Head-to-head
Scale AI vs Mercor
Pay, ease of entry and the type of work, weighed up for both. The table covers posted pay, the kind of employer, payouts and today's open roles.
Scale AI
MercorScale AI vs Mercor: the short answer
On pay, Scale AI is listed at Robotics-project pay not published; Mercor's rate is not a wage an individual earns: $12–$18 per approved hour, paid to the business.
Scale AI is a data-collection program, open to many people, usually remote or at home, though each project sets its own countries, equipment and screening; Mercor is a data-collection program, open only to businesses, which apply and are paid, so an individual cannot sign up directly.
There is no overlap in the work: Scale AI hires for Demonstration Collection and Data Annotation, and Mercor for Egocentric Capture.
Bottom line: Scale AI is the one of the two you can apply to as an individual; Mercor's program is for businesses, so it only fits if you run a business that could host it.
| Scale AI | Mercor | |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised pay | Robotics-project pay not published | $12–$18 per approved hour, paid to the business |
| Kind of employer | Data-collection networks · Data-collection network | Data-collection networks · Business data-capture program |
| Kinds of work | Demonstration Collection and Data Annotation | Egocentric Capture |
| How you get paid | Robotics collection runs through Scale's lab and collection partners; payment terms are not published. | Bi-weekly, to the business, for approved hours. |
| Where you can work | SF robotics lab; globally distributed collectors. | For businesses: the application asks for the business's country, and the program lists hands-on business types such as restaurants, bakeries, salons, auto repair, warehouses, construction and manufacturing. |
| Open roles now | See its site | See its site |
| Worth knowing | Physical robot signup is less exposed than its digital work. | A business program, not a job: individuals cannot sign up to record on their own. |
When an employer's feed has enough roles stating an hourly rate, the pay row shows the band we measure live. Otherwise the figure keeps its own source label (Scale AI: outside reports; Mercor: stated by the employer). Our pay method.
Best for flexible recording or labeling projects you can fit around other work.
Research: 18 sourced facts about Scale AI
Best for businesses that can host recording during their team's normal work, not individual job seekers.
Research: 4 sourced facts about Mercor
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Scale AI vs Mercor: common questions
Does Scale AI or Mercor pay more?
On pay, Scale AI is listed at Robotics-project pay not published; Mercor's rate is not a wage an individual earns: $12–$18 per approved hour, paid to the business.
Which is easier to get into, Scale AI or Mercor?
Scale AI is a data-collection program, open to many people, usually remote or at home, though each project sets its own countries, equipment and screening; Mercor is a data-collection program, open only to businesses, which apply and are paid, so an individual cannot sign up directly.
Can you apply to both Scale AI and Mercor?
Only one of them takes individuals: Mercor's program is for businesses, which apply and are paid for their team's work, while Scale AI takes individual applicants.
Other matchups
Sorted by what an application to either employer is likely worth to you, with a referral lift for an employer that pays us a referral fee; your pay is never affected.