Mercor vs xAI

Two AI-training platforms side by side, from the roles they have open today and what we know about how each hires and pays. Numbers refresh daily.

Side by side

MercorxAI
Open roles29719
Median top rate$100/hr$45/hr
Middle half of rates$65/hr – $120/hr$45/hr – $75/hr
Highest advertised$450/hr$100/hr
Open worldwide65% of roles100% of roles
Hires most forScience & research, Software engineering, Medicine & healthcareLanguages & translation, Design & creative, Humanities
Kinds of work——
After you applyExpect an AI-led interview of 45–90 minutes, the longest of the major platforms. Most applicants are rejected; if you pass, work comes in intensive 2–8 week engagements.You're hired directly by xAI rather than through a gig platform, so expect an employer-style process.
How it paysWeekly via Stripe—

Rates are what open listings advertise (median of the top of each range), not earnings. How we measure pay

Mercor

Frontier-lab SME placement at the highest pay tier in the market ($80–$200+/hr).

Mercor jobs and pay →Read our review

xAI

Direct AI Tutor roles at xAI — language and subject specialties.

xAI jobs and pay →Read our review

Mercor vs xAI: questions

Which pays more, Mercor or xAI?
Mercor advertises more: a median top rate of $100/hr against $45/hr at xAI. These are the rates in open listings (262 on Mercor, 19 on xAI), not earnings; each platform sets individual pay after you apply.
Which has more open roles, Mercor or xAI?
Mercor has more open roles: 297 against 19 on xAI. Counts are refreshed daily from each platform's public listings.
How is applying to Mercor different from xAI?
Mercor: Expect an AI-led interview of 45–90 minutes, the longest of the major platforms. Most applicants are rejected; if you pass, work comes in intensive 2–8 week engagements. xAI: You're hired directly by xAI rather than through a gig platform, so expect an employer-style process.

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