by PayPal whenever you like
- ✓ Complete schedule freedom
💬 User Feedback
"Allows you to work on your own schedule, provides engaging tasks and projects, and fantastic experience working with AI models with a vast variety of goals. Not a scam whatsoever—this platform has been reliable and pays well."
– Martin • Dec 25
"When there were projects to work on I never had an issue. Payments are on the spot and always accurate. I wish I could work on more projects but there hasn't been any available for a while now."
– Vittorio F. • Dec 19
Mercor
Mercor hires professionals as contractors to train and evaluate AI models, with more open roles than any other platform we track. Fields run from law, medicine and finance to software, STEM and languages, and listed hourly rates have a $75 median. You apply with one AI interview and a one-time Persona ID check, and pay lands every Wednesday via Stripe or Wise.
- ✓ Paid every Wednesday for the previous work week
- ✓ More open roles than any other platform we track
- ✓ Homepage states an average contracted rate of $109/hr
💬 User Feedback
"Mercor was my first experience with training AI and working intensely in a remote setting. I've been around for six months plus and while nothing is perfect, Mercor is darned close. I've met some amazing colleagues and learned a tremendous amount about AI."
– Steven W. • Jan 22
"Out of all the AI training companies I've worked for, Mercor has the highest pay rates and the most available projects. Even though it can take a while to get accepted into a project, it's definitely worth the wait."
– B Maly • Jan 20
Current Openings
3 latest listings from Mercor
Multimodal Image Expert
Task Writer: Project Agentic-MME
Baseball Fan – Live MLB Game AI Evaluator (US)
DataAnnotation Tech vs Mercor: common questions
- Which pays more, DataAnnotation Tech or Mercor?
- DataAnnotation Tech has too few listed rates for a median (0 of 0 open listings state one); Mercor $75/hr median (middle half $50 to $100, 1,361 distinct listed rates across 1,404 open listings). Updated October 4, 2026.
- Which is easier to start, DataAnnotation Tech or Mercor?
- Onboarding time is similar. DataAnnotation Tech: Variable (no notice if the assessment does not pass). Mercor: Varies (AI interview, then a client match). DataAnnotation Tech has no interview-rate data yet; 98% of Mercor's 143 tracked listings require an interview.
- Can I work on both DataAnnotation Tech and Mercor?
- Yes. Both are independent-contractor platforms with separate accounts and separate payouts (DataAnnotation Tech: On request (PayPal, delivered within a few days); Mercor: Weekly, every Wednesday (Stripe or Wise)). Exclusivity, where it exists, is set per project in the agreement you sign, so check each project's terms before overlapping hours.
Both platforms are legitimate and widely used. The best choice depends on your background, goals, and location.