Getting paid from abroad
Most AI training pay is set in US dollars and sent through a payout service. If you live outside the US, the method matters: the platform's fee is usually zero, but converting dollars into your currency is where money disappears.
How each platform pays
| Platform | What they say |
|---|---|
| Mercor | Weekly. Payouts for the prior work week are processed by Wednesday, mostly through Stripe (Wise where Stripe isn't offered). Stripe holds a first payout for 7 days, and banks can take 3 to 7 business days after a payout shows as paid. |
| micro1 | Semi-monthly. Work from the 1st to the 15th is paid around the 20th, and work from the 16th to month-end around the 5th of the next month (Pacific time). |
| Handshake AI | Weekly payouts through Stripe, according to the fellowship page as quoted by third-party guides. Handshake does not publish a rate per project. |
| Alignerr | Alignerr does not publish its pay schedule publicly. Third-party guides disagree (weekly through PayPal versus bi-weekly through Deel), so check the payment method on your own dashboard. |
Three habits that save money
- Compare against the mid-market rate. Search “USD to [your currency]” on payday and compare it with the rate you actually got. The gap is the real fee.
- Hold dollars when you can. A multi-currency account lets you receive USD and convert when you choose, instead of at whatever rate the payout service picks.
- Use local bank details. Receiving to a USD account number in your name is often cheaper than an international wire into a local-currency account.
Accounts people use
Wise →
Multi-currency account with local bank details in USD, EUR, GBP and more, at the mid-market exchange rate plus a fee.
Best for: Workers outside the US paid in dollars
Payoneer →
Receiving accounts for cross-border freelance payments, widely supported by marketplaces.
Best for: Workers in countries Stripe doesn't serve
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Taxes where you live
Outside the US, AI training pay is usually taxed as self-employment or freelance income in your country of residence. US platforms may ask for a Form W-8BEN to confirm you're not a US taxpayer. Rules vary a lot by country, so check with your local tax authority. US-based? Read taxes for AI trainers.