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IC IC3-IC7, manager M4-M6. Equity-dominant; NVDA's 2023-2026 stock appreciation has made realized comp the highest in tech for tenured engineers.
Ranges aggregated from publicly-available sources. Treat the median (p50) as roughly representative; quartile bands reflect negotiation range. Have specific data points or corrections? Send them in.
Nvidia uses IC-prefixed levels (IC3 entry through IC7 distinguished) and M-prefixed for managers. Equity is RSUs in publicly-traded NVDA, vesting on a 4-year schedule. Bonus targets are 10-15% IC, 15-20% manager. The stock has appreciated dramatically since 2023; engineers with multi-year tenure have realized comp 3-10x above grant-date totals. Top-of-band offers are concentrated in CUDA, kernel, GPU compiler, and ML systems roles - generic full-stack roles see comp closer to peer FAANG bands.
| Component | p25 | p50 | p75 | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $130K | $150K | $165K | $180K |
| Equity (annualized) | $35K | $60K | $100K | $155K |
| Bonus / sign-on amortized | $10K | $12K | $15K | $18K |
| Total comp | $175K | $220K | $280K | $350K |
Entry-level. Equity has been the dominant component since 2023 due to NVDA's stock appreciation - new-grad equity grants made in 2022-2023 have multiplied 5-10x.
| Component | p25 | p50 | p75 | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $165K | $185K | $205K | $225K |
| Equity (annualized) | $75K | $130K | $220K | $360K |
| Bonus / sign-on amortized | $18K | $25K | $32K | $40K |
| Total comp | $260K | $340K | $460K | $620K |
Mid-level. Most-common Nvidia SWE level. Equity values quoted at grant-date market price - employees with multi-year tenure have realized far more.
| Component | p25 | p50 | p75 | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $215K | $240K | $265K | $290K |
| Equity (annualized) | $130K | $230K | $380K | $600K |
| Bonus / sign-on amortized | $30K | $40K | $50K | $65K |
| Total comp | $380K | $510K | $700K | $950K |
Senior IC. The level where Nvidia's recent stock-driven comp inflation is most visible. CUDA / kernel / ML systems engineers see top-of-band offers most consistently.
| Component | p25 | p50 | p75 | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $270K | $295K | $320K | $350K |
| Equity (annualized) | $240K | $425K | $690K | $1.03M |
| Bonus / sign-on amortized | $50K | $65K | $80K | $100K |
| Total comp | $580K | $800K | $1.1M | $1.5M |
Staff IC. Equity is dominant. Refresh grants at this level are substantial.
| Component | p25 | p50 | p75 | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $320K | $350K | $380K | $410K |
| Equity (annualized) | $425K | $730K | $1.18M | $1.79M |
| Bonus / sign-on amortized | $70K | $90K | $110K | $130K |
| Total comp | $850K | $1.2M | $1.7M | $2.4M |
Distinguished IC. External hires at this level are very competitive; Nvidia is one of the top-paying companies in 2025-2026 for staff+ ML systems work.
Cross-referenced against public reporting, state pay-transparency postings, and triangulated where source ranges disagreed. Last refresh: May 2026.
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