Here's How Much Money OpenAI Employees Make — Including One Role That Pays Up to $685,000 Per Year

Entrepreneur

by Sherin Shibu

February 25, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

OpenAI is paying its employees some of the highest salaries in Silicon Valley, particularly its research scientists who can earn up to $685,000 annually. Federal filings reveal that OpenAI compensates its technical staff with base salaries ranging from $210,000 to over half a million dollars, not including stock awards or bonuses. This reflects the company’s aggressive strategy to compete for top AI talent despite recent efforts to slow down hiring. OpenAI’s high compensation packages are significant because they highlight the intense competition in the tech industry for skilled workers, especially in AI. The filings were required due to OpenAI’s reliance on H-1B visas for hiring foreign workers with specialized skills. Despite a $100,000 fee per new H-1B visa application imposed by the Trump administration, OpenAI onboarded over 60 new H-1B employees from October to December 2025 and filed over 160 applications last year. This underscores the company’s commitment to expanding its workforce while maintaining high pay levels. OpenAI currently employs around 4,000 workers globally. Key roles at OpenAI include research scientists earning between $245,000 and $685,000, hardware engineers with salaries ranging from $250,000 to $555,000, and software developers paid $325,000. Other technical staff, such as AI systems engineers and security engineers, also command six-figure base salaries. These figures, combined with stock awards averaging $1.5 million annually per employee, make OpenAI one of the most lucrative startups for tech talent. For startups and tech companies, OpenAI’s compensation strategy matters because it highlights the challenges of attracting and retaining top AI talent in a competitive market. While OpenAI has slowed its hiring pace due to its belief that AI can increase efficiency, the company continues to invest heavily in its workforce by offering industry-leading salaries and stock packages. This approach not only reflects the demand for specialized skills but also sets a benchmark for other tech firms aiming to compete in the AI space.

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Originally published on Entrepreneur on 2/25/2026