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Levels.fyi
levels.fyi › companies › openai salaries › software engineer › research scientist
OpenAI Research Scientist Salary | $710K-$1.44M+ | Levels.fyi
Research Scientist compensation in United States at OpenAI ranges from $710K per year for L4 to $1.44M per year for L5. The median yearly compensation in United States package totals $1.56M.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/chatgpt › openai engineers make 〜1 million $ a year.
r/ChatGPT on Reddit: OpenAI engineers make 〜1 million $ a year.
September 6, 2023 - The GPT model came from Google, not openAI. The main reason why Google never pushed for chatGPT like technology is because they were (and still are!) worried that LLMs are a danger to traditional internet search, which is their biggest source of income. If you are #1, the incentive to change the status quo is small. Google's strategy was to do research, but keep things under a lid to not endanger their position as market leader.
Discussions

$900k Median Package for Engineers at OpenAI
But it's also important to note that only $300K of that is in cash. The other $600K is in profit participation, which could take years (maybe even a decade!) to be realized. It could also be worth $6M a year when it's realized · But ultimately it's an investment of your time. More on news.ycombinator.com
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June 28, 2023
OpenAI - Introducing Aardvark: OpenAI’s agentic security researcher : singularity
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An OpenAI researcher who jumped ship to Meta says he didn't get a $100 million signing bonus : technology
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Tweet from an OpenAI researcher : OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company. OpenAI's mission is to create safe and powerful AI that benefits all of humanity. We are an... More on old.reddit.com
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People also ask

What is the highest Research Scientist salary at OpenAI in United States?
The highest paying salary package reported for a Research Scientist at OpenAI in United States sits at a yearly total compensation of $1,900,000. This includes base salary as well as any potential stock compensation and bonuses.
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levels.fyi
levels.fyi › companies › openai salaries › software engineer › research scientist
OpenAI Research Scientist Salary | $710K-$1.44M+ | Levels.fyi
What is the highest salary at OpenAI?
The highest paying role reported at OpenAI is Software Engineering Manager with a yearly total compensation of $1,265,000. This includes base salary as well as any potential stock compensation and bonuses.
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levels.fyi
levels.fyi › companies › openai › salaries
OpenAI Salaries | Levels.fyi
How much do OpenAI Research Scientist employees get paid in United States?
The median yearly total compensation reported at OpenAI for the Research Scientist role in United States is $1,560,000.
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levels.fyi
levels.fyi › companies › openai salaries › software engineer › research scientist
OpenAI Research Scientist Salary | $710K-$1.44M+ | Levels.fyi
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Levels.fyi
levels.fyi › companies › openai › salaries
OpenAI Salaries | Levels.fyi
Last updated: 12/30/2025 · Search a role · Search a role · +$58K · +$89K · +$20K · +$35K · +$22K · L2 $245K · L3 $436K · L4 $702K · L5 $853K · L6 $1.19M · Backend Software Engineer · Full-Stack Software Engineer · Data Engineer ...
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Indeed
indeed.com › openai › salaries › research scientist
Research Scientist Salaries in the United States for OpenAI | Indeed.com
Compare all Research Scientist salaries in the United States ... Average OpenAI Research Scientist yearly pay in the United States is approximately $273,112, which is 178% above the national average.
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Blind
teamblind.com › tech › openai comp for research engineer/scientist
OpenAI comp for research engineer/scientist | Tech Industry - Blind
January 11, 2025 - ... OpenAI Salaries | Levels.fyiOpenAI’s salary ranges from $144,275 in total compensation per year for a Technical Writer at the low-end to $1,339,000 for a Software Engineer at the high-end.
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Scroll
scroll.media › home › salaries at openai, anthropic, grammarly, perplexity, and other top startups: up to $690k a year
Salaries at OpenAI, Anthropic, Grammarly, Perplexity, and Other Top Startups: Up to $690k a Year | Scroll Media
August 11, 2025 - Salaries in the US tech sector are soaring as leading startups fiercely compete for top talent. At OpenAI, technical specialists can make as much as $530,000 annually, while Anthropic’s research engineers can earn up to $690,000.
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Nahc
nahc.io › blog › openai-salaries-what-employees-really-earn-in-2025-9ecfb
OpenAI Salaries 2025: Compensation, Roles & Pay Ranges
August 7, 2025 - For roles paid hourly, the average hourly wage at OpenAI is $28.95. ... Most positions range from $14.90 (25th percentile) to $42.79 (75th percentile). ... However, these figures often reflect non-technical or support roles.
Find elsewhere
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Upstarts Media
upstartsmedia.com › p › meta-openai-lebron-ai-research-free-agency
What OpenAI Researcher Salaries Tell Us About The AI Talent Battle
July 3, 2025 - Top research talent can command $10 million-plus yearly salaries to switch teams like it's the NBA. Upstarts obtained OpenAI's salary bands as part of a startup's cheat sheet to the roster moves.
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Reuters
reuters.com › business › openai-google-xai-battle-superstar-ai-talent-shelling-out-millions-2025-05-21
OpenAI, Google and xAI battle for superstar AI talent, shelling out millions | Reuters
May 21, 2025 - Google DeepMind has offered top researchers $20 million per year compensation packages, awarded off-cycle equity grants specifically to AI researchers, and has also reduced vesting on some stock packages to 3 years, instead of the normal 4 years, ...
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NYTimes
nytimes.com › 2025 › 07 › 31 › technology › ai-researchers-nba-stars.html
A.I. Researchers Are Negotiating $250 Million Pay Packages. Just Like NBA Stars. - The New York Times
August 2, 2025 - The difference is that unlike N.B.A. teams, deep-pocketed A.I. companies like Meta, OpenAI and Google have no salary caps. (Mr. Curry’s most recent four-year contract with the Golden State Warriors was $35 million less than Mr.
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Hacker News
news.ycombinator.com › item
$900k Median Package for Engineers at OpenAI | Hacker News
June 28, 2023 - But it's also important to note that only $300K of that is in cash. The other $600K is in profit participation, which could take years (maybe even a decade!) to be realized. It could also be worth $6M a year when it's realized · But ultimately it's an investment of your time.
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Dexa
dexa.ai › aichat › d › f60f19ec-56ca-11ef-831e-af16558447a0
Episode: AI Researcher Salaries, Firms Paying Over $800K a Year | Ask AI Chat: ChatGPT & AI News, Artificial Intelligence, OpenAI, Machine Learning
January 6, 2024 - It's fascinating to see OpenAI offering $865,000 a year to AI researchers, reflecting the intense competition and high demand in the industry. ... This competitive landscape is driving salaries to unprecedented levels, as companies strive to ...
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Opportunity Desk
opportunitydesk.org › home › search by region › america › openai residency program 2023 for researchers & engineers ($210,000 salary)
OpenAI Residency Program 2023 for Researchers & Engineers ($210,000 salary) – Opportunity Desk
October 5, 2023 - OpenAI has long been home to many self-taught researchers and engineers. If you have an unconventional educational background, they encourage you to apply. ... The salary for this role is $210,000 annually.
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The Ladders
theladders.com › company › openai-jobs
OpenAI Careers, Jobs, and Salary Information
Find high paying available jobs at OpenAI.For information on OpenAI compensation and careers, use Ladders $100K + Club.
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Glassdoor
glassdoor.com › Salary › OpenAI-Researcher-Salaries-E2210885_D_KO7,17.htm
OpenAI Researcher Salaries (4,000 Salaries submitted) | Glassdoor
Average salaries for OpenAI Researcher: $71,406. OpenAI salary trends based on salaries posted anonymously by OpenAI employees.
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Glassdoor
glassdoor.com › Salary › OpenAI-Machine-Learning-Researcher-Salaries-E2210885_D_KO7,34.htm
OpenAI Machine Learning Researcher Salaries (1 Salary submitted) | Glassdoor
The typical pay range is between $123,806 (25th percentile) and $219,683 (75th percentile) annually. This is based on 1 salaries submitted by OpenAI Machine Learning Researcher professionals on Glassdoor, as of Oct 2025.
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6figr.com
6figr.com › us › salary › openai
OpenAI Salaries 2025 | $691k-$3.2M
2 weeks ago - Access premium salaries of professionals like you. Find out your standings in the corporate world. Measure your market worth and compare with others.
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ReelMind
reelmind.ai › blog › openai-fellow-salary-insights-into-ai-research-careers
OpenAI Fellow Salary: Insights into AI Research Careers | ReelMind
October 5, 2025 - The pursuit of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence research often leads aspiring professionals to explore opportunities within leading organizations, with an OpenAI Fellow Salary being a key point of interest. This article delves into the insights surrounding AI research careers, focusing on the compensation landscape for highly specialized roles like OpenAI Fellows.