We have a paid referral link for Mercor, not for DataAnnotation. Both are compared on the same criteria and dates, and the referral doesn't change what we show.

Compare · AI training & evaluation · updated 13 Oct 2026

DataAnnotation vs Mercor

Quick take

Mercor pays more per hour in practice: about $83/h at the middle of its realistic range, against $30/h on DataAnnotation.
DataAnnotation pays sooner: first money from 3 days, against 7 on Mercor.
Mercor is open in more places (worldwide, except Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria) than DataAnnotation (6 countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland and 2 more).
Neither costs anything to start.
DataAnnotation is turbulent with grade B (reliable source); Mercor is turbulent with grade A (official source).

Side by side

DataAnnotation and Mercor compared on the same fields and dates
	DataAnnotation Grade B: Reliable source Grade B means: Reliable source. The grade says how well-sourced this page is, not how good DataAnnotation is. More in the glossary Turbulent status, as of 13 Oct 2026 Checked 4 days ago	Mercor Grade A: Official source Grade A means: Official source. The grade says how well-sourced this page is, not how good Mercor is. More in the glossary Turbulent status, as of 13 Oct 2026 Checked 4 days ago
Realistic pay	≈ $14–45/h Realistic hourly equivalent	≈ $16–150/h Realistic hourly equivalent
Advertised	$20–150/h what the platform says	$20–250/h what the platform says
Median listed rate	—	$75/h aitrainer.work (P. Romeo), 12 Oct 2026
At 10 h/week	≈ $602–1,935/mo our estimate	≈ $688–6,450/mo our estimate
First money	3–30 days 1–2 h unpaid Starter Assessment; decision can take days to weeks	7–60 days Days to weeks from application to first contract; first Stripe payout has a 7-day hold
Fees	none	None for talent; instant payout 1% (optional)
Cost to start	$0	$0
Hours	no minimum fully async	no minimum async (some projects set weekly caps or minimums)
Where it's open	6 countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland and 2 more	Worldwide, except Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria
Education	bachelor's or equivalent experience (reported)	varies by listing; top rates need graduate degree, license or senior industry experience
Status	Turbulent as of 13 Oct 2026	Turbulent as of 13 Oct 2026
Grade	B · Reliable source 6 sourced facts	A · Official source 11 sourced facts
Checked	13 Oct 2026	13 Oct 2026
The catch	One attempt only, no feedback	2026: a reported data breach via a supply-chain attack on the LiteLLM library was followed by six proposed class actions (pending, allegations not proven). The platform collects ID documents and biometric data for verification, so the stakes of a breach are high

Pay figures are what platforms advertise or what workers report, each with its date. They are not typical or guaranteed earnings: yours depend on your skills, hours, location and how much work is available. Each figure has its source on the entry's page.