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Home / Compensation / OpenAI / Security Engineer
Total compensation for a OpenAI Security Engineer ranges from about $295K at the entry level to $2.5M+ at the most senior bands, with a typical mid-level package around $685K. 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L3Security Engineer (Junior) | 1-3 YOE | $247K | $80K | - | $295K - $495K |
| L4Security Engineer | 3-7 YOE | $287K | $185K | - | $405K - $775K |
| L5Senior Security Engineer | 6-11 YOE | $332K | $320K | - | $545K - $1.1M |
| L6Staff Security Engineer | 10-15 YOE | $382K | $545K | - | $765K - $1.6M |
| L7Senior Staff Security Engineer | 13+ YOE | $452K | $875K | - | $1.1M - $2.5M |
Junior security IC.
Mid-level. Common entry from FAANG security orgs.
Senior IC. Above-band for AI-security / red-team.
Staff IC. Model-security architecture leadership.
Senior staff. Limited external hires.
OpenAI security tracks the SWE ladder; bands match within ~3%. Trust & Safety, model security, infrastructure security, and red-team work are major hiring areas. Above-band offers for AI-security and red-teaming specialists.
The offer calculator compares your current and target offers 4 years out - vesting, refresh grants, and federal + state + FICA tax - so you negotiate with real take-home numbers.
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