Pay side by side
What each pays per hour
Typical range, median, and the range of the top 10% of roles.
- Mercor 286 roles median $80/hr top 10% $130–400
- DataAnnotation 112 roles median $85/hr top 10% $85–95
Choose Mercor if
- you work in other expertise and maths & stem
- you're aiming for the top rates ($130+/hr for its top 10%)
- you want more roles to choose from
Expert network that hires professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers, PhDs and more) for AI lab projects. Applications include a short AI interview.
See 286 Mercor 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 rolesMercor vs DataAnnotation: common questions
Does Mercor or DataAnnotation pay more?
As of 19 October 2026, DataAnnotation pays more at the median: $85/hr against $80/hr for Mercor. The top 10% of roles pay $130+/hr on Mercor and $85+/hr on DataAnnotation.
Which has more jobs, Mercor or DataAnnotation?
Mercor has more open roles today: 286 against 112. 40 Mercor roles and 0 DataAnnotation roles were posted in the last week.
Can I work for both Mercor 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.