AI trainer hiring rates in Singapore highest in Asia-Pacific, report says

The median hourly rate sits at about $32.31.

Organisations in Singapore are hiring artificial intelligence (AI) trainers at higher rates than other Asia-Pacific markets, according to a Deel report.

AI trainers in the city-state earn a median hourly rate of $32.31 (US$25.20), matching pay levels in New Zealand and marking the highest in the region.

These workers perform tasks ranging from data annotation to providing expert feedback in medicine, economics, and translation.

Compensation for senior roles climbed in 2025, with product managers seeing a 70% increase in pay compared with 2024.

Salaries for customer service representatives and sales account managers rose 31.6% and 28.4%, respectively, according to employer-of-record data.

Employers pay these premiums for roles that influence company roadmaps and revenue, the report added.

Software developers remain the primary cross-border hires for Singapore firms, whilst startups with funding of $128.22m (US$100m) or more prioritise specialised expertise.

Amongst these startups, software developer roles account for 28% of cross-border hires. High-growth companies leverage international hiring to access skills that combine technical depth with commercial impact.

The report analysed one million worker contracts across 150 countries and tracks the emergence of AI training as a global profession.

Over 70,000 workers train AI systems across 600 organisations, with AI trainer roles growing 283% in 2025.

The data also highlights a “currency hopping” trend in volatile economies, as contractors in high-inflation countries such as Argentina, South Korea, Vietnam, and Turkey choose payments in US dollars or stablecoins to protect purchasing power.

US dollars appeared in half of the 10 most common country-currency payment combinations in 2025. Supporting multi-currency options helps companies retain talent in markets with currency volatility.

(US$1 = SG$1.28)

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