OpenAI AI and machine learning salaries
Across 92 open AI and machine learning postings at OpenAI that state a range, the middle half pays $265k–$440k a year, with a median of $383k. The lowest posted floor is $140k and the highest ceiling $850k. This is base pay as posted by OpenAI, converted to US dollars; equity and bonus are not included.
The range
Postings by the midpoint of the posted range, in steps of $50k
Median by team at OpenAI
Postings with a stated range: Engineering leadership 15 · AI and machine learning 92 · Backend engineering 138 · Security 13 · Hardware engineering 15 · Data science 20 · Product management 32 · DevOps and infrastructure 23
AI and machine learning pay by level
| Level | Postings | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | 3 | $398k | $397k–$419k |
| Mid-level | 8 | $388k | $302k–$440k |
| Senior | 17 | $252k | $220k–$319k |
| Staff and principal | 9 | $249k | $247k–$250k |
Best-paid open AI and machine learning roles
142 AI and machine learning roles open at OpenAI now
92 of them show the pay range on the posting.
Questions
How much does OpenAI pay for AI and machine learning roles?
The median of the 92 posted ranges is $383k a year; the middle half sits between $265k and $440k.
Is this base salary or total compensation?
Base salary as written in the posting. Many US employers post ranges under state pay transparency laws (California, New York, Washington, Colorado and others); equity and bonus are not part of these figures.
Why posted ranges and not self-reported salaries?
A posted range is what the employer commits to for a role it has open today. It is fresher than a survey and cannot be inflated by respondents. Each posting counts once, at the midpoint of its range.
Which level pays most?
Junior roles have the highest median here: $398k a year across 3 postings.