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Home / Compensation / Microsoft vs OpenAI
OpenAI pays about 50% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Software Engineer: $680K vs $340K 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 50% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Software Engineer: $680K vs $340K median total comp. Overall ranges run $145K - $1.2M at Microsoft and $290K - $2.5M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | $165K | $340K | $730K |
| OpenAI | $340K | $680K | $1.4M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (SDE)Software Engineer (New Grad) | $145K - $205Kmedian $165K |
| 60-61 (SDE II)Software Engineer II | $195K - $320Kmedian $230K |
| 62-63 (Senior)Senior Software Engineer | $280K - $500Kmedian $340K |
| 64-65 (Principal)Principal Software Engineer | $410K - $800Kmedian $510K |
| 66+ (Partner)Partner Software Engineer | $580K - $1.2Mmedian $730K |
| 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 23% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Engineering Manager: $1.0M vs $790K median total comp. Overall ranges run $290K - $2.4M at Microsoft and $580K - $2.5M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | $360K | $790K | $1.3M |
| OpenAI | $720K | $1.0M | $1.4M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 62-63 (Manager)Software Engineering Manager | $290K - $540Kmedian $360K |
| 64-65 (Principal Mgr)Principal Engineering Manager | $430K - $850Kmedian $540K |
| 66+ (Partner Mgr)Partner Engineering Manager | $620K - $1.3Mmedian $790K |
| 67+ (CVP)Corporate Vice President / Distinguished Manager | $950K - $2.4Mmedian $1.3M |
| 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 52% more than Microsoft for a mid-level ML Engineer: $740K vs $355K median total comp. Overall ranges run $150K - $1.3M at Microsoft and $305K - $2.8M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | $170K | $355K | $760K |
| OpenAI | $360K | $740K | $1.6M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (AS)Applied Scientist (New Grad) | $150K - $215Kmedian $170K |
| 60-61 (AS II)Applied Scientist II | $200K - $340Kmedian $240K |
| 62-63 (Sr AS)Senior Applied Scientist | $290K - $530Kmedian $355K |
| 64-65 (Principal AS)Principal Applied Scientist | $425K - $840Kmedian $535K |
| 66+ (Partner AS)Partner Applied Scientist | $600K - $1.3Mmedian $760K |
| 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 50% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Product Manager: $645K vs $320K median total comp. Overall ranges run $140K - $1.1M at Microsoft and $280K - $2.4M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | $160K | $320K | $690K |
| OpenAI | $325K | $645K | $1.3M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (PM)Product Manager (New Grad) | $140K - $200Kmedian $160K |
| 60-61 (PM II)Product Manager II | $185K - $305Kmedian $220K |
| 62-63 (Sr PM)Senior Product Manager | $265K - $470Kmedian $320K |
| 64-65 (Principal PM)Principal Product Manager | $380K - $750Kmedian $480K |
| 66+ (Partner PM)Partner Product Manager | $540K - $1.1Mmedian $690K |
| 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 50% more than Microsoft for a mid-level SRE / DevOps: $670K vs $335K median total comp. Overall ranges run $145K - $1.2M at Microsoft and $285K - $2.4M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | $165K | $335K | $720K |
| OpenAI | $335K | $670K | $1.4M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (SRE)Site Reliability Engineer (New Grad) | $145K - $205Kmedian $165K |
| 60-61 (SRE II)Site Reliability Engineer II | $190K - $315Kmedian $225K |
| 62-63 (Sr SRE)Senior Site Reliability Engineer | $275K - $495Kmedian $335K |
| 64-65 (Principal SRE)Principal Site Reliability Engineer | $405K - $790Kmedian $505K |
| 66+ (Partner SRE)Partner Site Reliability Engineer | $570K - $1.2Mmedian $720K |
| 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 51% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Data Engineer: $680K vs $330K median total comp. Overall ranges run $142K - $1.2M at Microsoft and $290K - $2.5M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | $162K | $330K | $715K |
| OpenAI | $340K | $680K | $1.4M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (DE)Data Engineer (New Grad) | $142K - $200Kmedian $162K |
| 60-61 (DE II)Data Engineer II | $188K - $310Kmedian $222K |
| 62-63 (Sr DE)Senior Data Engineer | $270K - $488Kmedian $330K |
| 64-65 (Principal DE)Principal Data Engineer | $400K - $785Kmedian $498K |
| 66+ (Partner DE)Partner Data Engineer | $565K - $1.2Mmedian $715K |
| 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 49% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Design: $580K vs $295K median total comp. Overall ranges run $122K - $1.0M at Microsoft and $250K - $2.1M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | $140K | $295K | $635K |
| OpenAI | $290K | $580K | $1.2M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (Designer)Designer (New Grad) | $122K - $175Kmedian $140K |
| 60-61 (Designer II)Designer II | $165K - $275Kmedian $195K |
| 62-63 (Senior Designer)Senior Designer | $240K - $440Kmedian $295K |
| 64-65 (Principal Designer)Principal Designer | $350K - $700Kmedian $440K |
| 66+ (Partner Designer)Partner Designer | $500K - $1.0Mmedian $635K |
| 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 50% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Security Engineer: $685K vs $343K median total comp. Overall ranges run $147K - $1.2M at Microsoft and $295K - $2.5M at OpenAI across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | $167K | $343K | $745K |
| OpenAI | $345K | $685K | $1.4M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (Sec Eng)Security Engineer (New Grad) | $147K - $207Kmedian $167K |
| 60-61 (Sec Eng II)Security Engineer II | $198K - $322Kmedian $233K |
| 62-63 (Senior Sec)Senior Security Engineer | $282K - $505Kmedian $343K |
| 64-65 (Principal Sec)Principal Security Engineer | $415K - $810Kmedian $515K |
| 66+ (Partner Sec)Partner Security Engineer | $590K - $1.2Mmedian $745K |
| 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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