Start here: get set up and earning with AI agents

The honest version first. AI agents can help you work faster and take on paid work you couldn't do before. They do not make money on their own, and nobody can promise you an income. Most people who try any of these paths earn little or nothing at first. The figures on this site are what specific people or companies reported. They are not predictions for you. Every figure has a source and an evidence grade (see below).

0. Find your path (2 minutes)

1. Setup for everyone

Accounts and tools (start with the free tiers)

Advice: stay on free tiers until you have a paying customer or employer. You don't need Pro plans, courses or "systems" to begin.

Getting paid

• Jobs (W-2): your employer withholds taxes. Nothing extra to set up.
• Contracts and gigs (AI training platforms, Upwork): you're an independent contractor. The platform pays you through methods such as Stripe, Wise, bank transfer or PayPal. Mercor's postings say it pays weekly via Stripe or Wise (example). US clients and platforms will usually ask for a Form W-9, which gives them your name and taxpayer ID so they can report what they paid you.
• Your own clients or products: use a Stripe account (Payment Links or invoices) or PayPal. Use a separate bank account for business money.

US tax basics

This is general information, not tax advice. Talk to a tax professional.

• Self-employment tax is 15.3%: 12.4% Social Security plus 2.9% Medicare. You generally owe it if your net self-employment earnings are $400 or more. It applies to 92.35% of net earnings (IRS Topic 554). This is on top of income tax.
• 1099-NEC: for payments made in 2026, a business generally must file one for anyone it paid $2,000 or more for services (IRS). The income is taxable even if you never receive a 1099.
• 1099-K: payment apps and platforms may report your payments. Check the IRS's current 1099-K rules.
• Track your income and business expenses from day one. Business expenses (for example, a tool subscription used for client work) reduce your net earnings.
• Many people set aside a share of each payment for taxes and pay quarterly estimated taxes. Ask a tax pro how much is right for you.

2. Your first-week and 30-day plans

Each path file has a day-by-day first week, a 30-day plan and a realistic first-dollar milestone. Each one links to the relevant opportunities (by slug in opportunities.json) and playbooks.

3. Scams and red flags

Walk away if you see any of these:

• You have to pay to join, pay for "training" or buy equipment before you can earn. Mercor-, Outlier- and DataAnnotation-style platforms are free to join.
• A "recruiter" contacts you on Telegram or WhatsApp, or offers a job without an application or test.
• Promises of passive income, "doing nothing" or guaranteed returns. Example from our scam-watch list: slug '$70,000 system doing nothing' agent hype.
• Income claims with no source, from anonymous people. Example: slug 'Marcus makes $72k/month with AI' agency story.
• The person showing you their income mainly sells courses about making income. Check what they actually earn from the thing they teach.
• A "client" sends a check or asks you to buy gift cards or software through them.
• Pressure to decide today. Countdown timers. "Only 3 spots left".
• Vendor case studies presented as independent proof. A vendor writing about its own resellers has a conflict of interest.

How to read our evidence grades

A tweet or screenshot is a self-report, not proof. Even an A-grade result is an outlier, because winners are the people who post their numbers.

4. FAQ

Can I really make money with AI agents? Some people do, mostly by using agents to do paid work faster: client automations, content, software. Paid jobs and contracts exist too. Our dataset documents real results. It doesn't show how many people tried and earned nothing, which is likely most of them.

What's the fastest route to a first dollar? Usually the paycheck track: AI-training contracts or entry-level jobs. Pay there is set by the platform or employer. For example, Mercor lists a $70/hr generalist role, and DataAnnotation publishes rates of $20+/hr for general work. Getting accepted and getting enough work are not guaranteed.

Do I need to code? No, for the paycheck track, content, and many freelance gigs. The "build a product" path is much easier if you can code or are willing to learn with AI coding tools.

How much do I need to spend? $0 is possible on the paycheck and freelance tracks. ChatGPT Plus is $20/month. Claude Pro is $17/month when billed annually ($200/year); the month-to-month price was not shown.

Should I buy a course? Not to start. Every playbook here is free. Be skeptical of anyone whose main income is selling courses about income.

Do I need an LLC? Not to start. A sole proprietor can take freelance income. Ask a tax pro or attorney when your income grows.

Is income from AI-training platforms taxable? Yes. Contractor income is generally subject to income tax and self-employment tax. See a tax pro.

Where do your numbers come from? See Sources. Every entry links to its source and shows a last-verified date.