How to Make Money Training AI: The Complete Roadmap (2026)
A comprehensive guide to earning income as an AI Trainer. Learn the difference between RLHF and domain expertise, find the highest-paying platforms, and start your first contract.
AI Training is the fastest-growing remote gig economy sector. But with dozens of platforms popping up, it is hard to know which ones are legit and which ones pay fair rates.
This guide breaks down the two main career paths and the best platforms to apply to right now.
The Generalist
You have strong logic, writing, and research skills, but no specific PhD or advanced degree.
- $ Pay: \$15 - \$25 / hour
- ★ Tasks: Fact-checking, creative writing, rating responses, simple logic puzzles.
- ➜ Best Platforms: Alignerr, Mindrift, Outlier.
The Domain Expert
You have a degree or professional experience in Coding, Law, Medicine, Math, or Science.
- $$$ Pay: \$40 - \$100+ / hour
- ★ Tasks: Writing code solutions, debugging, legal analysis, solving complex math proofs.
- ➜ Best Platforms: SME Careers, Mercor, Micro1.
Top Platforms Hiring Now
While giants like Scale AI (Outlier) and DataAnnotation are popular, they are often overcrowded. We recommend prioritizing these platforms which offer faster onboarding or higher pay tiers.
SME Careers (SuperAnnotate)
Weekly (via Deel)
The 'Pro' league. If you have a PhD, Master's, or significant industry experience, this is your home. They focus purely on high-complexity data generation and pay accordingly.
Alignerr (Labelbox)
Bi-weekly (via Deel)
The best new alternative to Outlier. Known for a cleaner interface and transparent Slack community. Great for Generalists, Coders, and Language experts.
Mercor
Contract Dependent
Not a task site, but a career accelerator. They use AI to match elite developers and experts with full-time contracts at Silicon Valley AI labs.
Micro1
Bi-weekly
Global hiring for top-tier engineers. If you can pass a hard coding assessment, you can earn $30-$50/hr from almost anywhere in the world.
Polish Your "Digital Paper Trail"
These platforms use automated background checks. Ensure your LinkedIn profile matches the resume you upload perfectly. If you claim to be a coder, have a GitHub link. If you claim to be a writer, have a portfolio link. Discrepancies here trigger instant automated rejection.
Take the Assessment Seriously
This is where 90% of people fail. They treat the assessment like a casual survey. Treat it like a final exam.
- Set aside 2-3 hours of uninterrupted time.
- Read the instructions twice before starting.
- Use Grammarly (or similar) to ensure your writing is perfect.
- Do not use AI to write your answers. They have sophisticated detectors for this specific thing. Using ChatGPT to pass an AI training test is the fastest way to get banned.
Diversify Your Portfolio
Platform stability is volatile. Projects end without warning. The "Pro" strategy is to be onboarded on at least 3 different platforms.
Strategy: Apply to Alignerr for general work, and SME Careers for high-ticket "sprints."
Is this available globally? ▼
It depends on the platform. Platforms like Micro1 and Mindrift hire globally, including LATAM, Europe, and Asia. Others favor US/UK.
Do I need to pay to join? ▼
NEVER. Legitimate AI training platforms will never ask you for a "registration fee," "training fee," or "equipment fee." If a site asks you for money, it is a scam.
How do taxes work? ▼
You are an Independent Contractor (1099). The platforms pay you the full amount, and you are responsible for saving a percentage for taxes at the end of the year. They do not withhold taxes for you.
Latest AI Training Opportunities
Found 4 jobs matching "AI Trainer"