Head-to-head
Mercor vs Alignerr
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.
Mercor
AlignerrMercor vs Alignerr: the short answer
, AITraining.jobs lists 232 open Mercor roles (typical pay $55 to $150 an hour, median $75) and 394 open Alignerr roles (typical pay $35 to $130 an hour, median $60).
Mercor pays more on typical work ($55-$150/hr typical (live median $75) vs Alignerr's $35-$130/hr typical (live median $60)), 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 Domain Experts, Coding, Math & STEM, Agentic & RL Envs, AI Evaluation, and Writing; Mercor also covers Red-Teaming; Alignerr also covers Transcription & Audio.
Right now Alignerr has more live roles (394 vs 232).
Bottom line: Mercor pays more while the barrier to start is similar, so pick Mercor for the higher rate, or Alignerr if its specific work fits you better.
| Mercor | Alignerr | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay | $55-$150/hr typical (live median $75) | $35-$130/hr typical (live median $60) |
| Work model | Expert network · Expert credential marketplace | Expert network · Expert task-authoring |
| Kinds of work | Domain Experts, Coding, Math & STEM, Agentic & RL Envs, AI Evaluation, Red-Teaming, and Writing | AI Evaluation, Coding, Math & STEM, Domain Experts, Agentic & RL Envs, Writing, and Transcription & Audio |
| How you get paid | Weekly via Stripe (1099 contractors). | Stripe Connect or PayPal by region; direct deposit. |
| Where you can work | Global (45+ countries); many projects timezone- or country-restricted (US/UK/AU premiums). | Global, remote-first; roles region-targeted (US, UK, EU, Australia, Singapore, Brazil, Philippines). |
| Open roles now | 232 live | 394 live |
| Worker sentiment | Glassdoor ~4.0/5; ~81% would recommend | Trustpilot ~4.5/5; independent worker sentiment declined in 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.
232 open roles now →Best for people with a degree or professional skills who want vetted, higher-skill work.
394 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.
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Mercor vs Alignerr: common questions
Which pays more, Mercor or Alignerr?
Mercor pays more on typical work ($55-$150/hr typical (live median $75) vs Alignerr's $35-$130/hr typical (live median $60)), and its ceiling is higher too.
Is Mercor or Alignerr 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 Mercor and Alignerr?
Yes. They are independent platforms, and many contributors join several at once to keep a steady flow of work, especially since both hire for Domain Experts, Coding, Math & STEM, Agentic & RL Envs, AI Evaluation, and Writing. Signing up for one does not affect the other.