The short answer in numbers
This site keeps a copy of micro1's public job list. On 9 October 2026 it held 306 open roles, and 296 of them listed an hourly rate. One of those showed what is clearly a yearly figure in the hourly field and was left out, so 295 rates sit behind the chart. Each one is the top of the listed range:
Another 14 roles list a monthly salary instead of an hourly rate (more on that below).
Median listed hourly rate by field
The field makes a big difference. Specialist roles in science, law and engineering list far higher rates than generalist, language or robotics roles. Median of the listed upper rate, with the number of roles:
| Field | Median on a $0 to $200 scale | Median listed | Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science and research25 roles | $200 | 25 | |
| Law39 roles | $140 | 39 | |
| Engineering10 roles | $115 | 10 | |
| Finance17 roles | $110 | 17 | |
| Software engineering33 roles | $100 | 33 | |
| Health and medicine16 roles | $95 | 16 | |
| AI and machine learning12 roles | $95 | 12 | |
| Business and operations12 roles | $85 | 12 | |
| Data analysisfew roles5 roles | $80 | 5 | |
| Arts and designfew roles7 roles | $80 | 7 | |
| Other37 roles | $80 | 37 | |
| Humanitiesfew roles3 roles | $70 | 3 | |
| Languages and audio33 roles | $40 | 33 | |
| Generalist14 roles | $35 | 14 | |
| Sales and marketingfew roles6 roles | $30 | 6 | |
| Robotics24 roles | $20 | 24 |
Bars show the median on a $0 to $200 scale. "Few roles" marks fields with under 8 roles, where one listing can move the median a lot. Two more fields, education and retail, had one role each and are not listed.
To see which roles exist for your background, read the guide to AI training jobs by profession.
Listed rate is not the same as earnings
A high number on a listing does not mean a high monthly income. Three things sit between the two.
1You have to be selected
Passing the AI interview puts you in a pool. It does not place you on a project.
micro1 decides who is selected. A summary of Reddit posts on Annotation Academy describes passing the interview as entering a pool, not getting a job, and candidates there report waiting weeks or not being selected at all.
2Hours depend on the client
There are no guaranteed hours. Volume follows what the client needs that week.
micro1's guide to its expert agreement says roles continue "as long as the client has work to be completed", and it does not mention guaranteed hours. According to the same summary, candidates on Reddit report uneven volume: busy weeks followed by quiet ones, and projects that pause or end early.
3Some projects pay per task
On per-task contracts you are paid your rate times a multiple, whatever the task took.
Not every contract is paid by the hour you log. micro1's knowledge base explains that on per-task contracts you are paid for each task that project leadership approves, and the amount is your hourly rate multiplied by a "Project Payout Multiple", whatever time the task actually took (you may still be asked to log your time).
- Finish a task faster and your effective hourly figure goes up.
- Take longer and it goes down.
- Some candidates on Reddit report an hourly listing that turned out to be paid per deliverable, so read the contract before you start.
Hourly roles vs monthly roles
Most micro1 listings show an hourly rate or an hourly range. On 9 October 2026, 14 roles listed a monthly salary instead. Check which one a role uses before you compare it with others. In both cases the terms that apply are the ones in the contract micro1 sends you, not the summary on a job card.
A ceiling, not a typical rate.The figures on this page use the top of each listed range. A range such as $50 to $150 per hour does not tell you where you will land inside it.
How and when micro1 pays
micro1 documents this in its own help pages.
- Currency
- US dollars
- Frequency
- Twice a month
- Work 1st to 15th
- Around the 20thsame month
- Work 16th to month end
- Around the 5thnext month
- Approvals usually happen around the 3rd and the 18th, so an "approved" notification can arrive a few days before the money.
- Payroll system: after onboarding you are invited to micro1's payroll system, where you add your bank details.
- Timing shifts: payroll runs on US Pacific time. If the 5th or 20th falls on a weekend or a US bank holiday, payment moves to the next business day, and in rare cases timing can vary by a day or two.
Taxes are your responsibility
micro1's expert agreement guide says you are engaged as an independent contractor, not an employee. Budget for that before comparing a listed rate with a salary.
You are a contractor
Out of the listed rate, you pay your own:
- Taxes
- Social security contributions
- Insurance
- Benefits
The guide to micro1 payments and taxes covers this in more detail.
How to use these numbers
- Compare roles inside your own field, not across fields.
- Treat the listed rate as an upper bound until you see a contract.
- Check whether the contract pays per hour or per approved task.
- Do not plan around a fixed number of hours: volume follows client demand.
- Prepare well for the interview, because selection comes first. See the micro1 AI interview guide.
Each role shows the rate micro1 lists for it. The list changes daily: 306 roles were open on 9 October 2026, when the figures above were taken. You can also go straight to micro1's full job board (referral link, disclosure).
Referral link: we may earn a bonus if you're hired. Costs you nothing.
This site is an independent list and is not affiliated with micro1; micro1 makes every hiring and pay decision.
Common questions
Does micro1 promise work?
No. Passing the AI interview puts you in a pool; micro1 decides who is selected, and hours follow client demand. Neither micro1 nor this site promises acceptance, hours or any pay level.
Are the rates hourly or per task?
Most listings show an hourly rate or range, and 14 of the 306 roles list a monthly salary. Some projects pay per approved task at your hourly rate times a "Project Payout Multiple". Read the contract before you start.
Where do the figures on this page come from?
From the copy of micro1's public job list held by this site on 9 October 2026, using the top of each listed range. They are rates as listed, not earnings and not estimates.
Sources
- micro1 Library: Payroll policy, checked October 2026
- micro1 Knowledge Base: FAQs (hours, per-task pay, payment currency and frequency), checked October 2026
- micro1 Library: Understanding your expert agreement, checked October 2026
- Annotation Academy: Is micro1 legit? (summary of candidate reports on Reddit), checked October 2026
- micro1 public job list, copy held by this site, 9 October 2026 (306 open roles)