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Appen Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Appen information

See California salary details

$35.5K

$233.6K

$364.2K

How much do appen jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for appen in California is $233,595.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $236,900.00 and $246,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is Appen?

Appen is a global company that specializes in providing data for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications. They recruit remote workers worldwide to perform tasks like data annotation, transcription, search engine evaluation, and linguistic services. Appen's clients include major tech companies that use the data to improve the accuracy and functionality of AI systems such as voice recognition, search engines, and translation tools. Working for Appen typically involves flexible, part-time, or project-based assignments that support technology development.

What are the typical daily tasks and work expectations for a contractor working with Appen?

As an Appen contractor, your daily tasks often involve evaluating search engine results, labeling data, or transcribing audio, depending on your assigned project. You can expect to work independently and set your own hours, but projects may have minimum weekly hour requirements or quality standards to meet. Communication is largely remote, and you’ll collaborate with project managers via email or online platforms to receive guidelines and feedback. Staying organized and meeting deadlines are crucial for ongoing project eligibility.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Appen rater, and why are they important?

To succeed as an Appen Rater, you need strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and fluency in the required language, often supported by a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with web browsers, search engines, and online evaluation tools is typically required, and some roles may require specific certifications or training modules. Excellent time management, self-motivation, and clear written communication make candidates stand out in this remote position. These skills ensure high-quality, accurate data annotation and evaluation, which are crucial for improving artificial intelligence systems.

What is the difference between Appen vs Lionbridge?

AspectAppenLionbridge
Required CredentialsBasic digital literacy, no formal certifications neededSimilar; basic skills, some projects may require language proficiency
Work EnvironmentRemote, flexible hours, home-basedRemote, flexible hours, home-based
Employer & Industry UsageMajor player in data annotation, AI training dataLeading in linguistic services, data annotation, AI training
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for gig work, data annotation rolesCompared for similar micro-task and data labeling jobs

Both Appen and Lionbridge offer remote micro-task and data annotation roles with similar work environments and minimal credential requirements. They are industry leaders in AI training data, often compared by job seekers for flexible, home-based work opportunities in the tech and AI sectors.

How much do you get paid at Appen?

Appen data annotation and micro-task roles typically pay between $10 and $15 per hour, depending on the project and location. Payments are usually made via PayPal or direct deposit, and the work often involves flexible hours and basic computer skills.

What are popular job titles related to Appen jobs in California?

For Appen jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Appen jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Appen jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Appen jobs?

Cities in California with the most Appen job openings:

Appen jobs near you
Infographic showing various Appen job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 52% Full Time, and 48% Contract. Highlights an 43% Physical, and 57% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $233,595 per year, or $112.3 per hour.

Strategic Projects Lead - Audio Data

Success Matcher Recruitment

Redwood City, CA • Hybrid

$140K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 hours ago

Job description

About the Company

Our client is building the foundational data and benchmark infrastructure for next-generation Voice AI, helping frontier AI labs train models to understand humanity across every language, dialect, and accent.

Backed by Y Combinator and over $3.5M in seed funding from top-tier Silicon Valley investors (including surgepoint, Amino Capital, and co-founders of Twitch and Cruise), they operate as a lean, elite team of ~10 scaling rapidly in the Bay Area.

About the Role

As the Strategic Projects Lead - Audio Data, you will own and deliver high-priority audio data collection projects end-to-end. In this high-ownership, ground-floor role, you will be the single-threaded owner of large-scale, six-figure+ contracts, driving messy and complex projects from customer kickoff through to final, high-quality delivery.

What You Will Do

  • Project Delivery: Manage complex audio data collection projects, overseeing contributor sourcing, engagement, quality assurance, and client communication.
  • Quantitative Operations: Track project progress and KPIs quantitatively. You will build dashboards, analyze throughput/quality data, and proactively solve operational bottlenecks.
  • Client Interface: Work directly with leading frontier AI labs to clarify requirements, deliver progress updates, and iterate based on their feedback.
  • Product Collaboration: Propose and drive technical and product changes with the engineering team to improve platform capabilities, contributor workflows, and QA tooling.
  • Resource Management: Hire and manage external QA resources as needed, collaborating directly with the co-founders and engineers to unblock delivery.

What You Bring

  • Experience: 2 to 7 years of data operations experience specifically on the supply side at a data annotation/labeling vendor company (e.g., Scale AI, Surge AI, Appen, Micro1, TELUS Digital, DataAnnotation, or a similar AI data startup).
  • Track Record: Proven success delivering six-figure+ data collection or annotation contracts end-to-end.
  • Technical Domain: Direct experience managing audio, speech, voice, or multimodal data projects.
  • Analytical Chops: Strong analytical skills with the ability to build dashboards and use data to solve quantitative operational problems.
  • QA Design: Quality workflow design experience, including creating annotation guidelines, QA rubrics, and quality control systems.
  • Mindset: Extreme ownership, resilience in the face of ambiguity, and a habit of pushing through obstacles to deliver results.
  • Presence: Ability to work full-time on-site (5 days/week) in the San Mateo/Redwood City, CA area.