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OpenTrainPhD

Programming Languages Researcher for Coding Tasks

Create self-contained coding tasks based on programming languages research, then review AI model outputs and give detailed technical feedback. Work in your area of expertise and coordinate with a project lead on task scope and worked examples.

Field
Software & coding
Where
United States, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia +89 more
Commitment
part time
Hours
up to 20/week
Asks for
PhD
Posted
4 days ago

Pay data for your profession: Software engineer AI trainer jobs · PhD AI trainer jobs

How this pay compares

At $50/hr, this role pays more than 13% of the 220 open software & coding roles with a listed pay range, below the median of $70.

Open software & coding roles that ask for a PhD have a median of $85/hr (13 roles).

Among platforms with 10 or more priced software & coding roles, Mercor has the highest median ($88/hr across 18 roles) and OpenTrain AI the lowest ($65/hr across 107).

OpenTrain AI roles that closed since late October stayed listed a median of 31 days (122 roles). OpenTrain AI posted this one 4 days ago.

Computed from 2,746 open roles we track across Mercor, micro1, Handshake AI, Alignerr, Appen and OpenTrain AI, refreshed daily. Midpoints of listed ranges; “up to” ceilings are left out of medians.

What you would earn at this rate

Rate

$50/hr

Per week, before tax

$1,000

Per month, if the work is steady

$4,333

Tax
Contract pay arrives with no tax withheld. A US contractor at this rate and these hours would set aside about $1,096 a month for self-employment tax plus federal income tax at the 12% bracket (25%, before state tax). Outside the US, your own country's rules apply.

Assumes paid hours only; unpaid assessments, onboarding and gaps between projects lower the real figure. Full take-home calculator · Track what you actually earn

Open software & coding roles on each platform

The same kind of work, priced on every platform we track, with the best-paid open role on each.

PlatformOpenMedianBest-paid open role
Mercor20$88/hrLegacy Codebase Migration Expert$200/hr
micro125$75/hrStrategic Project Lead, Coding/SWE$300k-500k/yr
Alignerr73$70/hrDevOps / IaC Engineer$90-120/hr
OpenTrain AIthis role123$65/hrSoftware Engineer, AI Code Evaluation$200/hr
Handshake AI10up to $90/hrSenior Software Engineer - AI Data (US)Up to $150/hr

“Up to” rows list only ceilings, so their median is a maximum, not comparable with the range midpoints above them.

All 251 open software & coding roles →

The full listing

As posted on OpenTrain AI. See the original

The work

Create self-contained coding tasks based on programming languages research, then review AI model outputs and give detailed technical feedback. Work in your area of expertise and coordinate with a project lead on task scope and worked examples.

  • Create tasks and evaluations that meet research-quality standards and support reproducible software work.
  • Apply your judgment in areas such as compiler implementation, type systems, program synthesis, formal verification, or SAT and SMT solving.
  • Complete assignments asynchronously around your existing research schedule.

What it pays and takes

  • Pay: $50 per hour.
  • Time: 20 or more hours per week.
  • Work type: Part-time contractor.
  • Location: Open to candidates in eligible countries; this role is not open worldwide.
  • Language: English required.
  • Required: Completed or in-progress PhD in computer science or a related field.
  • Required: Published research in programming languages or a closely related area.
  • Required: Research code released through GitHub or another research artifact.
  • Required: Ability to create and assess code-based work at research quality.
  • Helpful: First-author publications at venues such as PLDI, POPL, OOPSLA, ICFP, or CAV.
  • Helpful: Experience with Docker and reproducible research environments, or depth in compilers, type systems, program synthesis, verification, or SAT and SMT solving.

How it works

Apply on OpenTrain with your resume, then complete the application on the hiring site. OpenTrain is a platform where people can find AI-training work, build a profile, and apply.

About AI training work

AI training work uses human-prepared tasks and reviews to help build and evaluate AI systems. Researchers are paid for specialist knowledge that helps create demanding technical examples and assess model responses.

From applying to your first payment on OpenTrain AI

  1. 1

    Create a profile

    Create a free OpenTrain profile with your domains, languages and hourly rate.

  2. 2

    Apply

    Apply to the listing. Some listings hire through OpenTrain; others send you to the hiring platform.

  3. 3

    Funded milestones

    The client funds each milestone before work starts.

  4. 4

    First payment

    OpenTrain pays out to your connected payout method when the client approves the milestone. It doesn't publish a fixed payout schedule.

Sources: OpenTrain: AI training careers, OpenTrain docs: invoicing and payouts

Full OpenTrain AI profile: watch-outs and the public record →

Pay history

OpenTrain AI has listed this role at $50/hr since Nov 10, 2026 with no change.

Across OpenTrain AI's software & coding roles, the median listed pay was $65/hr on Nov 1, 2026 (72 roles) and is $65/hr as of Nov 11, 2026 (107 roles).

What workers report about OpenTrain AI

Anonymous reports from people who applied or worked there: whether they got work, what they were paid and how fast.

Other software & coding roles

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