Annotator Salary in the United States

How much does an Annotator make in the United States?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for an Annotator in the United States is $56,281 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, an Annotator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,355
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $53,548 to $62,601
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,061
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View as table View as graph 25% $53,548 10% $51,061 90% $68,355 75% $62,601 $56,281 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Annotator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $62,601 $5,217 $1,204 $30
Average $56,281 $4,690 $1,082 $27
25th Percentile $53,548 $4,462 $1,030 $26
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Key Factors That Influence Annotator Salaries

An Annotator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Annotator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Annotator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $54,242
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $54,328
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $54,964
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $56,895
  • Expert (over 8 years): $57,158
Levels Salary
Entry Level Annotator$54,242
Intermediate Level Annotator$54,328
Senior Level Annotator$54,964
Specialist Level Annotator$56,895
Expert Level Annotator$57,158
$54,242 0 yr
$54,328 < 2 yrs
$54,964 2-4 yrs
$56,895 5-8 yrs
$57,158 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Annotator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Annotators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $62,314.
  • California: $62,078.
  • Massachusetts: $61,250.

Top Paying Cities for Annotators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $70,987
  • San Francisco: $70,289
  • Oakland: $68,730

What Skills Can Increase an Annotator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Team Building (Mentioned in 7.25% Job Postings): Shaping a group of individuals into a cohesive and effective unit, focused on a central objective.
  • Microsoft Word (Mentioned in 3.12% Job Postings): Microsoft Word or MS Word is a popular word-processing program used mainly for creating documents, such as brochures, letters, learning activities, quizzes, tests, and students' homework assignments
  • Computer Literacy (Mentioned in 2.56% Job Postings): Ability to use computers and related technology efficiently.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Team Building 7.25%
Microsoft Word 3.12%
Computer Literacy 2.56%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Annotator's salary.
  • Risk Management: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Digital Video: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Corporate Security: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Risk Management
 $70,351
25%
Digital Video
 $70,351
25%
Corporate Security
 $68,662
22%
Field Operations
 $67,537
20%
Attention to Detail
 $63,034
12%
Listening
 $63,034
12%
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How Education impacts an Annotator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Annotators enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Annotator with a No Diploma is between $49,862 and $53,574).

Annotator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Annotator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 46.7%
High School 46.7%
Associates 33.3%
Bachelors 6.7%
Masters 13.3%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Annotator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Annotator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on March 01, 2026
$53,548
Average $56,281/year
$62,601
$4,462
Average $4,690/month
$5,217
$1,030
Average $1,082/week
$1,204
$26
Average $27/hour
$30
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $62,601 $5,217 $1,204 $30
Average $56,281 $4,690 $1,082 $27
25th Percentile $53,548 $4,462 $1,030 $26

Salaries of jobs related to Annotator

Salary Trends for Annotator

Salaries for an Annotator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $78,382 in 2023 to around $75,535 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Annotator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Annotator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$78,382
2024
$77,441
2025
$75,535
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $78,382
2024 $77,441
2025 $75,535
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Annotator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Annotator

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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