Head-to-head
Terac vs Mercor
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.
Terac
MercorTerac vs Mercor: the short answer
, AITraining.jobs lists 25 open Terac roles (typical pay $55 to $105 an hour, median $85) and 232 open Mercor roles (typical pay $55 to $150 an hour, median $75).
Pay is broadly comparable: Terac typically runs $55-$105/hr typical (live median $85) and Mercor $55-$150/hr typical (live median $75).
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 Red-Teaming; Terac also covers Data Annotation and Studies & Surveys; Mercor also covers Agentic & RL Envs and Writing.
Right now Mercor has more live roles (232 vs 25).
Bottom line: these two are closely matched on pay and the barrier to entry, so choose on the specific work each hires for.
| Terac | Mercor | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical pay | $55-$105/hr typical (live median $85) | $55-$150/hr typical (live median $75) |
| Work model | Expert network · Verified-expert marketplace | Expert network · Expert credential marketplace |
| Kinds of work | Data Annotation, AI Evaluation, Coding, Math & STEM, Domain Experts, Studies & Surveys, and Red-Teaming | Domain Experts, Coding, Math & STEM, Agentic & RL Envs, AI Evaluation, Red-Teaming, and Writing |
| How you get paid | Terac wallet, cashed out through Whop: $12.50 minimum, up to $10,000 a day (its payment docs, read 15 Oct 2026). | Weekly via Stripe (1099 contractors). |
| Where you can work | Payouts in most countries (its payment docs name no list); many gigs US-only, some US/UK/CA. 160,000+ registered experts, US-heavy. | Global (45+ countries); many projects timezone- or country-restricted (US/UK/AU premiums). |
| Open roles now | 25 live | 232 live |
| Worker sentiment | Trustpilot 4.5/5 (51 reviews), read 15 Oct 2026 | Glassdoor ~4.0/5; ~81% would recommend |
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 people with a degree or professional skills who want vetted, higher-skill work.
25 open roles now →Best for people with a degree or professional skills who want vetted, higher-skill work.
232 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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Terac vs Mercor: common questions
Which pays more, Terac or Mercor?
Pay is broadly comparable: Terac typically runs $55-$105/hr typical (live median $85) and Mercor $55-$150/hr typical (live median $75).
Is Terac or Mercor 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 Terac and Mercor?
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 Red-Teaming. Signing up for one does not affect the other.