Quick estimator — when will I get paid?
Use the calculator below to estimate your gross payout, find the exact Wednesday Mercor will release it, and translate the Saturday–Friday IST work week into your local time. It also covers bonus and work-trial release windows and explains the Wise vs Stripe timing differences.How Mercor pays you
Mercor pays hourly contractors every Wednesday around 12:00 PM PST. Each payout covers the previous work week (Saturday 12:00 AM → Friday 11:59 PM IST) — approximately a five-day lag from the last workday. Bonuses, work-trial pay, and referral payouts use a separate release schedule with two windows per week (Wednesday and Friday in PST). The calculator above maps both to your local time.All Mercor contracts are denominated in USD. Your payment provider (Stripe or Wise) converts USD to your local currency at the time of payout.
Which provider do I use?
Mercor assigns your payment provider automatically based on the country of your bank account — you do not choose it.Stripe Connect
Used in countries where Stripe Connect supports payouts. Funds arrive in your Stripe Express account, then transfer to your linked bank account.
Wise
Used in countries Stripe Connect does not yet support. Wise emails you after each release — you must accept the transfer for funds to reach your bank.
Setting up Stripe
Stripe Connect is Mercor’s primary payout method for contractors whose bank accounts are in Stripe-supported countries. Follow the steps below the first time you accept an offer.
Click 'Setup Payments' when accepting your offer
During offer acceptance, select Setup Payments. This launches the Stripe Express onboarding flow.
Complete the Stripe setup flow
Follow Stripe’s prompts carefully — identity verification, bank account details, and tax information are all required. If you get stuck, Stripe’s own help center is at support.stripe.com/express.
Return to your offer
Once Stripe confirms your setup, you’ll be returned to the Mercor offer flow to complete acceptance.
Note the first-payout holding period
Stripe requires a 7-day holding period on your first payout. This is a Stripe rule — Mercor cannot override it. Subsequent payouts follow the normal Wednesday cadence.
Choose your payout speed
After Stripe is set up, choose how funds move from your Stripe Express balance to your bank account. You can change this anytime in work.mercor.com → Profile → Account → Payout preferences.Standard Payout
Free · Funds arrive in your bank within up to 5 business days after Mercor releases the payout. This is the default option.
Instant Payout
1.0% fee · Funds arrive in your bank within ~30 minutes of release, provided your bank supports Stripe Instant Payouts in your country.
About your Stripe Express account
- Stripe disburses to bank accounts only — debit cards, prepaid cards, and digital wallets are not supported.
- Two-factor authentication is mandatory via SMS.
- Monitor every payout in your Stripe Express dashboard — each entry includes a payout trace ID, status, and expected arrival date.
- Your bank account must be in your own legal name. Joint accounts, business accounts, and accounts in a family member’s name will fail Stripe’s KYC checks.
Setting up Wise
Wise is used for contractors whose bank accounts are in countries Stripe Connect does not yet support. Unlike Stripe, Wise requires you to action an email for each payout to arrive.
Check your inbox for a Wise email
After Mercor releases a payout, Wise emails you at the address registered with your Mercor account. Check your spam folder if it does not appear within 24 hours.
Open the link in the email
Click the link in the email to reach Wise’s registration page. Select Personal account, create a username and password, then click Continue to claim.
Add your bank account details
Provide your bank routing/account number and the account holder’s name. The account must be in your own legal name — same KYC rule as Stripe.
Payment troubleshooting — quick checks
Most “payment didn’t arrive” reports come down to a small set of root causes. Run through these before contacting support.Mercor released payout but money hasn't arrived
If you’re on Wise, check the Wise email (including spam) — the transfer requires your acceptance. If you’re on Stripe, payouts can take 2–3 business days (up to 5 during holidays). Open your Stripe dashboard to see the payout status and trace ID.
Stripe says my account is on hold
Holds are placed by Stripe directly — Mercor cannot remove them. Log in to Stripe, complete every pending action, and contact Stripe Support if the hold persists. Once cleared, payouts resume automatically.
Payout went to wrong bank details
The receiving bank auto-rejects the payment and funds return to your Stripe balance. Once you update your bank details, Stripe retries automatically. Expect 10–15 business days — this cannot be expedited.
Account in a family member's name
Both Stripe and Wise require the bank account to be in your own legal name for KYC and AML compliance. Joint, business, or relative-owned accounts will fail or be flagged.
Promised bonus not paid
Bonuses require explicit approval logged in the system — a verbal “approved” from your SPL or PM is not enough. Ask them to confirm the bonus was logged. Once logged, it lands on the next Wednesday or Friday PST release window.
Spend page total ≠ Insightful total
Both pull from the same source but are not real-time (max lag ~3 hours). Mercor’s Spend page groups hours by the IST work week (Sat 12:00 AM → Fri 11:59 PM IST). Insightful’s “this week” may use a different boundary. The Spend page total is the source of truth for payouts.
FAQ
When are regular wages paid?
When are regular wages paid?
Every Wednesday around 12:00 PM PST. The payout covers the previous work week (Saturday 12:00 AM → Friday 11:59 PM IST), with approximately a five-day lag from the last workday. The calculator at the top of this page translates this into your local time.
When are bonuses, work trials, and referrals paid?
When are bonuses, work trials, and referrals paid?
Bonus-style payouts have two release windows per week, both at ~12:00 PM PST:
- Approved Wednesday 12 PM – Sunday 11:59 PM PST → paid the following Wednesday.
- Approved Monday 12 AM – Wednesday 11:59 AM PST → paid Friday of the same week.
Why is the Wise process different from Stripe?
Why is the Wise process different from Stripe?
Stripe Connect deposits automatically into your linked bank account (2–3 business days; ~30 minutes if you have Instant Payout enabled). Wise sends you an email — you must click the link, log in, and accept the transfer before the money moves. Mercor cannot bypass either system. Provider assignment is based on the country of your bank account.
Why don't my Insightful hours match the Spend page?
Why don't my Insightful hours match the Spend page?
Both pull from the same source but are not real-time — maximum expected lag is ~3 hours. Mercor’s Spend page groups hours by the IST work week (Sat 12:00 AM → Fri 11:59 PM IST), while Insightful’s view may use a different “this week” definition. Use the Spend page total as the source of truth for payouts.
What if I logged hours while my contract was paused?
What if I logged hours while my contract was paused?
Insightful caps time during a pause at ~1 minute per contractor (it cannot enforce zero). Time logged during a pause is not paid. If you see payment for paused time, contact your PM.
I am an individual, and the form asks for business details. What do I enter?
I am an individual, and the form asks for business details. What do I enter?
Fields marked as optional can be left blank if they do not apply to you. For required business fields, treat yourself as a sole proprietor and enter your personal details.
Can I get paid in USD if I am in another country?
Can I get paid in USD if I am in another country?
No. Stripe supports USD payouts only when the platform and your connected account are in the same country. Mercor’s platform is registered in the United States, so contractors outside the U.S. receive payouts in their local currency after automatic conversion.
I already have a Stripe account. Can I use it with Mercor?
I already have a Stripe account. Can I use it with Mercor?
No. You must create and connect a new Stripe Connect account during Mercor’s setup flow. Existing standalone Stripe accounts cannot be linked.
Can I reset the Stripe account linked to Mercor?
Can I reset the Stripe account linked to Mercor?
Yes. On your Earnings dashboard, click the Stripe option in the top-right corner and select Reset Payment Setup.
I can't log into Stripe — I forgot my password.
I can't log into Stripe — I forgot my password.
Reset your password on Stripe’s login page. Mercor cannot reset Stripe credentials on your behalf.
How do I change the email on my Stripe account?
How do I change the email on my Stripe account?
Mercor cannot modify your Stripe account details. Contact Stripe Support directly to update your email.
How do I change the bank account for my Stripe payouts?
How do I change the bank account for my Stripe payouts?
Update your linked bank in your Stripe Express dashboard at any time. Go to Settings → Payouts and edit your external bank account details.
Stripe is asking for ID verification, but it keeps failing.
Stripe is asking for ID verification, but it keeps failing.
This usually happens when an individual’s personal name was entered in a “company name” field, causing a mismatch. Contact Stripe Support — they can perform a manual review.
Stripe says my country isn't supported, but Mercor says it is. Which is correct?
Stripe says my country isn't supported, but Mercor says it is. Which is correct?
Stripe’s public site refers to standalone Stripe accounts. Mercor uses Stripe Connect, which supports more regions. If your country is on our supported countries list, you can set up your Stripe Connect account through your Earnings dashboard.
My country isn't supported. Can I use someone else's bank account in a supported country?
My country isn't supported. Can I use someone else's bank account in a supported country?
No. For compliance reasons, Mercor can only send payouts to a bank account in your own legal name, located in a supported country. Accounts owned by relatives, friends, or companies you do not control are not permitted.
Can Mercor pause, delay, or batch my payouts (e.g., monthly instead of weekly)?
Can Mercor pause, delay, or batch my payouts (e.g., monthly instead of weekly)?
No. Mercor payouts run automatically each week — we cannot manually hold, delay, or consolidate them.
Can Mercor send Wise payouts to my Wise balance or Wise tag instead of email?
Can Mercor send Wise payouts to my Wise balance or Wise tag instead of email?
No. Wise payouts can only be sent to the email address registered with your Mercor account, in your local currency. Wise balances, tags, and cards are not supported destinations.
Why can't I add a foreign-currency bank account to my Stripe profile?
Why can't I add a foreign-currency bank account to my Stripe profile?
Stripe Express only supports local bank accounts in the same country as your Stripe region. For example, a Canadian Stripe Express account cannot be linked to a U.S. bank account.
My bank can't locate the payout without a reference number.
My bank can't locate the payout without a reference number.
Stripe issues a payout trace ID once the payout is marked Paid. You can find it in your Stripe Express dashboard under Payout Details, and share it with your bank.
Can Mercor expedite a Stripe or Wise payout that's taking too long?
Can Mercor expedite a Stripe or Wise payout that's taking too long?
No. Once Stripe or Wise has processed the payout, the timeline depends entirely on the banks involved. Mercor cannot influence transfer speed downstream.
I updated my bank details after a payout was sent. Will that payout go to my new bank?
I updated my bank details after a payout was sent. Will that payout go to my new bank?
No. Payouts already initiated continue to the old account. Only future payouts use the updated bank details.
My offer rate doesn't specify a currency. What currency will I be paid in?
My offer rate doesn't specify a currency. What currency will I be paid in?
Mercor contract rates are always in USD. Stripe and Wise convert to your local currency at the time of each payout.
Stripe is asking for SSN, ID, or bank details to complete setup. Can I skip these?
Stripe is asking for SSN, ID, or bank details to complete setup. Can I skip these?
No. Identity verification cannot be bypassed. Stripe requires this information — including SSN for U.S. users — to comply with financial regulations. Without it, you cannot complete setup or receive payouts.
Stripe is asking for banking fields that don't exist in my country (sort code, routing number, etc.).
Stripe is asking for banking fields that don't exist in my country (sort code, routing number, etc.).
Stripe determines required banking fields based on the country you selected during setup. The field name shown may be generic, but it maps to a country-specific banking code behind the scenes. Contact your bank for the exact value Stripe expects — these are often not visible in online banking apps.
Can Mercor override or bypass Stripe's banking requirements?
Can Mercor override or bypass Stripe's banking requirements?
No. Stripe controls which banking fields are required, how they’re labeled, and whether the details are valid. If your bank has confirmed the details and Stripe still rejects them, contact Stripe Support directly with the error message and your bank’s confirmation.
What happens if a payout was sent with incorrect bank details?
What happens if a payout was sent with incorrect bank details?
The receiving bank auto-rejects and the funds return to your Stripe balance. Stripe automatically retries using your updated bank details. Expect 10–15 business days — this cannot be expedited. No action is required from you or Mercor as long as your bank details are corrected in Stripe.