OpenAI Pays Research Scientists Up to $685,000 in Base Salary

Federal filings have lifted the curtain on OpenAI’s famously secretive compensation packages, revealing that the AI giant pays some of its technical staff well into the six-figure range — and beyond. The ChatGPT maker, which does not publicly disclose salary data, is required to submit federal filings when hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas, and the resulting figures paint a picture of extraordinary pay.

Research scientists top the list, commanding base salaries ranging from $245,000 to $685,000 — figures that do not include stock awards or bonuses. Hardware engineers earn between $250,000 and $555,000, while software engineers take home anywhere from $170,000 to $490,000. Even roles in product management and program staffing start at over $200,000.

A War for AI Talent

The staggering pay reflects the intensely competitive landscape for AI expertise. OpenAI has previously acknowledged “recalibrating” its compensation structure after rival Meta aggressively poached talent. With approximately 4,000 employees, the company reportedly offers an average of $1.5 million in annual stock awards per worker — more than any tech startup in recent history, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Growth Despite Headcount Pledges

Despite CEO Sam Altman stating earlier this year that the company would slow hiring as AI enables teams to “do so much more with fewer people,” OpenAI onboarded over 60 new H-1B workers in just the final quarter of 2025. The Trump administration’s $100,000 fee per new H-1B application has done little to slow the company’s global talent acquisition.

For now, OpenAI’s compensation data confirms one thing clearly: attracting the world’s top AI minds does not come cheap.