Software Engineer compensation in United States at OpenAI ranges from $251K per year for L2 to $1.89M per year for L7. The median yearly compensation package in United States totals $875K. Levels.fyi tracks 243 Software Engineer salary submissions at OpenAI. View the base salary, stock, and bonus breakdowns for OpenAI's total compensation packages. Last updated: October 6, 2026
What is the highest Software Engineer salary at OpenAI in United States?
The highest paying salary package reported for a Software Engineer at OpenAI in United States sits at a yearly total compensation of $1,886,250. This includes base salary as well as any potential stock compensation and bonuses.
How much do OpenAI Software Engineer employees get paid in United States?
The median yearly total compensation reported at OpenAI for the Software Engineer role in United States is $875,000.
What is the average Software Engineer salary at OpenAI in United States?
The average yearly total compensation for a Software Engineer at OpenAI in United States is $877,434, versus a median of $875,000. The average is more sensitive to the largest packages than the median.
How can I negotiate a higher Software Engineer offer at OpenAI?
When negotiating your Software Engineer offer at OpenAI, leverage salary data to understand market rates, highlight your relevant experience, and consider all components of the compensation package. Levels.fyi's professional negotiators have helped candidates secure $50K+ more in total compensation.
What are the Software Engineer levels at OpenAI?
Levels.fyi has reported pay for 6 Software Engineer levels at OpenAI, from L2 (entry) up to L7: L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7. Levels.fyi lists median pay for each of these levels.
What is the starting salary for a Software Engineer at OpenAI?
The entry level for Software Engineers at OpenAI is L2. Median total compensation at L2 is $250,982 per year in United States.
How many years of experience does a OpenAI L2 have?
Software Engineers at OpenAI L2 in United States typically have 0–1 years of experience, based on salary submissions to Levels.fyi.
How many years of experience does a OpenAI L3 have?
Software Engineers at OpenAI L3 in United States typically have 2–3 years of experience, based on salary submissions to Levels.fyi.
How accurate is Levels.fyi data?
Levels.fyi is the only major salary site that verifies submissions against real offer letters and W-2s. Every data point is self-reported by a professional and reviewed before publication, and medians update as new reports arrive. Figures were last updated October 6, 2026.
Does Levels.fyi help with salary negotiation?
Yes. Levels.fyi runs a 1:1 negotiation service staffed by experienced recruiters who have negotiated thousands of offers across all roles and levels. Details at https://www.levels.fyi/services/.
Where can I find Software Engineer jobs with salary data?
The Levels.fyi job board lists 70,000+ tech roles alongside verified compensation data, so you can see pay before you apply: https://www.levels.fyi/jobs.
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