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Mercor · Software & coding

Software Developers (Must own MacBook)

Listed on Mercor as “Software Developers (Must own MacBook)”

$50-$60/hrRemoteContractPaid in USD
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How this rate compares

This listing

$50–$60 per hour

Typical in Software & coding

$70–$120 per hour

Below the typical range

Typical: the middle of the lowest and highest rates posted by 38 listings in this category on Seoulstart, in US dollars.

What this actually is

You review AI-generated code, rank model outputs against each other, write prompts that test edge cases, and provide expert feedback that gets used to train coding models. Not shipping production software. The platform title (Software Developers (Must own MacBook)) reflects the rate band and the expertise required, not the day-to-day work.

How Mercor picks people

  1. Upload your CV and answer the role's written questions.
  2. Do a video interview with Mercor's AI interviewer. Most take about 20 minutes, in English unless the role says otherwise.
  3. Some roles add a skills test. A test you pass once counts for similar roles.
  4. 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

Role Overview:

Mercor is looking for software developers with 2-3 years of professional coding experience, or currently enrolled postgrad Computer Science students, to support a research project with a leading AI lab. You will work through real development workflows on your own Mac to help benchmark and improve cutting-edge AI models.

Qualifications:

  • Required: You must own a MacBook or Mac with an Apple M-series chip or Intel processor, running macOS 15 or higher. Applicants without a Mac cannot be considered.
  • Hands-on experience with one or more programming languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Swift, Java, Go)
  • Comfortable with everyday developer tools on macOS such as VS Code, Xcode, Terminal, Git, and package managers
  • Currently pursuing or recently completed Masters studies, or have 2-3 years of relevant experience + Bachelors from a prestigious institution
  • Ability to clearly explain your reasoning while you work
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Job Details:

  • Part-time commitment of approximately 10-20 hours per week
  • Responsibilities include completing and narrating real software development tasks (building, debugging, refactoring, reviewing code) on your Mac to create high-quality training data for advanced AI models
  • Clearly structured responsibilities without the high pressure typically found in internships or full-time consulting roles
  • Immediate start preferred

Application and Onboarding Process:

  • Submit your resume, followed by a brief (3-minute) conversation with our AI interviewer to assess research and reasoning skills
  • Complete a brief paid assessment to further evaluate your fit for the role
  • You will receive follow-up communication within a few days regarding your application status and next steps

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.

Mercor pays MantaWork a fee if it hires you through this link. Your pay is the same.