micro1 vs Mercor vs Turing: Pay, Countries and How to Apply (2026)
Last updated: 26 October 2026 · OpenJob editorial team
Data snapshot: 24 October 2026, from the open listings OpenJob tracks every day. We did not estimate anything: every figure comes from what the platforms published.
micro1, Mercor and Turing are three of the largest platforms hiring people for remote AI training work. They look similar from the outside, but their listings are very different in how much they tell you about pay and who can apply.
The comparison in one table
| micro1 | Mercor | Turing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open listings we track | 331 | 293 | 211 |
| Listings with a published hourly rate | 306 (92%) | 277 (95%) | 18 (9%) |
| Median published range (USD/hour)* | $50–$98 | $65–$90 | not enough data |
| Listings that state they accept applicants worldwide | 90 | 7 | 0 |
| Typical contract | Contractor, flexible hours | Contractor, hourly projects | Contractor, fixed weekly hours (20–40) |
* Median of the lowest and of the highest published rate among listings with a published hourly rate in USD. Ranges can be wide, so the rate you are offered may sit anywhere inside them.
micro1: the most transparent, and the most open to the world
Almost every micro1 listing states a rate, and 90 of them say they accept applicants anywhere. Roles go from generalist tasks to experts such as doctors, lawyers, scientists and engineers. Selection usually includes application questions and an AI interview. See all open micro1 jobs →
Mercor: high rates for experts, often limited to a few countries
Mercor publishes a rate on nearly every listing and has many expert roles in medicine, law, finance and science. Most listings, however, are open only to people in specific countries, very often the US and the UK. See all open Mercor jobs →
Turing: lots of engineering and analyst work, little pay information
Turing has many coding, STEM and multilingual business analyst roles, often with fixed weekly hours and overlap with US Pacific Time. Only a small share of listings publish a rate, and none of the ones we track say they accept applicants worldwide; many do not list countries at all, and some are limited to specific regions. See all open Turing jobs →
Which one should you try first?
- You live outside the US/UK: start with micro1, where more listings accept applicants worldwide.
- You are a senior professional (doctor, lawyer, finance) in the US or UK: Mercor has many well-paid expert roles.
- You are a developer or analyst who can commit 20–40 hours a week: Turing has many coding and analyst roles, but check the commitment and countries before applying.
In all three cases you apply on the official platform and applying is free. If anyone asks you to pay to get work, it is not a real offer: read how to spot AI job scams.
More data: AI Training Jobs Pay Report · all open jobs
Some application links on OpenJob are referral links: applying stays free and this does not change which jobs we list or their order.