Outlier

1. 01Write prompts and reference answers that test a model's reasoning
2. 02Rate, rank and fact-check chatbot responses against project guidelines
3. 03Review, debug and write code for coding-model training
4. 04Solve and explain advanced STEM problems (math, physics, chemistry, biology)
5. 05Write and assess text in specific languages, such as Zulu, Sesotho sa Leboa or Egyptian Arabic
6. 06Evaluate answers in professional fields such as law, medicine and finance

When you are paid. Weekly. Outlier's FAQ says payments are processed on Tuesdays for work done from the previous Tuesday through Monday, with a cut-off at midnight UTC. Arrival time depends on the method. Airtm says Outlier payouts can take up to 12 hours to reach an Airtm balance. Outlier does not appear to publish a fee table or a list of which payout methods work in which country.

Each project sets its own pay, and the rate and estimated task time are shown before you start. Outlier's own guide gives a general range of $10 to $50 an hour, depending on skill level, task type, location and project needs. Location strongly affects rates. Outlier listings for South African language writers (Zulu, Sesotho sa Leboa) gave an average core rate of about $15 an hour. One listing for Egypt-based math experts gave $12 to $20 an hour, and an Arabic (Egypt) voice-evaluation listing offers up to $7.50. Some language roles elsewhere have paid as little as $6 (for example, a Bangla writer listing). Specialist recruiting pages advertise 'up to' $150 an hour for some machine-learning roles. That is a ceiling for specific listings, not a typical rate. Listings say lower rates may apply during non-core phases such as project onboarding and 'overtime', and task time limits cap paid time. 'Missions' add bonus pay on top of base rates, which Outlier's marketing puts at an average uplift of about 7.5%.

• PayPal
• Airtm
• ACH bank transfer (where available)

Receiving USD in Africa? Read our payouts guide.

• Residence in a country on Outlier's permitted list, confirmed with a government-issued ID (identity checks can also involve a selfie or video)
• At least an associate degree, per Outlier's FAQ; many projects require a bachelor's, master's or PhD
• Strong written English, or native-level fluency in the target language for language projects (listings ask for résumés in English)
• Real ability in the skills you select, up to a maximum of 10
• A computer, reliable internet, and a working camera and microphone for the skills screening
• Age 18 or over (the usual minimum for these platforms; confirm in Outlier's terms)
• A PayPal or Airtm account, or an ACH-capable bank account where that option is offered

1. 1

   Confirm eligibility

   Check that your country of residence is on Outlier's Flexible Working Guidelines list. Eligibility follows your verified location, not your passport.

2. 2

   Create an account

   Sign up from outlier.ai or the public opportunities board, using Google or an email address. There is no fee.

3. 3

   Build your profile

   Upload a résumé, add your education and work history, and choose up to 10 skills you can perform well today. Outlier estimates this takes 10 to 15 minutes.

4. 4

   Complete the skills screening

   A short assessment, reported at about 20 minutes and done in one sitting. It can include a camera and microphone check, spoken answers and written responses.

5. 5

   Verify identity and location

   Upload a government-issued ID. Outlier says processing usually takes one to two days.

6. 6

   Wait for project matching

   Outlier matches you to projects based on your verified skills. It says it aims for about two days, but contributors often report waits of days to weeks, and passing does not guarantee work.

7. 7

   Pass project onboarding

   Each project has its own guidelines and qualification test. Onboarding and 'overtime' phases may be paid at lower rates than core work, or not at all.

1. 01

   Pick only skills you could show under time pressure today. Outlier's guidance caps the list at 10, and weak matches can lead to failed screenings.

2. 02

   Take the skills screening in a quiet room after testing your camera and microphone. Answer the question asked, briefly, before adding context.

3. 03

   Read each project's guidelines in full before your first task, and reread them when they change. Missed constraints are a common cause of quality flags.

4. 04

   When rating responses, check instruction-following and factual accuracy before style. Tie every justification to a specific guideline criterion.

5. 05

   Respect task time limits. Time beyond them may not be paid at the full rate, and consistently slow work may reduce your access.

6. 06

   Keep one account, one identity and one location. The community guidelines name account sharing and misrepresenting your location as grounds for removal.

7. 07

   Treat reviewer feedback as information to act on. Consistent quality is the usual route to more work, including Scale's 'Oracle' program for top contributors.

More in How to pass AI training assessments.

Mixed, so check the live list before applying. Egypt and South Africa appear on Outlier's official permitted-country list. Outlier has recruited writers in South African languages such as Zulu and Sesotho sa Leboa, at an average core rate of about $15 an hour, and one listing sought Egypt-based math experts at $12 to $20 an hour. Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana are reportedly not on the list. A Kenyan business site and a Nigerian fintech blog both checked the guidelines updated on July 15, 2026 and found them missing, and the Kenyan site says Uganda is also absent. Both report that sign-ups from these countries do not pass the ID and location check. Using a VPN to get around the check breaches Outlier's rules. The same Kenyan site lists Morocco, Algeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, Malawi and Madagascar as included, which has not been confirmed elsewhere. For context, Remotasks, Scale's earlier gig platform, withdrew from Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan in early 2024. Pay in eligible African countries depends on location: the listings found ranged from about $7.50 to $20 an hour.

Where it hires. You must live in a country on Outlier's Flexible Working Guidelines list, and your identity and location are checked with a government-issued ID during onboarding. The list changes over time. Countries reported on the official list include the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Egypt and South Africa. US-sanctioned countries and regions are excluded. Outlier's About page separately says it has contributors in 52 countries; that is a self-reported figure, not the eligibility list. The community guidelines forbid misrepresenting your location, and guides citing the policy say VPN use counts as misrepresentation. Individual projects can add narrower location limits.

• Your guide to working on Outlier (official)
• Outlier FAQ (official)
• Flexible Working Guidelines (official)
• Community Guidelines (official)
• Your first steps on Outlier (official, Aug 2025)
• Outlier About page (official)
• So what do Outlier experts actually do (official)
• Outlier opportunities board (official)

Reviewed Oct 29, 2026. Platforms change their terms, pay and country lists often. Check the details on Outlier's own site before you rely on them. Spotted something out of date? Email us.