Mercor and SME Careers both hire subject matter experts after an AI interview, and both pay weekly. Mercor pays every Wednesday through Stripe or Wise in 130+ countries, with a $75 median listed rate across the most open roles we track. SME Careers, SuperAnnotate's network, records an AI interview, sometimes adds an exam or a call, and pays weekly through Deel in any country Deel supports; its listings publish a maximum rate only. Mercor has more roles. SME Careers covers any Deel country.
Quick verdict
Mercor $75/hr median (middle half $50 to $100, 1,361 distinct listed rates across 1,404 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
Mercor: Varies (AI interview, then a client match) SME Careers: Variable (AI interview, then project matching)
Global Access
Limited to Specific Regions
Mercor: 130+ countries via Stripe, plus Brazil, UAE, Nepal and Turkey via Wise SME Careers: Countries supported by Deel
Trustpilot Score
Mercor
Mercor: 4.5/5 SME Careers: 4.3/5
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.
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 | Mercor | SME Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Pay (Median) | $75/hr
Generalist median: $75/hr
Specialist median: $75/hr
| – |
| Payment Schedule | Weekly, every Wednesday (Stripe or Wise) | Weekly (Deel, Monday to Sunday) |
| Geo Accessibility | 130+ countries via Stripe, plus Brazil, UAE, Nepal and Turkey via Wise | Countries supported by Deel |
| Onboarding Speed | Varies (AI interview, then a client match) | Variable (AI interview, then project matching) |
| Top User Complaint | "Strict activity tracking" | "Strict quality control periods" |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Interview Required (from listings) | 98% (n=143) | 100% (n=97) |
| 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) | Not enough tracked listings yet |
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)
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
Mercor vs SME Careers: common questions
- Which pays more, Mercor or SME Careers?
- Mercor $75/hr median (middle half $50 to $100, 1,361 distinct listed rates across 1,404 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, Mercor or SME Careers?
- Onboarding time is similar. Mercor: Varies (AI interview, then a client match). SME Careers: Variable (AI interview, then project matching). 98% of Mercor's 143 tracked listings require an interview; 100% of SME Careers's 97 tracked listings require an interview.
- Can I work on both Mercor and SME Careers?
- Yes. Both are independent-contractor platforms with separate accounts and separate payouts (Mercor: Weekly, every Wednesday (Stripe or Wise); 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.