Math AI trainer jobs pay mathematicians to write hard problems for AI models and grade the proofs that come back, step by step. The listings want a graduate degree, a research record or a competition background, and the best-listed roles ask for formal proof skills.
Everything here was read on 2026-10-13 from the platforms' own pages and public listings. I do AI training work myself, and math listings are unusually clear about the bar: can you tell a real proof from a convincing sketch?
What a Math AI Trainer Does
The math listings describe the same core tasks:
- Writing a problem at competition or research level, with the intended solution the model is graded against.
- Grading AI-written proofs one step at a time: does each step follow, are the edge cases handled, does a cited theorem actually apply.
- Flagging a correct final answer reached by an argument that does not prove it.
- Writing the full correct solution when the model falls short.
One Mercor listing goes a step further. Its Lean engineer role pays people to write and review machine-checked proofs in Lean 4 against mathlib, and to turn written math into precise formal statements.
Sources: Mercor Mathematics Expert, Mercor Lean Engineer, DataAnnotation Mathematician.
Who Gets Hired
- Mercor's Mathematics Expert pool asks for a graduate degree in math or a related field, or an equivalent research or competition background.
- Mercor's Lean Engineer role wants hands-on Lean 4 experience, such as mathlib contributions or a formalization project, plus a strong proof-based math, theoretical computer science or logic background.
- DataAnnotation's Mathematician role wants pure or applied math through graduate study, competition math or equivalent experience, and fluency writing proofs. LaTeX helps, and the page says no degree is required.
- Scale AI's STEM Fellow listing is for PhDs, postdocs and professors in fields including mathematics, with US work authorization for the US listing.
- Outlier, run by Scale AI, asks for at least an associate degree, with graduate students, master's holders and PhDs preferred.
Mercor says where you trained matters less than whether you can tell a proof from a convincing sketch and say exactly where the gap is.
Sources: Mercor Mathematics Expert, DataAnnotation Mathematician, Scale AI STEM Fellow, Outlier FAQ.
Where Math AI Trainer Jobs Are Listed
These are the math and physics roles we found with a rate on the listing, on 2026-10-13. They are listed rates, not earnings.
| Platform | Math or physics role | Listed at |
|---|---|---|
| Mercor | Mathematics Expert | $40-75/hr |
| Mercor | Mathematician Talent Network | $60-80/hr |
| Mercor | Lean Engineer, Formal Mathematics | $90-110/hr |
| Mercor | Mathematical Physicist (PhD) | $80-110/hr |
| DataAnnotation | Mathematician | Up to $40-125+/hr |
The listings say more than the rate.
- Mercor's Mathematics Expert listing is a standing pool. You apply, take an AI interview of about 20 minutes, and get invited to a project listing when one needs your area.
- The Lean role is W-2 employment through Cincinnatus LLC, placed with an AI lab, at 20 to 40 hours a week.
- Mercor also had nine physics PhD listings posted on 2026-09-25, from quantum information to high energy physics, which suit mathematical physicists.
- Mindrift has a STEM page with an example math task checked in Python, but it said the domain was quiet on the day we looked.
- Outlier lists no public rates. Its FAQ says rates vary by expertise, project and location and show before you start a project.
Sources: Mercor public job listings, Mercor Mathematical Physicist listing, Mindrift STEM project, Outlier FAQ.
Find Math AI Training Work
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What Math Trainers Say on Reddit
In a July 2026 thread on the mathematics subreddit, a math PhD asked how to get paid work quickly. The replies were frank.
- Treat it as a side job. Several said accounts can be closed with little explanation.
- Projects get cancelled often and with little notice, even on platforms people rated well.
- Apply to several platforms at the same time, in case one drops you.
- The screens vary. One commenter described an AI interview that moved from a core theorem to its uses outside math, and another a math test built around spotting mistakes in the answer options.
That is a small sample, so weigh it alongside what each platform publishes.
Sources: r/mathematics thread.
How to Apply as a Mathematician
- Name your area on your resume, such as analysis, algebra, number theory, statistics, competition math or formal proofs.
- Have a short proof ready to walk through out loud. The AI interview asks you to explain your reasoning.
- If you know Lean, Coq or Isabelle, say so plainly. Mercor's formal proof role listed a higher range than its general math pool.
- Apply to the specialist pool for your field before generalist roles.
- Keep a record of your tasks and hours from day one.
Have a science background as well? Our post on biology AI trainer jobs covers the biology and chemistry listings.
DigiNo earns a referral if you join Ethos or Mercor through our links. We have no link with DataAnnotation, Scale AI, Outlier or Mindrift.
Math AI Trainer FAQ
What does a math AI trainer do?
You write competition or research-level problems with reference solutions, grade AI-written proofs step by step, and flag answers that are right for the wrong reasons.
Do you need a PhD for math AI training jobs?
Not always. Mercor's math pool asks for a graduate degree or an equivalent research or competition background, and DataAnnotation's Mathematician page says no degree is required. Physics roles on Mercor asked for a PhD.
How much do math AI trainer jobs pay?
Rates are set per project. The table in this post shows what five math and physics listings stated on 2026-10-13. Those are listed rates, not earnings.
Does Outlier hire math experts?
Outlier, run by Scale AI, shows math experts among its contributors and prefers graduate-level expertise. It lists no public rates. Mercor and DataAnnotation both had math roles with listed rates on 2026-10-13.
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