Mercor vs xAI for AI trainers
Mercor has 287 open AI trainer jobs with a median pay of $80 an hour. xAI has 20 open jobs with a median of $40 an hour. Both numbers come from live job boards and change every 5 minutes.
Mercor places expert contractors with AI labs such as OpenAI and Anthropic. xAI hires its own AI Tutors to train Grok, as full-time, part-time, or contract workers. Tutors label, write, record, and rate text, code, audio, and video, and many roles are for native speakers. Mercor uses a short assessment and a 20-minute AI video interview. xAI sends an online skills test with 24 hours to finish it, then an interview with the team. Mercor pays every week through Stripe or Wise. xAI does not publish its payout method or schedule. Mercor fits experts who want weekly pay. xAI fits people who want to work directly for an AI lab.
Side by side
| Detail | Mercor | xAI |
|---|---|---|
| Open jobs | 287 | 20 |
| Median pay | $80/hr | $40/hr |
| Middle half | $60–100/hr | $40–55/hr |
| Jobs at $50/hr or more | 225 | 7 |
| Entry level jobs | 23 | 0 |
| Founded | 2023 | 2023 |
| Founders | Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, Surya Midha | Elon Musk |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | Palo Alto, USA |
| Funding | $350M at a $10B valuation (2025) | Bought by SpaceX at a $250B valuation (Feb 2026), renamed SpaceXAI (Jul 2026) |
| Workers | Independent contractors | Full-time, part-time, or contractors |
| Payment | Stripe or Wise | Not published |
| Paid | Weekly | Ask before you start |
| Reviews | 4.51,058 on Trustpilot | 4.420 on Glassdoor |
Which one is for you
- Mercor pays more per hour overall: a median of $80, against $40 at xAI.
- Mercor has more open jobs right now: 287, against 20 at xAI.
- xAI pays more for creative and languages work.
- Only Mercor has medical, legal, finance, STEM, coding, voice & video, and generalist jobs open now.
- For a first AI training job, Mercor has more entry level openings: 23, against 0 at xAI.
Median pay by category
| Category | Mercor | xAI |
|---|---|---|
| Medical | $134/hr26 jobs | Fewer than 3 |
| Legal | $90/hr11 jobs | Fewer than 3 |
| Finance | $90/hr25 jobs | Fewer than 3 |
| STEM | $84/hr63 jobs | Fewer than 3 |
| Coding | $80/hr52 jobs | Fewer than 3 |
| Voice & Video | $75/hr15 jobs | Fewer than 3 |
| Generalist | $65/hr35 jobs | Fewer than 3 |
| Creative | $35/hr14 jobs | $56/hr4 jobs |
| Languages | $18/hr11 jobs | $40/hr14 jobs |
How hiring works at Mercor
- Create an account and upload your resume.
- Answer a short written or multiple-choice assessment.
- Do a 20-minute AI video interview on a desktop computer. You can retake it up to 3 times.
- After an offer, verify your ID and pass a background check, which takes 1 to 2 weeks.
How hiring works at xAI
- Apply to one AI Tutor role on xAI's job board. Most roles are open worldwide, but xAI does not hire in Wyoming or Illinois and does not sponsor visas.
- Applicants on Glassdoor say an online skills test arrives by email soon after, with 24 hours to finish it. Some roles also ask for a portfolio.
- If you pass, you have an interview with the team.
- xAI offers a full-time, part-time, or contract role. Most contract projects need at least 10 hours a week, but the hours are not fixed. On your own computer, you need a Chromebook, a Mac with macOS 11 or later, or Windows 10 or later.
See 287 Mercor jobsMedian $80/hrSee 20 xAI jobsMedian $40/hrFrequently asked questions
Which pays more, Mercor or xAI?
Mercor pays more right now: a median of $80 an hour, against $40 at xAI. Pay depends on the field, so compare the category you work in.
Which is better for beginners, Mercor or xAI?
Mercor has more entry level jobs open now: 23, against 0 at xAI. Entry level jobs ask for no degree, but often for strong writing or a second language.
How do Mercor and xAI pay?
Mercor pays through Stripe or Wise, weekly. xAI pays through Not published, ask before you start. See each company page for the details.
What is an AI trainer job?
AI trainers help companies improve AI models. You review and rate model answers, write example answers, find mistakes, or record voice and video data. Experts in law, medicine, coding, languages, and other fields teach models how a professional thinks. Most of this work is remote, flexible, and paid by the hour.
Are AI trainer jobs remote?
Yes. Every job on this site is remote, and most have flexible hours. Some jobs accept people from certain countries only, so check the 🌍 location on each job before you apply.
What skills or degrees do I need?
It depends on the job. Generalist jobs need clear writing and attention to detail. Expert jobs usually ask for a degree or work experience in the field, such as a law license or medical training. Language jobs need native or fluent skill in that language. Coding jobs need real programming experience.
