Raters work on Google's two most vital products — Search and ads. In 2022, Google made more than $224 billion in revenue from Search and advertising, accounting for more than 79 percent of its total revenue. For comparison, that's more than the entire gross domestic product of Greece.

"We support billions of dollars of revenue," Google rater Ed Stackhouse told NPR. "And we get paid less than your average fast food worker."

Google raters who work for Appen make between $14 and $14.50 an hour and under company policy can't work more than 29 hours a week. Raters who spoke with NPR said they have health conditions or family needs that require them to work from home and they appreciate they can do that. But, since they can't work more than 29 hours a week, they're not eligible for benefits like health care and sick leave.