SAN FRANCISCO – Recent H-1B visa application data has provided rare insights into Nvidia’s salary structure for its US workforce, as CEO Jensen Huang disclosed that he personally reviews employee compensation.
In the fiscal year 2025-26, Nvidia, a global leader in AI chip technology, filed nearly 1,900 certified H-1B applications for roles including software engineers, research scientists, and product managers. Despite a relatively small on-paper workforce of approximately 36,000 employees, Nvidia’s rapid growth has significantly boosted its stock value. A new report suggests this growth is also reflected in employee salaries, particularly for H-1B visa holders.
CEO Jensen Huang’s Personal Involvement in Compensation Decisions
CEO Jensen Huang emphasized his hands-on approach to employee pay, stating, “I review everybody’s compensation up to this day at the end of every cycle.” He also claimed to have “created more billionaires on my management team than any CEO in the world,” highlighting his active role in talent and compensation strategies.
Salary Range Highlights Across Key Roles
The H-1B filings reveal salary ranges for various critical roles at Nvidia:
- ASIC Engineer: $163,925 – $368,000
- CAD Engineer: $136,000 – $310,500
- DevOps Engineer: $140,000 – $270,250
- Hardware Engineer: $92,000 – $368,000
- Engineering Manager: $203,879 – $391,000
- Mask Design Engineer: $110,187 – $230,000
- Mechanical Engineer: $102,336 – $247,250
- Mixed Signal Design Engineer: $151,091 – $310,500
- Physical Design Engineer: $96,000 – $310,500
- Senior ASIC Engineer: $128,000 – $310,500
- Senior Systems Software Engineer: $117,499 – $356,500
- Software Engineer: $92,000 – $425,500
- Software QA Engineer: $133,432 – $322,000
- System Design Engineer: $124,197 – $253,000
- Systems Software Manager: $208,125 – $425,500
- Test Engineer: $124,197 – $287,500
- Verification Engineer: $119,184 – $368,000
Architect and Research Roles
- Architect: $104,000 – $425,500
- Architecture Manager: $207,093 – $425,500
- Senior Architect: $150,821 – $356,500
- Solutions Architect: $108,722 – $356,500
- Research Scientist: $104,000 – $431,250
Product and Business Roles
- Business Systems Analyst: $140,000 – $310,500
- Product Manager: $131,029 – $379,500
- Program Manager: $75,462 – $368,000
These figures highlight Nvidia’s competitive compensation packages for its US employees, especially within specialized technical and leadership roles. CEO Jensen Huang’s direct involvement underscores the company’s focus on attracting top talent through premium remuneration.
As Nvidia continues its growth trajectory, these salary insights shed light on the company’s commitment to rewarding its workforce amid a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
