Lawyers, doctors and coders can earn $85+ an hour training AI models

The claim

Lawyers, doctors and coders can earn $85+ an hour training AI models.

Mercor's $10bn valuation (Oct 2025) and turmoil at Scale AI/Outlier drew wide press coverage.

How we checked

This is an evidence check, not a hands-on test. We reviewed platform rules and policies, published earnings data, regulator warnings and reporting: 3 sources, listed below.

Costs

Start-up cost: £0
Effort: high

What the evidence shows

Expert AI-training work pays well for those who get it, but the supply is unstable. Mercor says it has more than 30,000 experts earning over $85 an hour on average and pays out more than $1.5 million a day. Business Insider reported Scale AI/Outlier taskers whose effective pay on some projects fell to around $20 an hour from $50, and one who spent close to 40 hours of unpaid onboarding in a month without landing work. Scale AI and Outlier were also sued over terminating more than 500 workers without the required notice.

Realistic earnings: Genuine professionals with in-demand expertise can find well-paid contract work; just don't rely on it, as projects and pay rates change with little warning.

Limitations

Earnings ranges are typical outcomes for a beginner, drawn from the sources; some people do far better or worse. Platform rules change often, so check the latest policy before you start.

VerdictWorks with limits

Works for some, not most.