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Anthropic is a leading artificial intelligence research company. It is recognized for offering highly competitive salaries and benefits to its employees.
Compensation at Anthropic typically includes a base salary, stock or equity grants, and, in some cases, bonuses. The total compensation package varies significantly depending on role, experience, and location.
Average Salaries and Pay Ranges
Recent data from multiple sources indicates that average annual total compensation at Anthropic is approximately $326,000.
Most employees earn between $277,000 and $548,000 per year.
Verified salary profiles show that roles such as backend engineers, security engineers, and machine learning engineers often receive substantial base salaries and stock grants.
- Backend Engineer (Software Engineer): Base salary around $294,000, with stock grants up to $196,000.
- Security Engineer (Senior Software Engineer): Base salary about $310,000, with stock grants up to $243,000.
- Machine Learning Engineer: Base salary ranging from $146,000 to $294,000, with stock grants between $49,000 and $147,000 depending on experience and location.
- Data Engineer (L5): Base salary of $294,000, with additional stock compensation.
According to Levels.fyi, total compensation can range from $311,933 for marketing roles to $642,600 for business operations positions.
This wide range reflects the diversity of roles and seniority levels at the company.
Hourly Pay Insights
For those interested in hourly rates, data from ZipRecruiter shows that the average hourly pay for Anthropic AI roles in the United States is $65.77.
The majority of hourly wages fall between $45.43 (25th percentile) and $100.00 (75th percentile). Some roles reach as high as $116.35 per hour.
This variation is influenced by factors such as skill level, location, and years of experience.
Compensation by Job Title
A closer look at specific job postings reveals the following annual salary ranges for popular roles at Anthropic:
- Research Engineer, Tokens (Pre-training): $315,000 – $340,000
- Research Scientist, Interpretability: $315,000 – $560,000
- Research Engineer, Agents: $315,000 – $425,000
- Research Scientist, Frontier Red Team (Autonomy): $315,000 – $340,000
- Research Engineer, Knowledge Team: $315,000 – $425,000
These figures highlight that technical and research-focused positions at Anthropic command some of the highest salaries in the industry.
Equity and Stock Compensation
Anthropic offers significant stock or equity grants as part of its total compensation package.
These grants typically follow a four-year vesting schedule, with 25% vesting each year.
This structure incentivizes long-term commitment and aligns employee interests with the company’s growth.
Factors Influencing Pay at Anthropic
Several factors contribute to the wide range of salaries at Anthropic.
Role and seniority play a significant part, with senior engineers and scientists receiving higher compensation than entry-level positions.
Location also matters, as salaries may vary based on cost of living and local market rates. Major tech hubs like San Francisco and New York offer higher pay.
Experience is another key factor, as more experienced professionals command higher base salaries and larger stock grants.
Additionally, specialized skills in AI research, security, or business operations can significantly increase earning potential.
What to Expect When Considering a Role at Anthropic
Anthropic’s compensation packages are among the most competitive in the AI industry.
This reflects the company’s focus on attracting and retaining top talent.
Prospective employees can expect high base salaries, generous equity grants, and opportunities for advancement as the company grows.
For those evaluating offers, it is important to consider not only the base salary but also the value of stock grants and the vesting schedule. These can represent a substantial portion of total compensation.
Navigating Your Career at Anthropic
Given the high earning potential and the company’s rapid growth, Anthropic remains an attractive destination for AI professionals seeking both financial rewards and opportunities to work on cutting-edge research.
Candidates should assess their own experience, skills, and career goals to determine where they might fit within Anthropic’s compensation structure.
