Key findings
- 1
Appen listed 32 open roles on 30 Sep 2026, 1.2% of the 2,726 open across the 16 platforms AITraining.jobs reads, the 11th most.
- 2
Counted at the end of each week, Appen went from 24 open roles on 6 Sep 2026 to 32 on 30 Sep 2026 (+33.3%).
- 3
78.1% of its open roles are in Transcription, Audio & Speech, where Appen holds 7.3% of all open roles, the 5th largest share of 10 platforms; it lists 5 of the 12 kinds of work with open roles.
- 4
31.3% of its open roles state an hourly rate, with a median of $34/hr (middle half $21 to $39), against $60/hr across other platforms' priced roles.
- 5
18.8% of its open roles are open to applicants in any country (37.9% on other platforms); 81.3% are limited to listed countries, most often the United States (named by 11.5%).
- 6
From 1 Sep 2026 to 30 Sep 2026, Appen posted 14 new listings and removed 6; its open roles went from 24 to 32 (+33.3%).
- 7
An application form at Appen has a median of 13 fields (10 on other platforms' forms); none of its 31 forms require a resume, none ask for a LinkedIn profile and all add questions of their own.
- 8
The title word Appen uses most is "Voice actor or speaker" (34.4% of its open roles), against 5.5% of other platforms' open roles.
Figure 1
Appen against the other platforms
How does Appen compare with the rest of the market on size, pay, reach and turnover?
| Measure | Appen | Other platforms | Its rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open roles on 30 Sep 2026 | 32 | 2,694 | 11th of 16 |
| Share of all open roles | 1.2% | 98.8% | 11th of 16 |
| New listings in the window | 14 | 1,571 | joint 11th of 16 |
| Kinds of work listed | 5 | 12 | 11th of 16 |
| Open roles stating an hourly rate | 31.3% | 72.6% | 11th of 13 |
| Median advertised pay | $34/hr | $60/hr | 8th of 11 |
| Open roles accepting any country | 18.8% | 37.9% | 7th of 13 |
| Median days listed, removed rolesSmall sample | n/a | 31.9 days | n/a |
Sample. 32 roles Appen listed open at the end of 30 Sep 2026, beside the 2,694 open on the other 15 platforms AITraining.jobs reads; listings from 1 Sep 2026 to 30 Sep 2026.
Other platforms: every other platform read over the same window, pooled (counts are summed, medians are taken over all their roles together).
Rank among the 16 platforms with open roles; shares need at least 10 open roles, a pay median 8 roles stating a rate and days listed 10 removed roles with a known listing date, so a platform below a threshold is not ranked on it. Days listed rank longest first.
Listings only: what the platform's public job board shows.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
Figure 2
Open roles at Appen, week by week
Is Appen listing more AI training roles or fewer?
| Week | Open at the end of the week | New listings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 6 SepPartial week | 24 | 1 |
| 7 to 13 Sep | 23 | 2 |
| 14 to 20 Sep | 28 | 5 |
| 21 to 27 Sep | 26 | 0 |
| 28 to 30 SepPartial week | 32 | 6 |
Sample. Listings by Appen, by ISO week (Monday to Sunday, UTC), 1 Sep 2026 to 30 Sep 2026; 5 weeks tracked.
Open roles are counted at the end of each week (Sunday, UTC), or at the end of the window for a week it cuts. New listings leave out roles that came with the platform's back catalogue.
A week the window cuts is labelled with the days it covers and marked as partial.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
Figure 3
What Appen hires for
Which kinds of AI training work does Appen list, and how much of each market does it hold?
| Kind of work | Open roles | Share of its roles | Its share of the kind's open roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transcription, Audio & Speech | 25 | 78.1% | 7.3% |
| Data Annotation & LabelingSmall sample | 3 | 9.4% | 2.6% |
| Multilingual & LocalizationSmall sample | 2 | 6.3% | 0.3% |
| AI Evaluation & Rating (RLHF)Small sample | 1 | 3.1% | 0.4% |
| Robotics & Physical-AI DataSmall sample | 1 | 3.1% | 2.6% |
Sample. 32 roles Appen listed open at the end of 30 Sep 2026; market shares are of the 2,726 roles open on all 16 platforms that day.
Kinds of work are this site's twelve categories of AI training work, each role classified from its title and description.
Its rank in the kind is among the platforms with open roles in it. A median needs at least 8 roles stating an hourly rate.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
Figure 4
What Appen advertises it pays
How often does Appen state its pay, and how does it compare with other platforms for the same work?
| Roles | Stating an hourly rate | Its median per hour | Other platforms' median | Its median against theirs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All its open roles | 31.3% | $34 | $60 | -43.7% |
| Transcription, Audio & SpeechSmall sample | 24.0% | n/a | $30 | n/a |
| Data Annotation & LabelingSmall sample | 0.0% | n/a | $28 | n/a |
| Multilingual & LocalizationSmall sample | 100.0% | n/a | $37 | n/a |
| AI Evaluation & Rating (RLHF)Small sample | 100.0% | n/a | $60 | n/a |
| Robotics & Physical-AI DataSmall sample | 100.0% | n/a | $15 | n/a |
Sample. 10 of the 32 roles Appen listed open on 30 Sep 2026 state an hourly rate; other platforms: 1,957 of 2,694.
Pay is the hourly figure a posting advertises (the middle of a stated range). The middle half runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile.
A median needs at least 8 roles stating a rate, on each side for a comparison. The row compared within the same kinds of work averages the kinds where both sides have enough, weighted by the platform's priced roles in each, so a platform listing better-paid work is not read as paying more for the same work.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
Figure 5
Who may apply to roles at Appen
Are the roles Appen lists open to applicants anywhere, or limited to some countries?
| Location rule | Its open roles | Share of its roles | Share on other platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open worldwide | 6 | 18.8% | 37.9% |
| Worldwide except listed countries | 0 | 0.0% | 7.3% |
| Only listed countries | 26 | 81.3% | 54.7% |
| No rule stated | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Sample. 32 roles Appen listed open on 30 Sep 2026, against the 2,694 open on other platforms.
The rule is read from each posting's location text and, where the posting is silent, from what the platform states about where it hires. A rule says where applications are accepted; tax, payment and work-permit rules can still apply.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
Figure 6
Countries Appen names in its limited roles
When Appen limits a role to some countries, which countries does it name?
| Country | Limited roles naming it | Share of its limited roles |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 3 | 11.5% |
| Japan | 2 | 7.7% |
| Qatar | 2 | 7.7% |
| Saudi Arabia | 2 | 7.7% |
| Taiwan | 2 | 7.7% |
| United Arab Emirates | 2 | 7.7% |
Sample. 26 of the 32 roles Appen listed open on 30 Sep 2026 accept applicants only from listed countries; 20 of them name a single country. The 6 countries named most often, of 26.
A role naming several countries counts for each. Open only there: roles whose list names this country alone.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
Figure 7
Listings posted and removed by Appen
How many roles did Appen post and take down?
| Measure | Roles |
|---|---|
| Open at the start of 1 Sep 2026 | 24 |
| New listings | 14 |
| Removed listings | 6 |
| Open at the end of 30 Sep 2026 | 32 |
Sample. Listings by Appen from 1 Sep 2026 to 30 Sep 2026.
New listings: roles first seen in the window, outside the platform's first week in this dataset. Removed: roles that left the feed during the window. A role can be both.
The other platforms' count at the start leaves out platforms first tracked during the window.
6 of its 14 new listings (42.9%) fell on a single day, 30 Sep 2026: one large change to its board moves the window's flow.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
Figure 8
How long roles at Appen stayed up
How long had the roles Appen removed been listed?
| Days listed | Removed roles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 7 daysSmall sample | 0 | 0.0% |
| 7 to 13 daysSmall sample | 0 | 0.0% |
| 14 to 29 daysSmall sample | 2 | 33.3% |
| 30 to 59 daysSmall sample | 0 | 0.0% |
| 60 days or moreSmall sample | 4 | 66.7% |
Sample. 6 roles Appen removed from 1 Sep 2026 to 30 Sep 2026 with a known listing date (other platforms: 31.9 days over 1,713 roles).
Days listed: from the listing date the job board states (or the first day the role appeared in the feed) to the last day it was seen. Roles that arrived with the back catalogue and state no date are left out.
A median needs at least 10 removed roles. A removed role may have been filled, paused or closed: platforms do not say which.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
Figure 9
What Appen calls the work
Which words does Appen use in its job titles: trainer, tutor, expert, rater, annotator?
| Title word | Its open roles | Share of its roles | Share on other platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice actor or speaker | 11 | 34.4% | 5.5% |
| SpecialistSmall sample | 8 | 25.0% | 22.6% |
| Annotator or labelerSmall sample | 6 | 18.8% | 6.3% |
| Expert or SMESmall sample | 6 | 18.8% | 21.8% |
| Contributor or participantSmall sample | 3 | 9.4% | 4.1% |
| Evaluator or reviewerSmall sample | 3 | 9.4% | 12.6% |
| None of these words | 9 | 28.1% | 13.7% |
Sample. 32 roles Appen listed open on 30 Sep 2026, by the words in their titles (the same vocabulary as the job titles report).
A title can use several words ('Expert AI Trainer') and counts for each, so shares add to more than 100%. Whole words, case-insensitive.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
Figure 10
Languages Appen hires for
Which languages does Appen name in its job titles?
| Language | Its open roles | Share of its roles | Its share of all roles naming the language |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArabicSmall sample | 5 | 15.6% | 9.6% |
| SpanishSmall sample | 5 | 15.6% | 5.7% |
| VietnameseSmall sample | 3 | 9.4% | 13.0% |
| CzechSmall sample | 2 | 6.3% | 16.7% |
| GreekSmall sample | 2 | 6.3% | 25.0% |
| JapaneseSmall sample | 2 | 6.3% | 4.1% |
| BurmeseSmall sample | 1 | 3.1% | 50.0% |
| Chinese (Mandarin)Small sample | 1 | 3.1% | 1.7% |
| CroatianSmall sample | 1 | 3.1% | 9.1% |
| DanishSmall sample | 1 | 3.1% | 6.3% |
| HindiSmall sample | 1 | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| LaoSmall sample | 1 | 3.1% | 33.3% |
Sample. 29 of the 32 roles Appen listed open on 30 Sep 2026 name a language in the title (17 languages, the 12 named most often shown).
Read from titles with the vocabulary of the languages report (whole words); a title naming two counts for both, and a role that needs a language without naming it is not counted.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
Figure 11
What an application to Appen asks for
What does an application to Appen ask for, and what must be filled in?
| Item | Its forms asking | Its forms requiring it |
|---|---|---|
| Current employer | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Location or country | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Phone number | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Resume or CV | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Cover letter | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Other file uploads | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| GitHub profile | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| LinkedIn profile | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Portfolio or website | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Sample. The application forms of 31 of the 32 roles Appen listed open on 30 Sep 2026, read from its applicant-tracking system (Lever); a median of 13 fields and 6 questions of its own (other platforms' 920 forms: 10 fields).
Required: the form will not submit without it. Name and email, asked by every form, are not listed. Some platforms apply in steps (a short form, then an assessment); only the first form is read.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
Figure 12
The questions Appen adds to its form
What does Appen ask applicants beyond a resume?
| Question theme | Its forms asking | Other platforms' forms asking |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or field of study | 100.0% | 11.6% |
| Languages spoken or fluency | 100.0% | 19.6% |
| Age or being over 18 | 0.0% | 0.5% |
| Prior AI training or annotation work | 0.0% | 4.8% |
| Work authorization or visa sponsorship | 0.0% | 8.9% |
| Availability, hours or start date | 0.0% | 4.2% |
| Experience or years in a field | 0.0% | 16.2% |
| Expected pay or rate | 0.0% | 4.3% |
Sample. The application forms of 31 roles Appen listed open on 30 Sep 2026; themes read from the label of each question the platform adds to its form.
A question can match more than one theme. Demographic questions are usually optional and asked for equal-opportunity reporting.
Source. AITraining.jobs Research, Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition.
For labs, data vendors and researchers
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The figures above are a summary. Behind them are records we collect ourselves, every day:
9,572 roles tracked, each with its history
Every role on 29 job boards, read daily since 13 Jul 2026: its pay and place, and the first and last day it was open.
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Which roles people actually apply to, by field, pay and kind of work. It happens on this site, so nobody else can count it.
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Method and definitions
The public job boards of the AI training platforms this site tracks, read every day. Appen's figures come from its own public listings only; full descriptions and application forms are read where its job board publishes them. Every figure is computed by one database query over the window shown, the same query for the live report and for every edition. Each figure states its sample beneath it.
- Other platforms
- Every platform this site reads other than Appen, over the same window and pooled: counts are summed and medians are taken over all their rates together. Appen is compared with the rest of the market, not with a market that includes it.
- Rank
- Its place among the platforms with open roles on the last day of the window, highest first (longest first for days listed). Shares need at least 10 open roles, a pay median 3 distinct advertised rates and days listed 10 removed roles, so a platform below a threshold is not ranked on that measure.
- Open role
- A role listed by a given day and still in its platform's feed that day. Week by week, open roles are counted at the end of each week (Sunday, UTC).
- Back catalogue
- The roles already listed in the week a platform was first tracked. That week is marked in the weekly series and its roles are not counted as new listings; weeks before it are left out.
- New listing
- A role that first appeared during the window on a platform already tracked before that week.
- Removed listing
- A role that left its platform's feed during the window. When most removals or new listings fall on one day, the figure says so: one large change to a board moves the window's flow.
- Days listed
- From a removed role's listing date to the last day it was seen in its feed. A median needs at least 10 removed roles with a known listing date.
- Advertised pay
- Measured exactly as the job board measures any list of roles, so a median here is the median Appen's pay page states for the same roles: one sample per distinct advertised rate (the middle of a stated range; a role posted again at the same rate counts once), and an advertised maximum ("up to $X/hr") is a ceiling, not a rate, so it is counted and left out. Typical pay is the 25th percentile of what roles pay (the middle of each advertised range) to the 90th-percentile advertised ceiling; it and the median are rounded to $5 ($1 under $20) and need at least 3 distinct rates.
- Compared within the same kinds of work
- For each kind of work where both the platform and the other platforms state at least 8 distinct hourly rates, its median over theirs, minus one; averaged across those kinds, weighted by the platform's distinct rates, so a platform listing better-paid work is not read as paying more for the same work. It needs two such kinds.
- Location rule
- Read from each posting's location text and, where that names no country, from what the posting's own description states: open worldwide, worldwide except listed countries, only listed countries, or no rule stated.
- Kind of work
- Each role is classified from its title and description into one of the twelve kinds of AI training work this site tracks. Every kind links to its own page.
- Title word, language, field
- Read from titles as whole words with the vocabularies of the job titles, languages and expert fields reports; a title can count for several.
- Mention
- A description mentions a degree, credential, step or term when it contains one of the patterns published in the requirements report. A mention may be a requirement or a preference.
- Application form
- The fields an applicant fills in on the platform's own application page, read from its applicant-tracking system. Required: the form will not submit without the field.
- Window
- Live: the last 28 complete days, in UTC, with the weekly series over the last twelve complete ISO weeks from the week of 3 Aug 2026 at the earliest. Edition: one calendar month, in UTC, its weeks cut at the month's edges.
What this data cannot tell you
- Platforms that recruit without a public job board are not counted, and a platform may staff projects it never lists: its listings are what it advertises, not everything it hires for.
- A listing is not a hire. Some platforms keep evergreen roles open for months, and some post one listing per language or country.
- Listings only: how many people apply to a platform is never published here.
- Pay is what postings advertise, not what workers are paid after bonuses, tiers or rejected tasks.
- Full descriptions and application forms are published by some job boards only, so those figures appear only for the platforms whose boards publish them, and describe the roles open on the day they were read.
- A removed listing may have been filled, paused or closed: platforms do not say which.
How the job feeds are read and roles are classified: site methodology. How fresh, complete and consistent the data is, checked every day: data quality and coverage.
Editions
The live report covers the last 28 complete days and changes every day. Each complete month is also published as an edition, frozen two days after the month ends, so a figure you cite from an edition never moves.
- Live dataLast 28 complete days, recomputed daily
- September 2026 editionFrozen 10 Oct 2026
- August 2026 editionFrozen 10 Oct 2026
Cite and reuse
Free to quote, chart and republish under CC BY 4.0 with a link to this page. This edition is frozen, so its figures will read the same later.
Citation
AITraining.jobs (2026). Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition. https://www.aitraining.team/research/appen-hiring-data/2026-09
BibTeX
@misc{aitrainingjobs_appen_hiring_data_2026_09,
author = {{AITraining.jobs}},
title = {Appen Hiring Data, September 2026 edition},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://www.aitraining.team/research/appen-hiring-data/2026-09}},
}More research
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