The directory

Every platform I've vetted.

Real pay ranges, an honest take on each, and a referral link only where I genuinely hold one. No filler, no hype.

Babel Audio

referral link

$17.5–28/hr

Get paid to have recorded conversations that train voice AI — the most consistent work in my setup.

My personal sign-up link — Babel's referral bonus isn't published, so I may or may not earn from it, and it never changes your pay.

Pila8

referral link

$6–6/hr

Record short voice and video clips that train speech AI — zero interview, just a mic check and a sample.

I earn 25 credits (~$2.50) when your first upload is approved — it never changes your pay.

Mercor

referral link

$65–90/hr

Expert AI-work marketplace; the highest ceiling of the platforms I work.

I earn 20% of what you earn, up to a cap, if you sign up via my link — it never changes your pay.

micro1

referral link

$20–45/hr

AI-vetted talent platform; flat referral bounties, and anyone can hold a link.

I earn a flat per-hire bonus if you're hired through my link — it never changes your pay.

Handshake AI

referral link

$25–50/hr

Beginner-friendly AI training work — no interview to get started.

I earn 10% of your first-project hourly rate per hour worked, up to a cap, if you sign up via my link — it never changes your pay.

Alignerr

referral link

$25–125/hr

Design AI-training tasks in your own domain; acceptance can take a while.

I earn $150 total ($25 onboarding + $125 after 10 hrs) if you come through my link — it never changes your pay.

AfterQuery

referral link

$25–75/hr

YC-backed expert platform; project-based, high pay, work comes in waves.

My personal apply link — AfterQuery's referral bonus isn't published, so I may or may not earn from it, and it never changes your pay.

Ethos

referral link

$50–225/hr

An AI-run expert network for credentialed professionals — advisory calls, research, and AI-training projects. Not beginner annotation work.

My personal referral link — Ethos's member-referral bonus isn't published, so I may or may not earn from it, and it never changes your pay.

DataAnnotation

no code · guide

$22.5–30/hr

The #1 beginner search term; written assessment, no credential barrier.

honest guide Details →

Outlier

no code · guide

$15–25/hr

Big and controversial; queues can run empty. I work it, no code to give you.

honest guide Details →

Turing

referral link

$20–40/hr

AI company with image/video annotation roles; remote work advancing frontier models.

I earn a bonus if you sign up via this link — it never changes your pay.

Remotasks

no program

$5–15/hr

Low pay, both-sides $10 referral, but work is real.

honest guide Details →

Prolific

no program

$19–20/hr

Research studies, not annotation — but a zero-credential AI-studies on-ramp at ~$19–20/hr.

honest guide Details →

Surge

no program

$18–24/hr

Invite-only, pay claims contradict wildly; nobody explains how to actually get in.

honest guide Details →