If you’ve ever wondered how much top AI professionals earn, newly released H-1B visa filings offer a rare peek inside one of the world’s most talked-about AI companies — OpenAI.
The company, led by CEO Sam Altman, had earlier indicated it would slow down hiring. However, fresh data shows that OpenAI continues to recruit heavily, including international talent. And the salaries it is offering are at the very top of the market.
The numbers come from mandatory US visa filings, which disclose base salaries offered to foreign hires, as reported by Business Insider. These figures do not include stock awards, bonuses or other incentives. meaning total compensation could be significantly higher.
WHAT H-1B DATA REVEALS
The filings cover more than 160 roles across four consecutive quarters, including over 60 overseas hires between October and December 2025 alone.
Despite a $100,000 fee imposed on new H-1B applications by the US administration in September, OpenAI has continued to expand its team. The company now reportedly employs over 4,000 people globally.
The data clearly shows one thing: OpenAI is paying a premium for AI talent.
RESEARCH ROLES TOP THE PAY SCALE
The highest base salaries at OpenAI go to research-focused roles. These professionals design, test and improve large AI models.
Here’s a detailed look at OpenAI’s base salary ranges from 2025–26 H1B filings:
| Member of Technical Staff (Research Scientist) | $245,000 – $685,000 | 2.03 crore – 5.69 crore |
| Member of Technical Staff (Research & AI Systems) | $310,000 – $460,000 | 2.57 crore – 3.82 crore |
| Member of Technical Staff (AI Systems Engineer) | $245,000 – $460,000 | 2.03 crore – 3.82 crore |
| Member of Technical Staff (Research Engineer) | $210,000 – $460,000 | 1.74 crore – 3.82 crore |
| Member of Intelligence & Investigations Staff | $320,000 – $382,500 | 2.65 crore – 3.17 crore |
| Member of Data Science Staff | $188,885 – $405,000 | 1.57 crore – 3.36 crore |
| Member of Technical Staff (Data Science) | $255,000 – $490,000 | 2.11 crore – 4.07 crore |
| Member of Technical Staff (Software Engineer) | $170,000 – $490,000 | 1.41 crore – 4.07 crore |
| Member of Technical Staff (Software Developer) | $325,000 | 2.70 crore |
| Member of Technical Staff (Hardware Engineer) | $250,000 – $555,000 | 2.07 crore – 4.61 crore |
| Member of Technical Staff (Security Engineer) | $310,000 – $325,000 | 2.57 crore – 2.70 crore |
| Member of Product Staff (Product Management) | $210,000 – $325,000 | 1.74 crore – 2.70 crore |
| Member of Program Staff | $150,000 – $355,000 | 1.24 crore – 2.95 crore |
| Member of Design Staff | $245,000 – $310,000 | 2.03 crore – 2.57 crore |
| Member of Finance Staff | $240,000 – $260,000 | 1.99 crore – 2.16 crore |
| Member of Go-To-Market Staff | $180,000 – $290,000 | 1.49 crore – 2.41 crore |
| Go-To-Market (Customer Success) | $165,000 – $240,000 | 1.37 crore – 1.99 crore |
| Go-To-Market (Forward Deployed Engineer) | $220,000 | 1.83 crore |
| Go-To-Market (Support Engineer) | $235,000 | 1.95 crore |
| Support & Community Staff | $180,000 – $235,000 | 1.49 crore – 1.95 crore |
The standout figure is for Research Scientists, where base pay can go as high as $685,000 annually.
STOCK COMPENSATION MAKES IT EVEN BIGGER
These numbers only reflect base salary.
According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI employees receive an average of about $1.5 million in stock-based compensation. That means total earnings for senior roles can run into multi-million dollar packages.
This stock-heavy compensation model is common in Silicon Valley. It allows companies to offer long-term incentives while competing aggressively for scarce skills.
WHY IS OPENAI PAYING SO MUCH?
The answer is simple: AI talent is limited, and demand is exploding.
Companies across the world, from startups to tech giants, are racing to build advanced AI systems. Engineers who can train large language models, build AI infrastructure, or work on AI safety are in extremely short supply.
OpenAI is not alone in this race. Companies like Meta Platforms and Anthropic are also offering massive packages to attract researchers and machine learning experts.
In this environment, salaries are being driven up quickly.
ELITE TALENT PIPELINE
OpenAI’s workforce includes professionals from institutions such as:
- Stanford University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Carnegie Mellon University
These universities are known globally for AI research and computer science.
Hiring from such talent pools further increases salary competition.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR JOB SEEKERS
For professionals in AI, machine learning, data science and advanced software engineering, this data sends a strong signal: specialised AI skills command premium pay.
However, these roles require:
- Deep technical expertise
- Strong research background
- Experience with large-scale AI systems
- Often advanced degrees (PhD or Masters in related fields)
It also shows that non-technical roles in AI firms, such as product management, finance and operations, are also well paid compared to traditional industries.
IS THIS SUSTAINABLE?
The AI sector is still evolving. While current salaries are extremely high, they reflect a specific moment in the global AI race.
As more professionals enter the field and AI tools become mainstream, salary structures could stabilise. But for now, companies are willing to spend heavily to secure top talent.
For Indian students and professionals eyeing global AI careers, this highlights the value of advanced technical skills, research experience and global exposure.
The message is clear: in the AI economy, expertise pays — and it pays big.