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OpenAI Engineers Earning $800,000 a Year Turn Rare Skillset Into Leverage

Dec 25, 2023 - finance.yahoo.com
OpenAI has reinstated CEO Sam Altman after hundreds of employees threatened to quit following his removal. This incident underscores the significant influence tech industry workers currently hold, particularly those specializing in AI, who earn between 8% to 12.5% more than non-AI engineers. The most common salary range for an engineering job at OpenAI is $200,000 to $370,000, with bonuses and stock awards potentially increasing total compensation to $800,000.

The potential mass departure at OpenAI would have been devastating due to the scarcity of experienced AI talent. OpenAI employees were able to leverage this scarcity to exert pressure on the company's board. The company's highly specialized software systems make its current developers particularly valuable. Before Altman's reinstatement, Microsoft, which holds a 49% stake in OpenAI, had offered jobs to the company's staff at its new AI research lab.

Key takeaways:

  • OpenAI reinstated CEO Sam Altman after hundreds of workers threatened to quit, demonstrating the leverage of highly skilled tech workers.
  • Artificial intelligence engineers earn 8% to 12.5% more than non-AI engineers, with total compensation at OpenAI potentially reaching $800,000 annually.
  • Retaining experienced AI engineers is crucial due to the scarcity of such talent and the difficulty in training new ones, putting OpenAI employees in a powerful position.
  • Before Altman's reinstatement, Microsoft Corp., which holds a roughly 49% stake in OpenAI, offered jobs to OpenAI staff at its new AI research lab.
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