Google to pay drivers $20 per hour to test its self-driving cars

California: With internet giant Google about to test its self driving car in Arizona, United States, the company is hiring local drivers at USD 20 per hour.

The driver is expected to act as vehicle safety specialists who will be behind the wheel and ready to take over at a moment’s notice.

The employees are expected work under 12-24 month contracts driving vehicles from six to eight hours per day, the Verge reports.

“Drivers are required to have a bachelor’s degree, a clean driving record and criminal history, and the ability to type at least 40 words per minute. They will also be expected to keep their work confidential and will need to pass a number of in- and out-of-car training courses,” the California-based company said in a statement.

“The role of test driver is so new that there isn’t a particular type of person that we look for. We’ve hired people from all types of backgrounds, from English teachers to orbital welders,” said Brian Torcellini, head of operations for Google’s Self-Driving Car testing program to The Republic.