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Home / Compensation / OpenAI / Engineering Manager
Total compensation for a OpenAI Engineering Manager ranges from about $580K at the entry level to $2.5M+ at the most senior bands, with a typical mid-level package around $1.0M. Below is the full breakdown by level - base salary, annual equity, and bonus - from public-source data.
Public-source estimates (Beta). Last updated 2026-05. Figures are annualized USD.
| Level | Years | Base (p50) | Equity/yr (p50) | Bonus (p50) | Total (p25-p90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMEngineering Manager | 7-12 YOE | $335K | $350K | - | $580K - $1.2M |
| Senior EMSenior Engineering Manager | 10-16 YOE | $385K | $605K | - | $800K - $1.7M |
| DirectorDirector, Engineering | 14+ YOE | $450K | $950K | - | $1.1M - $2.5M |
First-line manager. Manages 4-7 ICs. Equivalent calibration to L5 IC.
Senior manager. Manages 1-3 teams. Equivalent calibration to L6 IC.
Director. Org leader. External hires very rare; mostly senior FAANG director-level recruiting.
OpenAI's manager track is small relative to the IC track; the org is comparatively flat. EM comp at OpenAI carries the same PPU structure (10x cap on equity payout) as IC. Cash component is higher than typical pre-IPO startups to offset the PPU cap.
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