Remote · Flexible · No Experience Required

Get paid to train the machines.

A running board of legit AI-training and data-labeling gigs — what the work actually looks like, how the pay works, and where referral bonuses are on the table.

Contains referral links. Full disclosure at the bottom.

Referral
Verified
2026

The Process

Three steps, start to first paycheck

Every platform below follows roughly the same shape. Here's what to expect before you sign up for anything.

01

Apply & qualify

Create an account and pass a short skills or background assessment. Most take under 30 minutes.

02

Pick up tasks

Log in whenever you want and claim available tasks — labeling data, rating AI responses, or testing agent behavior.

03

Get paid, refer others

Payout schedules vary by platform. Many also pay you a bonus once someone you refer completes their first stretch of work.

Open Listings

Where to sign up

Ethos is live below with an active referral link. The rest link straight to the official sign-up page — swap in your own referral code for each once you're approved as a contractor.

AI Agent Training

Ethos

● Referral live

Contributes to training AI agents by completing structured tasks and reviewing agent behavior. Sign-up includes a short qualification step.

Work typeTask-based, remote
Pay stylePer task — check current rate
Referral bonusYes, via link
Model Feedback

Outlier

Run by Scale AI. Contributors rate and improve AI model responses across writing, code, and reasoning tasks.

Work typeTask-based, remote
Pay stylePer task — varies by skill
Referral bonusCheck current program
Data Labeling

DataAnnotation

Contract work labeling and evaluating text data used to train language models. Flexible hours, no fixed schedule.

Work typeTask-based, remote
Pay styleHourly or per task
Referral bonusCheck current program
Data Labeling

Remotasks

Also part of Scale AI. Broader task variety including image, video, and text annotation for computer vision and LLM training.

Work typeTask-based, remote
Pay stylePer task
Referral bonusCheck current program
Expert Vetting Network

micro1

● Referral live

AI-driven talent network that matches subject-matter experts (engineering, science, business, legal, and more) to AI training projects through a referral-driven vetting process.

Work typeProject-matched, remote
Pay styleVaries by role — current listings span roughly $15–$150/hr
Referral bonusYes, via link
Expert Talent Network

Mercor

● Referral live

Marketplace connecting domain experts — doctors, lawyers, engineers, and other specialists — with AI labs that need real professional knowledge to train models.

Work typeProject-matched, remote
Pay styleVaries by expertise and project
Referral bonusYes, via link
Crowdsourced Data

Appen

One of the longest-running crowdsourcing platforms — search relevance, translation, and annotation work for major tech clients.

Work typeTask-based, remote
Pay stylePer task, varies by project
Referral bonusCheck current program

Side by Side

Quick comparison

Rates and referral terms change often — always confirm the current numbers on the platform before you commit time.

PlatformBest forFlexibilityReferral program
EthosAI agent task reviewHighActive — link above
OutlierWriting, code, reasoning reviewHighVaries — check site
DataAnnotationText labeling & evaluationHighVaries — check site
RemotasksImage / video / text annotationMedium–HighVaries — check site
micro1Expert-matched project work ($15–$150/hr roles)MediumActive — link above
MercorExpert-matched project workMediumActive — link above
AppenSearch relevance & translationMediumVaries — check site

Start with the one that's live.

Ethos has an active referral link right now — the rest are one signed-up account away from earning you a bonus too.

Apply to Ethos →

Questions

Before you sign up

Is training AI models a real way to make money?

Yes. Companies building AI models need huge volumes of human-labeled data, human feedback, and human-reviewed conversations. Platforms like Outlier, DataAnnotation, Remotasks, and Ethos pay contractors to do this work remotely, usually on a flexible, task-by-task basis.

How much do these gigs actually pay?

Pay varies by platform, task complexity, and your qualifications. Most pay hourly or per completed task, and rates change over time — always check the current rate on the platform itself before you start, rather than relying on numbers from any third-party site, including this one.

Are referral bonuses for these platforms legit?

Many AI training platforms run official referral programs where both the referrer and the new contractor can earn a bonus once the referred person completes a set amount of work. Terms vary by platform and change often, so confirm current terms directly on each site.

Do I need special skills?

Most entry-level tasks require no special background — just a laptop, reliable internet, and attention to detail. Some platforms offer higher-paying specialized tasks for people with coding, writing, science, or language expertise.

Are these jobs 1099 contract work?

Typically yes — most of these platforms classify contributors as independent contractors, not employees. That means no tax withholding, and you're generally responsible for tracking and reporting your own income. This isn't tax advice — check with a tax professional for your specific situation.

Affiliate disclosure: GigLedger contains referral and affiliate links. If you sign up through one of these links, the site owner may earn a commission or bonus at no extra cost to you. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Ethos, micro1, Mercor, Outlier, DataAnnotation, Remotasks, or Appen. Pay rates, referral terms, and program availability are set by each platform and change without notice — always verify details directly on the official site before signing up.