The Handshake AI Fellowship and Turing both screen experts before paid work starts. Handshake AI is US-only, states $40 to $125 an hour, and onboards with ID, background and assessment checks before weekly Stripe payouts. Turing has you set your expected rate, then runs skill assessments and live interviews before matching you to post-training projects for AI labs, and it does not publish rates. Handshake AI publishes its range. Turing is open outside the US and hires heavily for software engineering.
Quick verdict
Handshake $80/hr median (middle half $75 to $100, 206 distinct listed rates across 210 open listings); Turing publishes no rates on its 359 open listings. Updated October 4, 2026. How we count.
Typical Pay (Median)
Not comparable
Turing doesn't publish rates on its listings, so there's nothing to compare.
Faster Onboarding
Similar
Handshake: Varies (ID check, background check, assessment) Turing: Slow (assessments, interviews, then a client match)
Global Access
Limited to Specific Regions
Handshake: US only (valid work authorization; F-1 CPT/OPT eligible) Turing: Set per listing
Trustpilot Score
Turing
Handshake: 1.5/5 Turing: 4.33/5
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 Turing
Turing is a San Francisco company, founded in 2018, that post-trains large language models for AI labs. You set your expected rate on your profile, then take skill assessments and live interviews before a client match, and strong written English is required. Turing does not publish rates, so figures on our Turing job cards are our estimate. Its help centre says contractors are paid every two weeks by bank transfer.
| Metric | Handshake | Turing |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Pay (Median) | $85/hr
Generalist median: $85/hr
Specialist median: $80/hr
| Not published Turing doesn't list rates. How we handle pay |
| Payment Schedule | Weekly via Stripe, by Wednesday for the prior Mon-Sun week | Every two weeks (bank transfer) |
| Geo Accessibility | US only (valid work authorization; F-1 CPT/OPT eligible) | Set per listing |
| Onboarding Speed | Varies (ID check, background check, assessment) | Slow (assessments, interviews, then a client match) |
| Top User Complaint | "Employer spam" | "Project-based work (1-3 months typical duration)" |
| Trustpilot Rating | 1.5/5 | 4.33/5 |
| Interview Required (from listings) | Not enough tracked listings yet | 85% (n=80) |
| Typical Contract Length (from listings) | Not enough tracked listings yet | 8.4–14.8 weeks (n=49) |
| Full-Time Commitment (35+ hrs/wk, from listings) | Not enough tracked listings yet | 30% (n=153) |
| Full PST Overlap Required (from listings) | Not enough tracked listings yet | 0% (n=144) |
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
Turing
Turing is a San Francisco company, founded in 2018, that post-trains large language models for AI labs. You set your expected rate on your profile, then take skill assessments and live interviews before a client match, and strong written English is required on every track. Turing does not publish rates, so figures on our Turing job cards are our estimate. Its help centre says contractors are paid every two weeks by bank transfer.
- ✓ You set your expected rate on your profile
- ✓ Remote work with US companies
- ✓ Raised a $111M Series E at a $2.2B valuation (March 2025)
💬 User Feedback
"Working remotely with Turing has eased my life. Whenever I face any difficulties, I approach the developer success team; they are available 24*7. I'm currently doing my master's, and I can manage my job and studies as I now have a flexible schedule. The payment is not an issue anymore; I get my salary on time."
– Satisfied Developer • Jun 20
"Good platform overall. Good pay and transparent communication. Only issue is that sometimes the approval process for opportunities takes too long."
– Engineer • Sep 2
Current Openings
3 latest listings from Turing
Biomedical Informatics SME
CAD and Engineering Expert
Development and Programming Expert
Handshake vs Turing: common questions
- Which pays more, Handshake or Turing?
- Handshake $80/hr median (middle half $75 to $100, 206 distinct listed rates across 210 open listings); Turing publishes no rates on its 359 open listings. Updated October 4, 2026.
- Which is easier to start, Handshake or Turing?
- Onboarding time is similar. Handshake: Varies (ID check, background check, assessment). Turing: Slow (assessments, interviews, then a client match). Handshake has no interview-rate data yet; 85% of Turing's 80 tracked listings require an interview.
- Can I work on both Handshake and Turing?
- Yes. Both are independent-contractor platforms with separate accounts and separate payouts (Handshake: Weekly via Stripe, by Wednesday for the prior Mon-Sun week; Turing: Every two weeks (bank transfer)). 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.