OpenAI Offers $1.5 Million Average Stock Compensation, Outpacing Tech Industry Norms
Written by Ohris M. Greyoon, Blockchain & Crypto Expert
Source: Coinmarketcap
Updated: Dec 31 2025- Innovative Compensation Levels: OpenAI provides an average stock compensation of $1.5 million to its approximately 4,000 employees, which is over seven times higher than what Google paid in 2003, showcasing the company's strong competitive edge in attracting top AI talent.
- Equity Incentive Strategy: To retain its best researchers and engineers amid fierce AI talent competition, OpenAI is continuously raising salaries, with stock compensation costs projected to increase by about $3 billion annually through 2030, further exacerbating the company's operating losses.
- Investor Confidence Boost: SoftBank has completed its massive $40 billion investment in OpenAI, with the final payment of approximately $22 billion resulting in over 10% ownership, indicating strong market confidence in OpenAI's future growth potential.
- Revenue to Compensation Ratio: OpenAI is expected to hit a 46% compensation-to-revenue ratio by 2025, significantly higher than other tech firms, reflecting its high-cost structure during rapid expansion.
About the author
Ohris M. Greyoon
Ohris M. Greyoon holds a Master’s in Computer Science from MIT and has 10 years of experience in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency markets. A pioneer in decentralized finance (DeFi) analysis, he leads Intellectia’s Crypto News, offering cutting-edge insights into digital assets.
