Pay side by side
What each pays per hour
Typical range, median, and the range of the top 10% of roles.
- Handshake AI 230 roles median $80/hr top 10% $125–300
- DataAnnotation 112 roles median $85/hr top 10% $85–95
Choose Handshake AI if
- you work in other expertise and maths & stem
- you're aiming for the top rates ($125+/hr for its top 10%)
- you want more roles to choose from
Handshake’s AI fellowship: students, graduates and PhDs evaluate and improve AI models on flexible part-time projects (US, India and Canada).
See 230 Handshake AI rolesChoose DataAnnotation if
- you work in languages & translation and finance & accounting
Surge AI’s contributor platform: self-scheduled AI evaluation and writing work for generalists and specialists.
See 112 DataAnnotation rolesHandshake AI vs DataAnnotation: common questions
Does Handshake AI or DataAnnotation pay more?
As of 19 October 2026, DataAnnotation pays more at the median: $85/hr against $80/hr for Handshake AI. The top 10% of roles pay $125+/hr on Handshake AI and $85+/hr on DataAnnotation.
Which has more jobs, Handshake AI or DataAnnotation?
Handshake AI has more open roles today: 230 against 112. 1 Handshake AI roles and 0 DataAnnotation roles were posted in the last week.
Can I work for both Handshake AI and DataAnnotation?
Both hire independent contractors, and their job postings don't ask you to work only for them. Check each platform's contractor terms before you sign, as some projects come with confidentiality or exclusivity rules.