OpenAI salaries by job title (2026)
OpenAI filed 210 certified H-1B applications for full-time roles in FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). The median base salary is $260,000, and the middle half of offers fall between $245,000 and $325,000.
OpenAI base salary by job title
| Job title | Median base | Middle 50% | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer) | $255,000 | $212,634 – $307,000 | 36 |
| Member of Technical Staff (Hardware Engineering) | $380,000 | $310,000 – $383,750 | 20 |
| Member of Technical Staff (Data Science) | $325,000 | $255,000 – $335,000 | 15 |
| Member of Go To Market Staff | $250,000 | $250,000 – $272,500 | 10 |
| Member of Technical Staff (Research & AI Systems) | $380,000 | $295,000 – $380,000 | 9 |
| Member of Finance Staff | $240,000 | $240,000 – $247,500 | 6 |
| Member of Technical Program Staff | $250,000 | $250,000 – $276,250 | 6 |
| Member of Business Platform Staff (Business Platform Enterpr | $230,400 | $230,400 – $283,200 | 5 |
| Member of Design Staff | $250,000 | $190,000 – $310,000 | 5 |
| Member of Go To Market Staff (Solutions Architect) | $220,000 | $220,000 – $278,000 | 5 |
| Member of Technical Staff | $270,000 | $250,000 – $325,000 | 5 |
| Member of Technical Staff (AI Systems Engineer) | $250,000 | $170,000 – $250,000 | 5 |
| Member of Technical Staff (Security Engineering) | $330,000 | $325,000 – $330,000 | 5 |
By location
| Worksite | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $270,000 | 171 |
| Bellevue, WA | $255,000 | 24 |
| New York, NY | $315,000 | 11 |
Take-home pay
Most of OpenAI's filings are for jobs in California. There, the median base of $260,000 leaves about $166,432 a year, or $13,869 a month, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes for a single filer with no 401(k) contributions. For Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer) ($255,000), it is about $163,680 a year. Use the California paycheck calculator to add a 401(k), a spouse or children.
Experience levels
Each filing names the prevailing-wage level the job was matched to, from entry level (I) to fully competent (IV).
| Wage level | Share of filings |
|---|---|
| I: Entry level | 7% |
| II: Qualified | 36% |
| III: Experienced | 35% |
| IV: Fully competent | 22% |
By occupation
| Occupation | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $255,000 | 67 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $250,000 | 32 |
| Data Scientists | $322,500 | 22 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $250,000 | 13 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $380,000 | 12 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $399,000 | 7 |
About this data
- Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, LCA disclosure data for FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). Only certified H-1B applications for full-time positions are counted (384,130 filings).
- Each figure is the base wage the employer stated on the application, converted to a yearly amount. Bonuses, stock (RSUs) and benefits are not included, so total pay at large tech firms is usually much higher.
- An application is filed before a worker starts and can cover a range of pay; we use the lower end of that range. Not every application leads to a hire.
- Median: half of filings are above, half below. Middle 50%: the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary at OpenAI?
The median base salary in OpenAI's 210 certified H-1B filings is $260,000 a year, and the middle half fall between $245,000 and $325,000. Bonuses and stock are extra.
How much does a Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer) at OpenAI make?
The median base salary for Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer) is $255,000 across 36 filings (middle 50%: $212,634 – $307,000).
Where does OpenAI pay the most?
Among locations with at least five filings, New York, NY has the highest median base salary at $315,000.
What is $260,000 after tax in California?
About $166,432 a year ($13,869 a month) for a single filer after federal, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes.