The “side hustle” market is flooded with low-paying surveys and gig apps, but if you want to earn money with Mercor, you are looking at a very different ballgame. This platform is offering high-paying, professional work training the next generation of Artificial Intelligence
Try it out now : Mercor.com
If you have specialized skills—whether in coding, law, medicine, or even creative writing—you might be sitting on a goldmine.
Unlike standard freelance sites where you bid for pennies, Mercor uses AI to vet you, then matches you with top-tier AI labs (like OpenAI, Google, or Anthropic) that need human experts.
Here is everything you need to know about this platform.
What Exactly is Mercor?
Mercor is a talent marketplace that connects skilled professionals with AI companies.
AI models (like ChatGPT or Claude) need to be “taught” how to solve complex problems. They need lawyers to correct their legal reasoning, developers to fix their code, and creative writers to improve their storytelling.
Mercor finds these human experts. Instead of a traditional recruiter, they use their own AI to interview you. If you pass, you enter a pool of eligible candidates for high-paying contract work. (For more on how these models work, check out our guide on how AI models are trained).
Who Can Earn Money With Mercor?
If you are wondering who can actually earn money with Mercor, the answer isn’t just software engineers. While coders are in high demand, the platform is aggressively hiring for:
- Software Engineers: Python, Java, C++, and React experts.
- Legal & Medical Experts: Lawyers (JD) and Doctors (MD) to verify specialized data.
- Finance Pros: Investment bankers and accountants.
- Humanities & Writers: PhDs and creative writers to evaluate tone and grammar.
- Hobbyists: Believe it or not, they sometimes look for deep expertise in niche hobbies!
The Pay: Is It Worth It?
Yes. Because these roles require actual expertise, the pay reflects that.
- General rates: Often start around $40–$60/hour.
- Expert rates: Specialized developers and professionals often see rates between $80 and $150/hour.
- Top-tier: Highly specialized roles (like neurosurgery or niche AI architecture) can go up to $300+/hour.
How to Get Hired (The Process)
The application process is unique because it is almost entirely automated.
- Upload your Resume: Go to Mercor.com and upload your PDF. Their AI scans it instantly to tag your skills.
- The AI Interview: This is the cool (and slightly creepy) part. You will hop on a video call with an AI avatar. It will ask you questions about your background and may give you a live coding test or a case study.
- Tip: Treat this like a real interview. Speak clearly, explain your reasoning, and don’t try to cheat—the AI is trained to catch that.
- The Pool: If you pass, you are added to their talent pool. When a client (like an AI lab) needs your specific skill set, you get a ping with a job offer.
The Pros and Cons
The Good:
- High Pay: Significantly better rates than Upwork or Fiverr.
- Flexibility: Most roles are remote and allow you to set your own hours.
- Resume Builder: Working with “stealth AI startups” or major labs looks great on a CV.
The Bad:
- Privacy: To ensure security, some contracts require tracking software that monitors your screen while you work.
- Stability: These are contract roles. You might have work for three weeks and then nothing for a month. It is “feast or famine.”
Final Verdict
If you are a professional looking to monetize your downtime, the opportunity to earn money with Mercor is one of the most legitimate options in the AI space right now. It takes about 30 minutes to apply and interview—a small investment for the potential of a $100/hour side gig.
Mercor AI Training Site
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