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Data Annotation Manager Jobs in Gaithersburg, MD

... management, quality validation pipelines * Python - strong, production-grade; comfortable with ML tooling and data pipeline development * Experience configuring AI-assistive features in annotation ...

WHAT YOU'LL DO • Execute Data labelling and annotation tasks across speech and voice datasets. • Work with audio and language data, including transcription, categorization, and tagging. YOU ARE A ...

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Data Annotation Manager information

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$33.5K

$105K

$185.8K

How much do data annotation manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for data annotation manager in Gaithersburg, MD is $104,960.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,300.00 and $135,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the salary of data annotation manager?

The salary of a data annotation manager typically ranges from $60,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. Senior roles or those in high-cost areas may offer higher compensation, and familiarity with annotation tools and team management can influence pay levels.

How much do data annotation project managers make?

Data annotation project managers typically earn between $60,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. They oversee annotation teams, coordinate workflows, and ensure quality standards are met, often requiring familiarity with annotation tools and project management skills.

What are some common challenges faced by Data Annotation Managers, and how can they be addressed?

Data Annotation Managers often encounter challenges such as maintaining high annotation quality across large and diverse datasets, managing a distributed team of annotators, and meeting tight project deadlines. To address these, it's important to implement robust quality assurance processes, provide ongoing training for annotators, and establish clear communication channels. Leveraging annotation tools with built-in validation features can also help ensure consistency and accuracy. Building a positive and collaborative team environment further contributes to better outcomes and workflow efficiency.

What does a Data Annotation Manager do?

A Data Annotation Manager oversees the process of labeling and categorizing data used to train machine learning models. They manage teams of annotators, ensure data quality, develop annotation guidelines, and coordinate with data scientists to meet project requirements. Their role is critical in maintaining high standards of accuracy and efficiency, as well as ensuring that datasets are properly prepared for AI and machine learning applications.

Does data annotation actually pay well?

Data annotation managers typically earn competitive salaries that reflect their experience and responsibilities, often ranging from entry-level to senior roles. Compensation can vary based on industry, location, and company size, with specialized skills in tools like labeling platforms and quality control often leading to higher pay.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Data Annotation Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Data Annotation Manager, you need expertise in data labeling processes, quality control, and a solid understanding of machine learning concepts, usually backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Proficiency with annotation tools such as Labelbox, Supervisely, or CVAT, as well as experience with project management systems, is commonly required. Exceptional leadership, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help manage teams and ensure high annotation accuracy. These skills are critical for delivering reliable labeled datasets, which are essential for building effective AI and machine learning models.

How hard is it to get hired by data annotation?

Getting hired as a data annotation manager typically requires relevant experience in data labeling, familiarity with annotation tools, and strong organizational skills. The hiring process often involves reviewing previous work, technical assessments, and demonstrating attention to detail, with opportunities available in companies that outsource data labeling tasks.

What is the difference between Data Annotation Manager vs Data Labeling Specialist?

AspectData Annotation ManagerData Labeling Specialist
CredentialsBachelor's degree in related field, experience in data managementHigh school diploma or equivalent, training in labeling tools
Work EnvironmentTeam management, project oversight, collaboration with data scientistsHands-on labeling work, using annotation tools, focused on data tagging
Industry UsageUsed in AI/ML projects for overseeing annotation teamsPerforms the actual data labeling tasks in machine learning workflows

The Data Annotation Manager oversees the entire annotation process, managing teams and ensuring quality, while the Data Labeling Specialist focuses on executing labeling tasks. Both roles are essential in AI/ML data preparation but differ in responsibilities and scope.

What are the most commonly searched types of Data Annotation jobs in Gaithersburg, MD? The most popular types of Data Annotation jobs in Gaithersburg, MD are:
What job categories do people searching Data Annotation Manager jobs in Gaithersburg, MD look for? The top searched job categories for Data Annotation Manager jobs in Gaithersburg, MD are:
What cities near Gaithersburg, MD are hiring for Data Annotation Manager jobs? Cities near Gaithersburg, MD with the most Data Annotation Manager job openings:
Data & Annotation Engineer

Data & Annotation Engineer

Innodata Inc.

Washington, DC

$55 - $60/hr

Other

Posted 10 days ago


Innodata rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

150th of 209 rated software companies


Job description

About the Program: 

Innodata's Federal Practice builds the trusted data layer for critical infrastructure Trust & Safety work. Partnering with a leading systems integrator, we're delivering a modern, governed data services platform in a secure federal (IL4) environment. Over an intensive 20-week phase, you'll help stand up a data services storefront, a DataCard governance framework, synthetic data integration, and Databricks write-back capabilities.

About the Role: 

As the Data/Annotation Engineer, you'll be hands-on with the data itself. You'll administer the annotation toolchain, manage annotation workflows across the corpus, and produce the per-dataset documentation that feeds our governance framework. You'll work with the AI Solutions Engineer to ensure the data going into our models is accurate, well-labeled, and fully traceable. This role is for someone detail-obsessed who understands that great AI starts with disciplined, well-governed data.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Receive, validate, ingest, and ontology-map the ODIN mission-aligned corpus from AFS delivery
  • Produce the ODIN load report: corpus description, ontology mapping, readiness state
  • Configure CVAT annotation pipeline against the Phase 1 starter kit rule pack
  • Operate both self-service and lightweight white-glove annotation paths during Phase D corpus production
  • Produce 50-100 label demonstration corpus across synthetic and mission-aligned content
  • Support QA/Evaluation Lead on QC execution and corpus annotation dry-runs
  • Associate DataCard provenance records with annotated and synthetic outputs in coordination with the Solution Architect

Must-Have Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, or related field preferred. Equivalent experience may substitute for degree on a 2-for-1 basis.
  • 5+ years total professional experience, 3+ years in data engineering or annotation operations
  • CVAT - deployment and day-to-day operation required; this is not a nice-to-have
  • Annotated dataset ingest pipelines: schema mapping, format validation, ontology alignment
  • Full-motion video (FMV) annotation concepts and tooling
  • Python scripting for data wrangling, validation, and format conversion
  • Active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility

Nice-to-Have Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, or related field required; Master's degree preferred. Equivalent experience may substitute for degree on a 2-for-1 basis
  • CVAT annotation platform - AI feature configuration and operation
  • DoD or IC data program experience: CUI, distribution statements, federal data governance
  • Evaluation design for AI/ML training data: IAA methodology, drift detection, model performance measurement
  • Video understanding or FMV annotation experience
  • DataCard or ML data provenance framework familiarity

The expected hourly salary range for this position is $55 to $60 p/hour, based on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Note to Candidates: 

Phase D corpus production (Weeks 17-19) is the core demonstration deliverable for the program's largest payment milestone ($131,250). Candidates must be genuinely comfortable operating CVAT at production quality against a mission dataset under a milestone deadline


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