Mercor and Micro1 both vet experts with an AI interview, and both hire across law, medicine, finance, software and languages. Mercor lists the most open roles of any platform we track, with a $75 median listed rate, and pays every Wednesday through Stripe or Wise in 130+ countries. Micro1 has a $67.50 median, its highest rates in legal and healthcare roles, and pays in USD twice a month through Deel, open to most countries. Mercor pays more often. Micro1's results can arrive the next day.
Quick verdict
Mercor pays more on live listings: Mercor $75/hr median (middle half $50 to $100, 1,361 distinct listed rates across 1,404 open listings) vs Micro1 $70/hr median (middle half $35 to $115, 328 distinct listed rates across 393 open listings). Updated October 4, 2026. How we count.
Typical Pay (Median)
Mercor
$75/hr listed median · 7% higher
Faster Onboarding
Micro1
Mercor: Varies (AI interview, then a client match) Micro1: Fast (AI interview, results can arrive the next day)
Global Access
Limited to Specific Regions
Mercor: 130+ countries via Stripe, plus Brazil, UAE, Nepal and Turkey via Wise Micro1: Global, except about 20 listed countries
Trustpilot Score
Micro1
Mercor: 4.5/5 Micro1: 4.6/5
The Case for Mercor
Mercor lists more open roles than any other platform we track, across law, medicine, finance, software, STEM and languages, with a $75 median listed rate. One AI interview and a one-time ID check cover every role, and pay lands every Wednesday via Stripe or Wise.
The Case for Micro1
Micro1 vets you once with its AI interviewer, Zara, and results can arrive the next day. Its listed rates have a $67.50 median, with legal and healthcare roles posting the highest. Pay runs through Deel in USD twice a month, and it is open to most countries.
| Metric | Mercor | Micro1 |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Pay (Median) | $75/hr
Generalist median: $75/hr
Specialist median: $75/hr
| $58/hr
Generalist median: $57.5/hr
Specialist median: $70/hr
|
| Payment Schedule | Weekly, every Wednesday (Stripe or Wise) | Twice a month in USD (Deel) |
| Geo Accessibility | 130+ countries via Stripe, plus Brazil, UAE, Nepal and Turkey via Wise | Global, except about 20 listed countries |
| Onboarding Speed | Varies (AI interview, then a client match) | Fast (AI interview, results can arrive the next day) |
| Top User Complaint | "Strict activity tracking" | "Unpaid training steps" |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Interview Required (from listings) | 98% (n=143) | 100% (n=42) |
| Typical Contract Length (from listings) | 3–23.5 weeks (n=121) | Not enough tracked listings yet |
| Full-Time Commitment (35+ hrs/wk, from listings) | 4% (n=554) | 0% (n=92) |
Interview, hours, contract-length, and timezone figures come directly from live job listings we track and manually verify, not platform marketing copy.
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)
Micro1
Micro1 vets professionals once with its AI interviewer, Zara, then matches them to projects that train and evaluate AI models. Engineering is one track among many: legal, healthcare, STEM, business and language roles make up most of the board. Listed hourly rates have a $67.50 median, legal and healthcare roles post the highest, and pay runs through Deel in USD twice a month.
- ✓ One AI interview covers future role matches
- ✓ Paid in USD twice a month through Deel
- ✓ Open to most countries worldwide
💬 User Feedback
"Everything was good. Only after the interview it asked me to upload my CV but suddenly the screen changed before I could upload it. Minor hiccup aside, the AI interview process was smooth and professional."
– Hassan • Jan 22
"The entire interview setup was incredibly exemplary. I barely found any hitch or difficulties while answering the questions. The AI interviewer was responsive and the process felt natural."
– Arham • Jan 22
Current Openings
3 latest listings from Micro1
Simulation Expert — Real-to-Sim 3D Environments & Assets
Investment Banking Associate
Korean Language Expert
Mercor vs Micro1: common questions
- Which pays more, Mercor or Micro1?
- Mercor pays more on live listings: Mercor $75/hr median (middle half $50 to $100, 1,361 distinct listed rates across 1,404 open listings) vs Micro1 $70/hr median (middle half $35 to $115, 328 distinct listed rates across 393 open listings). Updated October 4, 2026.
- Which is easier to start, Mercor or Micro1?
- Micro1 onboards faster. Mercor: Varies (AI interview, then a client match). Micro1: Fast (AI interview, results can arrive the next day). 98% of Mercor's 143 tracked listings require an interview; 100% of Micro1's 42 tracked listings require an interview.
- Can I work on both Mercor and Micro1?
- Yes. Both are independent-contractor platforms with separate accounts and separate payouts (Mercor: Weekly, every Wednesday (Stripe or Wise); Micro1: Twice a month in USD (Deel)). 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.