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Home / Compensation / Amazon vs OpenAI
OpenAI pays about 47% more than Amazon for a mid-level Software Engineer: $680K vs $360K median total comp. Below is the full level-by-level breakdown for every role ladder both companies share, from public-source data.
Public-source estimates (Beta). Figures are annualized USD total compensation (base + equity + bonus).
OpenAI pays about 47% more than Amazon for a mid-level Software Engineer: $680K vs $360K median total comp. Overall ranges run $145K - $1.5M at Amazon and $290K - $2.5M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $170K | $360K | $850K |
| OpenAI | $340K | $680K | $1.4M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| SDE ISoftware Development Engineer I | $145K - $220Kmedian $170K |
| SDE IISoftware Development Engineer II | $200K - $360Kmedian $245K |
| SDE IIISenior Software Development Engineer | $290K - $560Kmedian $360K |
| PrincipalPrincipal Software Development Engineer | $450K - $950Kmedian $580K |
| Senior PrincipalSenior Principal Software Development Engineer | $650K - $1.5Mmedian $850K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| L3Software Engineer (Junior) | $290K - $490Kmedian $340K |
| L4Software Engineer | $400K - $770Kmedian $490K |
| L5Senior Software Engineer | $540K - $1.1Mmedian $680K |
| L6Staff Software Engineer | $760K - $1.6Mmedian $970K |
| L7Senior Staff Software Engineer | $1.1M - $2.5Mmedian $1.4M |
OpenAI pays about 40% more than Amazon for a mid-level Engineering Manager: $1.0M vs $620K median total comp. Overall ranges run $230K - $1.6M at Amazon and $580K - $2.5M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $280K | $620K | $920K |
| OpenAI | $720K | $1.0M | $1.4M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| SDM ISoftware Development Manager I | $230K - $400Kmedian $280K |
| SDM IISenior Software Development Manager | $320K - $640Kmedian $400K |
| Principal EMPrincipal Engineering Manager | $480K - $1.0Mmedian $620K |
| DirectorDirector of Engineering | $700K - $1.6Mmedian $920K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| EMEngineering Manager | $580K - $1.2Mmedian $720K |
| Senior EMSenior Engineering Manager | $800K - $1.7Mmedian $1.0M |
| DirectorDirector, Engineering | $1.1M - $2.5Mmedian $1.4M |
OpenAI pays about 45% more than Amazon for a mid-level ML Engineer: $740K vs $410K median total comp. Overall ranges run $150K - $1.6M at Amazon and $305K - $2.8M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $175K | $410K | $920K |
| OpenAI | $360K | $740K | $1.6M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| SDE IApplied Scientist I | $150K - $225Kmedian $175K |
| SDE IIApplied Scientist II | $215K - $390Kmedian $260K |
| SDE IIISenior Applied Scientist | $320K - $680Kmedian $410K |
| PrincipalPrincipal Applied Scientist | $480K - $1.1Mmedian $620K |
| Senior PrincipalSenior Principal Applied Scientist | $700K - $1.6Mmedian $920K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| L3ML Engineer (Junior) | $305K - $525Kmedian $360K |
| L4ML Engineer | $425K - $830Kmedian $525K |
| L5Senior ML Engineer | $580K - $1.2Mmedian $740K |
| L6Staff ML Engineer | $820K - $1.8Mmedian $1.1M |
| L7Senior Staff ML Engineer | $1.1M - $2.8Mmedian $1.6M |
OpenAI pays about 47% more than Amazon for a mid-level Product Manager: $645K vs $340K median total comp. Overall ranges run $145K - $1.4M at Amazon and $280K - $2.4M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $170K | $340K | $800K |
| OpenAI | $325K | $645K | $1.3M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| PM IProduct Manager I | $145K - $220Kmedian $170K |
| PM IIProduct Manager II / PM-Tech | $195K - $335Kmedian $235K |
| Senior PMSenior Product Manager | $270K - $530Kmedian $340K |
| PrincipalPrincipal Product Manager | $410K - $900Kmedian $530K |
| Senior PrincipalSenior Principal Product Manager | $600K - $1.4Mmedian $800K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| L3Product Manager (Junior) | $280K - $470Kmedian $325K |
| L4Product Manager | $380K - $730Kmedian $465K |
| L5Senior Product Manager | $510K - $1.1Mmedian $645K |
| L6Staff Product Manager | $720K - $1.5Mmedian $920K |
| L7Group Product Manager | $1M - $2.4Mmedian $1.3M |
OpenAI pays about 46% more than Amazon for a mid-level SRE / DevOps: $670K vs $360K median total comp. Overall ranges run $140K - $1.5M at Amazon and $285K - $2.4M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $165K | $360K | $850K |
| OpenAI | $335K | $670K | $1.4M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| SDE ISystems Development Engineer I | $140K - $215Kmedian $165K |
| SDE IISystems Development Engineer II | $195K - $335Kmedian $235K |
| SDE IIISenior Systems Development Engineer | $290K - $570Kmedian $360K |
| PrincipalPrincipal Systems Engineer | $440K - $920Kmedian $560K |
| Senior PrincipalSenior Principal Systems Engineer | $650K - $1.5Mmedian $850K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| L3Infrastructure Engineer (Junior) | $285K - $485Kmedian $335K |
| L4Infrastructure Engineer | $395K - $760Kmedian $485K |
| L5Senior Infrastructure Engineer | $535K - $1.1Mmedian $670K |
| L6Staff Infrastructure Engineer | $745K - $1.6Mmedian $950K |
| L7Senior Staff Infrastructure Engineer | $1.0M - $2.4Mmedian $1.4M |
OpenAI pays about 49% more than Amazon for a mid-level Data Engineer: $680K vs $350K median total comp. Overall ranges run $142K - $1.5M at Amazon and $290K - $2.5M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $165K | $350K | $825K |
| OpenAI | $340K | $680K | $1.4M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| SDE IData Engineer I | $142K - $215Kmedian $165K |
| SDE IIData Engineer II | $195K - $345Kmedian $235K |
| SDE IIISenior Data Engineer | $280K - $545Kmedian $350K |
| PrincipalPrincipal Data Engineer | $435K - $920Kmedian $565K |
| Senior PrincipalSenior Principal Data Engineer | $630K - $1.5Mmedian $825K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| L3Data Engineer (Junior) | $290K - $490Kmedian $340K |
| L4Data Engineer | $400K - $770Kmedian $490K |
| L5Senior Data Engineer | $540K - $1.1Mmedian $680K |
| L6Staff Data Engineer | $760K - $1.6Mmedian $970K |
| L7Senior Staff Data Engineer | $1.0M - $2.5Mmedian $1.4M |
OpenAI pays about 47% more than Amazon for a mid-level Design: $580K vs $305K median total comp. Overall ranges run $130K - $1.3M at Amazon and $250K - $2.1M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $150K | $305K | $740K |
| OpenAI | $290K | $580K | $1.2M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| L4UX Designer (New Grad) | $130K - $195Kmedian $150K |
| L5UX Designer | $175K - $315Kmedian $215K |
| L6Senior UX Designer | $245K - $470Kmedian $305K |
| PrincipalPrincipal UX Designer | $380K - $800Kmedian $480K |
| Senior PrincipalSenior Principal UX Designer | $555K - $1.3Mmedian $740K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| L3Product Designer (Junior) | $250K - $415Kmedian $290K |
| L4Product Designer | $345K - $660Kmedian $425K |
| L5Senior Product Designer | $460K - $945Kmedian $580K |
| L6Staff Product Designer | $645K - $1.4Mmedian $825K |
| L7Senior Staff / Principal Product Designer | $880K - $2.1Mmedian $1.2M |
OpenAI pays about 47% more than Amazon for a mid-level Security Engineer: $685K vs $360K median total comp. Overall ranges run $145K - $1.5M at Amazon and $295K - $2.5M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $168K | $360K | $850K |
| OpenAI | $345K | $685K | $1.4M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| SDE ISecurity Engineer I | $145K - $220Kmedian $168K |
| SDE IISecurity Engineer II | $200K - $360Kmedian $245K |
| SDE IIISenior Security Engineer | $290K - $560Kmedian $360K |
| PrincipalPrincipal Security Engineer | $450K - $950Kmedian $580K |
| Senior PrincipalSenior Principal Security Engineer | $650K - $1.5Mmedian $850K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| L3Security Engineer (Junior) | $295K - $495Kmedian $345K |
| L4Security Engineer | $405K - $775Kmedian $495K |
| L5Senior Security Engineer | $545K - $1.1Mmedian $685K |
| L6Staff Security Engineer | $765K - $1.6Mmedian $980K |
| L7Senior Staff Security Engineer | $1.1M - $2.5Mmedian $1.4M |
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