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Home / Compensation / Scale AI / Software Engineer
Total compensation for a Scale AI Software Engineer ranges from about $185K at the entry level to $930K+ at the most senior bands, with a typical mid-level package around $475K. Below is the full breakdown by level - base salary, annual equity, and bonus - from public-source data.
Public-source estimates (Beta). Last updated 2026-10. Figures are annualized USD.
| Level | Years | Base (p50) | Equity/yr (p50) | Bonus (p50) | Total (p25-p90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L3Software Engineer (New Grad) | 0-2 YOE | $155K | $60K | - | $185K - $305K |
| L4Software Engineer | 2-5 YOE | $220K | $155K | - | $320K - $530K |
| L5Senior Software Engineer | 5-9 YOE | $242K | $225K | - | $400K - $670K |
| L6Staff Software Engineer | 8+ YOE | $284K | $350K | - | $530K - $930K |
Entry level. Levels.fyi L3 figure $223K total ($158K base, $60K stock); posted new-grad base is $124K-$162K in SF. Equity is illiquid paper value.
Mid-level IC and a common external hire. Levels.fyi L4 figure $384K total ($225K base, $156K stock); posted SF/NY base $179K-$225K.
Senior IC. Levels.fyi L5 figure $476K total ($242K base, $227K stock); posted senior base $216K-$270K. Equity is roughly half of total comp at this level.
Staff IC. Sparse public data - directional. Levels.fyi L6 figure $642K total ($284K base, $350K stock); posted staff base $252K-$315K. Equity is the larger part, so private-market risk is highest here.
Scale's postings say each range 'may be inclusive of several career levels', so posted ranges are used as a cross-check on base, not as level bands. Equity is private stock, granted subject to board approval and shown as annualized grant value. Levels.fyi reports a small cash bonus ($3K-$8K median by level), which is folded into total comp rather than shown as its own column.
8 rounds. 7 of them can be practised here - each one below links the rep that trains it.
Recruiter screen
About 30 minutes. Background, level, and which business you are interviewing for - GenAI data engine, enterprise AI, or public sector (some public-sector roles need a clearance). Candidates report recruiters probe comfort with a high-intensity pace.
Online coding assessment
Timed algorithmic assessment, usually on HackerRank per candidate reports, sometimes sent right after you apply. Standard data-structure and algorithm problems; finishing matters.
Free rep: Coding challenges with a real sandbox →Hiring manager screen
30-45 minutes. A deep dive into past technical work plus why Scale and why this team.
Free rep: STAR answers: Ownership (Amazon Leadership Principle) →Onsite: Algorithms
Reported as two Medium problems in under an hour, with intervals and scheduling common. Speed and clean code are weighted heavily; get a working solution, then improve it.
Free rep: Coding challenges with a real sandbox →Onsite: Practical build
About 60 minutes to implement a small system with several rules and state transitions - candidates cite a card-game simulation, a task scheduler, and integrating a rate-limited API. Graded on working, well-structured code.
Free rep: Coding challenges with a real sandbox →Onsite: Debugging
About 60 minutes to find two or three logic bugs in an unfamiliar multi-file Python or TypeScript codebase, per candidate reports. Trace from the entry point rather than reading every file.
Free rep: Coding challenges with a real sandbox →Onsite: System design
AI-flavored prompts per candidate reports: a data annotation pipeline, an LLM evaluation harness, real-time task routing across a large contributor workforce. Quality control, human-in-the-loop review, and throughput come up.
Free rep: Design walkthrough: Design a Distributed Message Queue (Kafka deep-dive) →Onsite: Values (credo) interview
Behavioral round structured around Scale's published credo. Reported emphasis on ownership, urgency, customer focus, and clear communication; STAR-format stories work.
Free rep: STAR answers: Customer Obsession (Amazon Leadership Principle) →The full Scale AI prep pack → what they value, topic emphasis, and the questions candidates ask.
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