Mercor · STEM & research
Data Scientist Talent Network - review AI outputs in your specialty
Listed on Mercor as “Data Scientist Talent Network”
How this rate compares
This listing
$100–$150 per hour
Typical in STEM & research
$70–$120 per hour
Within the typical range
Typical: the middle of the lowest and highest rates posted by 52 listings in this category on Seoulstart, in US dollars.
What this actually is
You design problems that stump current AI models, evaluate AI reasoning against the correct answer, write rubrics, and provide expert feedback. Often the highest-paid category because the expertise pool is small. The platform title (Data Scientist Talent Network) reflects the rate band and the expertise required, not the day-to-day work.
How Mercor picks people
- Upload your CV and answer the role's written questions.
- Do a video interview with Mercor's AI interviewer. Most take about 20 minutes, in English unless the role says otherwise.
- Some roles add a skills test. A test you pass once counts for similar roles.
- The project team reviews your results and sends offers to the people it picks.
Before you start
- Take Mercor's free practice interview first. It does not count toward any application.
- Use Chrome on a computer with a camera and microphone, in a quiet room.
- You can retake an official interview up to 3 times, but hiring teams see how many times you retook it.
Not every applicant gets an offer. Prepare well for the interview.
How to prepare for the Mercor interview
Source: Mercor's help pages. talent.docs.mercor.com
Can you do this on your visa?
F-2 / F-4 / F-5 / F-6: open. E-1 to E-7: needs concurrent-employment permit. D-2 / D-4 students: S-3 permit, 20 hr/week cap. D-10 / D-8: case by case.
Korean tax on USD income
First 5 years in Korea: foreign-source income only taxed if remitted into Korea. After year 5: worldwide income. Full tax guide.
Original posting from Mercor
Mercor is building a network of experienced data scientists for potential future projects with leading AI research organizations. These projects may focus on evaluating how effectively AI systems perform real-world data science work.
There is no immediate project opening, but qualified applicants may be contacted as relevant opportunities become available.
2\. Potential Responsibilities
Future projects may involve:
- Designing precise, task-specific grading criteria for data science deliverables, including exploratory data analyses, statistical modeling work, machine learning pipelines, experimentation and A/B test write-ups, feature engineering, and technical reports or notebooks
- Evaluating AI-generated or human-created work against established criteria
- Providing detailed written justifications for evaluations and scores
- Applying consistent, evidence-based judgment so that assessments are reproducible and defensible
- Incorporating structured feedback from senior reviewers and iterating on submitted work
Specific responsibilities will vary depending on the project.
3\. Ideal Qualifications
- 1+ years of professional data science experience
- Experience at a leading technology, research, or quantitative firm (such as top FAANG, AI labs, top-tier quant funds, or equivalent)
- Strong command of Python, SQL, statistical modeling, machine learning, experimentation and causal inference, and translating messy real-world data into rigorous analyses
- Exceptional written communication skills, including the ability to convey technical findings clearly
- A detail-oriented and consistent approach to evaluating complex work
- Comfort receiving feedback and calibrating judgment against established standards
Quoted from Mercor's public listing on 2026-11-13. We don't edit platform copy; honest framing is in the title and the “what this actually is” block above.
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About Mercor
AI-interview-based talent network. One application, voice interview with their AI, then matched to projects across coding, research, and specialist work. Pay scales with track and seniority.
Mercor review: AI-interview talent network
4.1/5 on Glassdoor, fastest-growing platform in the category (+509% YoY). What the AI video interview actually asks, real pay across coding/research/medical/legal/finance tracks ($25-$200/hr), and the project-availability problem.
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Mercor pays Seoulstart a fee if it hires you through this link. Your pay is the same.