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OpenAI Software Engineer Salaries in San Francisco Bay Area

Software Engineer compensation in San Francisco Bay Area at OpenAI ranges from $249K per year for L2 to $1.24M per year for L6. The median yearly compensation in San Francisco Bay Area package totals $605K. View the base salary, stock, and bonus breakdowns for OpenAI's total compensation packages. Last updated: 3/4/2026

Average Compensation By Level
Level Name
Total
Base
Stock
Bonus
L2
(Entry Level)
$249K
$168K
$80.9K
$227
L3
$365K
$212K
$151K
$1.9K
L4
$697K
$281K
$416K
$0
L5
$1.11M
$315K
$729K
$69.7K
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Vesting Schedule

25%

YR 1

25%

YR 2

25%

YR 3

25%

YR 4

Stock Type
RSU

At OpenAI, RSUs are subject to a 4-year vesting schedule:

  • 25% vests in the 1st-YR (25.00% annually)

  • 25% vests in the 2nd-YR (25.00% annually)

  • 25% vests in the 3rd-YR (25.00% annually)

  • 25% vests in the 4th-YR (25.00% annually)

PPU stands for Profit Participation Units. The foundation for PPUs are PIUs, which are a form of equity compensation, with heavily customizable terms, that are popular among startups backed by private equity investors.

25%

YR 1

25%

YR 2

25%

YR 3

25%

YR 4

Stock Type
RSU

At OpenAI, RSUs are subject to a 4-year vesting schedule:

  • 25% vests in the 1st-YR (25.00% annually)

  • 25% vests in the 2nd-YR (2.08% monthly)

  • 25% vests in the 3rd-YR (2.08% monthly)

  • 25% vests in the 4th-YR (2.08% monthly)

PPU stands for Profit Participation Units. The foundation for PPUs are PIUs, which are a form of equity compensation, with heavily customizable terms, that are popular among startups backed by private equity investors.

25%

YR 1

25%

YR 2

25%

YR 3

25%

YR 4

Stock Type
RSU

At OpenAI, RSUs are subject to a 4-year vesting schedule:

  • 25% vests in the 1st-YR (6.25% quarterly)

  • 25% vests in the 2nd-YR (6.25% quarterly)

  • 25% vests in the 3rd-YR (6.25% quarterly)

  • 25% vests in the 4th-YR (6.25% quarterly)

PPU stands for Profit Participation Units. The foundation for PPUs are PIUs, which are a form of equity compensation, with heavily customizable terms, that are popular among startups backed by private equity investors.



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FAQ

The highest paying salary package reported for a Software Engineer at OpenAI in San Francisco Bay Area sits at a yearly total compensation of $1,250,000. This includes base salary as well as any potential stock compensation and bonuses.
The median yearly total compensation reported at OpenAI for the Software Engineer role in San Francisco Bay Area is $606,000.
When negotiating your Software Engineer offer at OpenAI, leverage salary data to understand market rates, highlight your relevant experience, and consider all components of the compensation package. <a href="/services/?ref=faq_company_jobfamily" target="_blank">Our professional negotiators</a> have helped candidates secure $50K+ more in total compensation.

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