- Average Packages Touch Rs.15 crore
- Stock Grants Boost Total Payouts
- Altman Bets Big on Talent
- A New Salary Benchmark
Article Today, Silicon Valley:
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has set a new benchmark in compensation within the global technology industry. The artificial intelligence firm is offering some of the highest salary packages in Silicon Valley. Industry data indicates that the average total compensation for employees, including stock grants, approaches Rs.15 crore annually. This places the company ahead of several established technology giants in pay structure.
Stock-Driven Compensation Model
A significant portion of the payout comes from equity. Employees are receiving stock grants valued at an average of Rs.12.60 crore in addition to base salary. As a result, total annual compensation rises sharply. With around 4,000 employees on its rolls, the company’s equity-based approach has become central to its talent retention strategy. Meanwhile, this model aligns employee incentives with long-term company growth.
High Rewards for Researchers
Artificial intelligence researchers are among the highest paid. Research scientists reportedly earn base salaries ranging from Rs.2.05 crore to Rs.5.75 crore per year. Monthly compensation in some cases reaches approximately Rs.48 lakh. AI systems engineers also command substantial packages, ranging from Rs.2.05 crore to Rs.3.86 crore annually. Most of these roles require five to ten years of specialised experience.
Engineering and Data Talent
Software developers at the company receive annual compensation of about Rs.2.73 crore as fixed pay. Software engineers earn between Rs.1.42 crore and Rs.4.11 crore depending on experience and role. Hardware engineers are offered packages ranging from Rs.2.10 crore to Rs.4.66 crore. In addition, data science and security professionals are offered minimum annual packages of approximately Rs.2.14 crore. These figures reflect the premium placed on technical expertise in AI infrastructure.
Business Functions Also Benefit
Compensation is not limited to technical teams. Sales and go-to-market professionals reportedly earn between Rs.1.51 crore and Rs.2.43 crore annually. Product management and design roles command packages ranging from Rs.1.76 crore to Rs.2.73 crore. Finance professionals can earn up to Rs.2.18 crore per year. Therefore, the compensation strategy extends across operational and leadership functions.
Visa Costs Not a Deterrent
The company has also absorbed significant costs linked to hiring international talent. Despite strict visa rules and reported fees of up to Rs.84 lakh under recent policy measures, OpenAI has continued global recruitment. In the final quarter of 2025, the company hired more than 60 foreign specialists. Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman has publicly emphasised the importance of attracting top global expertise.
Strategic Talent Investment
The broader technology sector has witnessed layoffs and cost reductions in recent years. However, OpenAI has taken a different approach. It has prioritised expansion and investment in human capital. This strategy reflects confidence in the long-term commercial potential of artificial intelligence. Moreover, it signals intensifying competition for specialised AI talent worldwide.
Rising Value of Human Intelligence
OpenAI’s compensation structure underscores a broader shift in the technology economy. As artificial intelligence systems grow more complex, skilled researchers and engineers have become critical assets. The company’s pay strategy suggests that human expertise remains central to AI innovation. In effect, the surge in salaries highlights the growing market value of advanced technical knowledge in the global digital economy.
Bolloju Ravi, Senior Journalist
