Head-to-head
Handshake AI vs Outlier (Scale AI)
Which pays more, which is easier to start, and which fits the work you want. Compared on real pay, work model, payout, and the roles open right now.
Handshake AI
Outlier (Scale AI)Handshake AI vs Outlier (Scale AI): the short answer
, AITraining.jobs lists 170 open Handshake AI roles (typical pay $55 to $150 an hour, median $90) and 5 open Outlier (Scale AI) roles.
Handshake AI pays more on typical work ($55-$150/hr typical (live median $90) vs Outlier (Scale AI)'s $15–$50/hr; specialists to ~$100/hr), and its ceiling is higher too.
Both are expert networks, so the barrier to start is similar: gated by a screen for a degree, professional expertise, or a skills test.
Both hire for AI Evaluation, Coding, Math & STEM, Domain Experts, and Writing; Handshake AI also covers Agentic & RL Envs; Outlier (Scale AI) also covers Multilingual.
Right now Handshake AI has more live roles (170 vs 5).
Bottom line: Handshake AI pays more while the barrier to start is similar, so pick Handshake AI for the higher rate, or Outlier (Scale AI) if its specific work fits you better.
| Handshake AI | Outlier (Scale AI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay | $55-$150/hr typical (live median $90) | $15–$50/hr; specialists to ~$100/hr |
| Work model | Expert network · Credentialed US talent | Expert network · Expert queue (Scale AI) |
| Kinds of work | AI Evaluation, Coding, Math & STEM, Domain Experts, Agentic & RL Envs, and Writing | AI Evaluation, Writing, Coding, Math & STEM, Domain Experts, and Multilingual |
| How you get paid | Weekly through Stripe (set up in Handshake AI): Handshake sends each Monday-to-Sunday week's pay to its pay partners by Wednesday afternoon; a W-9 or W-8BEN is required (Handshake AI support, read 2026-10-14). | Weekly (Tuesdays) via PayPal, Airtm or ACH bank transfer. |
| Where you can work | Primarily US-based with valid work authorization (F-1 students may qualify); some international SWE roles. | Global remote; English projects dominate, with multilingual projects. |
| Open roles now | 170 live | 5 live |
| Worker sentiment | Trustpilot 1.8/5 (28 reviews), read 15 Oct 2026 | Trustpilot 4.1/5 (5,505 reviews, bimodal), read 15 Oct 2026 |
Pay shows each platform's live measured band where its feed has enough hourly-stated roles, otherwise our compiled benchmark. How we compile pay.
Best for professionals and specialists chasing the highest rates.
170 open roles now →Best for people with a degree or professional skills who want vetted, higher-skill work.
5 open roles now →Some links on AITraining.jobs are referral links. If you sign up through one, AITraining.jobs may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what a platform pays you.
Get new AI training jobs by email
The newest paid roles across every platform we track, with real hourly pay, in one weekly email. Free, and unsubscribe anytime.
We email new roles, not spam. One click to unsubscribe.
Handshake AI vs Outlier (Scale AI): common questions
Which pays more, Handshake AI or Outlier (Scale AI)?
Handshake AI pays more on typical work ($55-$150/hr typical (live median $90) vs Outlier (Scale AI)'s $15–$50/hr; specialists to ~$100/hr), and its ceiling is higher too.
Is Handshake AI or Outlier (Scale AI) easier to get started with?
Both are expert networks, so the barrier to start is similar: gated by a screen for a degree, professional expertise, or a skills test.
Can you work on both Handshake AI and Outlier (Scale AI)?
Yes. They are independent platforms, and many contributors join several at once to keep a steady flow of work, especially since both hire for AI Evaluation, Coding, Math & STEM, Domain Experts, and Writing. Signing up for one does not affect the other.