Highest Paying Role
$326,000
AI Research Scientist
Avg Top-of-Band
$273,000
across 10 roles
Entry Point
$169,000
Prompt Engineer
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect estimated compensation bands for this employer based on role-level premiums over national medians. Last updated April 2026.
OpenAI pays across 10 tracked AI and ML roles in 2026. The highest-paying position is AI Research Scientist, with estimated compensation ranging from $254,000 to $326,000. The entry point is Prompt Engineer, starting at $169,000. These figures reflect employer premiums over national medians based on publicly available compensation data.
AI/ML roles at OpenAI
OpenAI leveling framework
PPUs (Profit Participation Units) over 4 years with 1-year cliff. Annual refresh grants. PPUs are unique to OpenAI's capped-profit structure. Tender offers provide liquidity. Valuation has grown significantly.
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