Annotation Insider

Reviews

Platforms

Pay comes from each platform's own job board or its own published bands, and anything repeated from somewhere else names the source and says how much weight it deserves. Every review lists what it could not stand up.

Platforms you sign up to once

These don't post separate roles. You make one profile, pass one screening, and they match you to projects as work comes in.

SME Careers

SuperAnnotate's network of subject-matter experts who train and test AI models. Medicine, law, finance, STEM and language roles.

Fits

Specialists with a degree or hands-on expertise who can wait for a project. Passing screening doesn't come with a start date.

Pay

SME Careers' own job page lists ceilings from $15/hr (language roles) to $120/hr (US legal rubric design), with $100/hr for US healthcare, finance and STEM rubric roles (264 open roles, Oct 16, 2026). Your rate is set per project.

A 15-minute recorded AI video interview, one retake if offered. Paid weekly through Deel.

Sign up at SME CareersRead our SME Careers notes
Handshake AI

Handshake's AI training program. Projects for students, graduates and professionals across many fields.

Fits

Graduates and professionals who want a large pool of projects. After signing up, accept the invite, then search the role title you came for.

Pay

Up to $25–$150/hr ceilings, published per role, per our review (checked Sep 12, 2026).

Sign up at Handshake AIRead our Handshake AI review
Ethos

An expert network running AI training campaigns, with a rate published on every listing and no guaranteed volume.

Fits

Senior professionals with a named-firm background who want a published rate before applying.

Pay

$50–$150/hr advertised, per campaign, per our review (checked Sep 12, 2026).

Sign up at EthosRead our Ethos review

We may earn a referral fee if you sign up and work through these links. It doesn't change what we write. Full disclosure.

What each platform's listings pay
micro1$68/hrMiddle half $47 to $108 an hour, full spread $6 to $400, across 295 priced listings.
Mercor$80/hrMiddle half $55 to $102 an hour, full spread $15 to $350, across 275 priced listings.
Handshake AIup to $80/hrMedian published ceiling $80 an hour. No bottom of the range is published.Ceilings only — a maximum is published, a bottom is not.
Ethos$70/hrMiddle half $70 to $75 an hour, full spread $70 to $80, across 3 priced listings.
Turing—No rate published
SME Careers—No rate published
DataAnnotation—No rate published
$0$50$100$150+
Full spreadMiddle halfMedian listing

Advertised rates read from each platform's own listings, October 28, 2026. Handshake AI publishes a maximum rather than a range, so only the median ceiling is plotted. Turing, SME Careers and DataAnnotation publish no hourly rate, so there is nothing to average.

Compare at a glance

7 platforms, only the dimensions where they differ. Board figures read October 28, 2026.

  • micro1

    Published pay
    $68/hr medianmiddle half $47–$108
    Application
    Interview / vetted (per platform)
    Availability
    Global
    Where the rate comes from
    Platform-published

  • Mercor

    Published pay
    $80/hr medianmiddle half $55–$102
    Application
    Interview / vetted
    Availability
    Global
    Where the rate comes from
    Platform-published

  • Handshake AI

    Published pay
    up to $80/hr medianceilings run $15–$300
    Application
    Interview / vetted (per platform)
    Availability
    Global
    Where the rate comes from
    Platform-published

  • Ethos

    Published pay
    $70/hr medianmiddle half $70–$75
    Application
    Interview / vetted
    Availability
    Not published by the platform
    Where the rate comes from
    Platform-published

  • Turing

    Published pay
    No rate published
    Application
    Interview / vetted
    Availability
    Global
    Where the rate comes from
    No rate published

  • SME Careers

    Published pay
    No rate published
    Application
    Interview / vetted (per platform)
    Availability
    40+ countries, varies by role
    Where the rate comes from
    No rate published

  • DataAnnotation

    Published pay
    No rate published
    Application
    Interview / vetted (per platform)
    Availability
    Not published by the platform
    Where the rate comes from
    No rate published
Verified first-handPlatform-publishedWorker reportsUnverified claimNo mark: the platform publishes nothing to source.
Full micro1 vs Mercor comparison →Full micro1 vs Handshake AI comparison →Full micro1 vs Ethos comparison →Full micro1 vs Turing comparison →Full micro1 vs SME Careers comparison →Full micro1 vs DataAnnotation comparison →Full Mercor vs Handshake AI comparison →Full Mercor vs Ethos comparison →Full Mercor vs Turing comparison →Full Mercor vs SME Careers comparison →Full Mercor vs DataAnnotation comparison →Full Handshake AI vs Ethos comparison →Full Handshake AI vs Turing comparison →Full Handshake AI vs SME Careers comparison →Full Handshake AI vs DataAnnotation comparison →Full Ethos vs Turing comparison →Full Ethos vs SME Careers comparison →Full Ethos vs DataAnnotation comparison →Full Turing vs SME Careers comparison →Full Turing vs DataAnnotation comparison →Full SME Careers vs DataAnnotation comparison →

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