The Handshake AI Fellowship and SME Careers both recruit people with degrees and pay weekly. Handshake AI is open to US-based applicants only, states $40 to $125 an hour, and pays through Stripe. SME Careers, SuperAnnotate's expert network, works in any country Deel supports, screens with a recorded AI interview, and pays weekly through Deel; its listings publish a maximum rate only. In the US, compare open roles in your field. Elsewhere, SME Careers is the one open to you.
Quick verdict
Handshake $80/hr median (middle half $75 to $100, 206 distinct listed rates across 210 open listings); SME Careers has too few listed rates for a median (2 of 261 open listings state one). Updated October 4, 2026. How we count.
Typical Pay (Median)
Not comparable
Not enough rate data to compare.
Faster Onboarding
Similar
Handshake: Varies (ID check, background check, assessment) SME Careers: Variable (AI interview, then project matching)
Global Access
Limited to Specific Regions
Handshake: US only (valid work authorization; F-1 CPT/OPT eligible) SME Careers: Countries supported by Deel
Trustpilot Score
SME Careers
Handshake: 1.5/5 SME Careers: 4.3/5
The Case for Handshake
The Handshake AI Fellowship is open to US-based applicants with valid work authorization; F-1 students on CPT or OPT can qualify, STEM OPT is excluded. Onboarding includes an ID check, a background check and an assessment, and no prior AI experience is required. The fellowship page states $40 to $125 an hour, and payouts go out weekly through Stripe. A proposed class action filed in July 2026 alleges fellows are misclassified as contractors.
The Case for SME Careers
SME Careers is SuperAnnotate's network for subject matter experts. You apply with a CV and take a recorded AI interview, some roles add a qualification exam or a call with the recruiting team, and a human makes every final hiring decision. Contracts run through Deel in any country Deel supports, and payouts are weekly for each Monday to Sunday. Listings publish a maximum rate only, so typical pay is below the figure shown.
| Metric | Handshake | SME Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Pay (Median) | $85/hr
Generalist median: $85/hr
Specialist median: $80/hr
| – |
| Payment Schedule | Weekly via Stripe, by Wednesday for the prior Mon-Sun week | Weekly (Deel, Monday to Sunday) |
| Geo Accessibility | US only (valid work authorization; F-1 CPT/OPT eligible) | Countries supported by Deel |
| Onboarding Speed | Varies (ID check, background check, assessment) | Variable (AI interview, then project matching) |
| Top User Complaint | "Employer spam" | "Strict quality control periods" |
| Trustpilot Rating | 1.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Interview Required (from listings) | Not enough tracked listings yet | 100% (n=97) |
Interview, hours, contract-length, and timezone figures come directly from live job listings we track and manually verify, not platform marketing copy.
Handshake
The Handshake AI Fellowship pays people with associate to PhD backgrounds to evaluate and improve AI models. It is open to US-based applicants with valid work authorization, and the fellowship page states $40 to $125 an hour. Onboarding includes an ID check, a background check and an assessment, and payouts go out weekly through Stripe. A proposed class action filed in July 2026 alleges fellows are misclassified as contractors; Handshake had not responded as of August 2026.
- ✓ Fellowship page states $40 to $125 an hour
- ✓ Weekly payouts through Stripe
- ✓ No prior AI experience required
💬 User Feedback
"I still freelance with them. They are kind, helpful and understanding. I am always paid on time and paid very well. The platform connects students with real employers who respect their time."
– Barbara D. • Dec 27
Current Openings
3 latest listings from Handshake
Management Consultant
Technical Professional
Robotics Engineering Expert
SME Careers
SME Careers is SuperAnnotate's network for subject matter experts who train and evaluate AI models. You apply with a CV and take a recorded AI interview, some roles add a qualification exam or a call, and a human makes the final hiring decision. Contracts and weekly payouts run through Deel, in any country Deel supports. Listings publish a maximum rate only, so expect typical pay below the figure shown.
- ✓ Weekly payouts through Deel
- ✓ Open in any country Deel supports
- ✓ A human is involved in every final hiring decision
💬 User Feedback
"The people here are awesome—both the SuperAnnotate team and the high-quality colleagues I worked with. This was my first time, and despite some early snags, the team was incredibly supportive. The work is meaningful and the payment is reliable."
– Tina S. • Nov 2
"SuperAnnotate is a great company. The work has been pretty steady, and the leaders are excellent."
– Michael N. • Nov 2
Current Openings
3 latest listings from SME Careers
Workforce Experience Specialists
Legal & Compliance Specialist
Finance & Accounting Specialist
Handshake vs SME Careers: common questions
- Which pays more, Handshake or SME Careers?
- Handshake $80/hr median (middle half $75 to $100, 206 distinct listed rates across 210 open listings); SME Careers has too few listed rates for a median (2 of 261 open listings state one). Updated October 4, 2026.
- Which is easier to start, Handshake or SME Careers?
- Onboarding time is similar. Handshake: Varies (ID check, background check, assessment). SME Careers: Variable (AI interview, then project matching). Handshake has no interview-rate data yet; 100% of SME Careers's 97 tracked listings require an interview.
- Can I work on both Handshake and SME Careers?
- Yes. Both are independent-contractor platforms with separate accounts and separate payouts (Handshake: Weekly via Stripe, by Wednesday for the prior Mon-Sun week; SME Careers: Weekly (Deel, Monday to Sunday)). 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.