NVIDIA Software Engineer Salary: Compensation, Benefits & Culture
Explore NVIDIA Software Engineer Salary & Benefits. Compare compensation, skills, and locations. Find if it is the perfect fit for you.
NVIDIA, a leading global technology company, excels in the domains of graphics processing units (GPUs) and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.
With approximately 27,000 dedicated employees, NVIDIA's influence extends far and wide within the tech industry. The company's reputation captivates aspiring software engineers, enticing them to become part of its exceptional workforce.
Join us as we explore the salaries of NVIDIA software engineers, taking a closer look at the enticing benefits and unique work culture that make NVIDIA an outstanding workplace.
NVIDIA Software Engineer Salaries by Level
To help you understand the average salary range for a Software Engineer at NVIDIA, we have compiled the salary data from Levels.fyi for each level of the position.
| Level | Level name | Total | Base | Stock (/yr) | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC1 | Software Engineer | $166K | $139K | $24K | $3K |
| IC2 | Unspecified | $202K | $152K | $48K | $3K |
| IC3 | Senior Software Engineer | $255K | $176K | $79K | $0 |
| IC4 | Unspecified | $358K | $223K | $133K | $1K |
| IC5 | Unspecified | $454K | $263K | $186K | $5K |
| IC6 | Principal Engineer | $533K | $288K | $241K | $4K |
IC1 Software Engineer
At this level, you will be responsible for developing, testing, and maintaining software applications. You will be working on a team of engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams to design and implement software features.
Moreover, the average base salary for this level is $139K, with a total average compensation of $166K, including 24K per year stock awards and $3K bonuses.
IC2
The average base salary for this level is $152K, with total average compensation of $202K, including 48K per year stock awards and $3K bonuses.
IC3 Senior Software Engineer
At this level, you will be responsible for leading projects and mentoring junior engineers. You should have a good understanding of software design principles and be able to make decisions based on data analysis. The average base salary for this level is $175K, with a total average compensation of $253K, including 79K per year stock AWARD.
IC4
The average base salary for this level is $222K, with total average compensation of $345K, including 133K per year stock award and a $1K bonus.
IC5
The base salary for this role is $263K per year, with additional compensation in the form of stock awards ($186K per year) and bonuses ($5K per year). Moreover, the average total compensation is $454K annually.
IC6 Principal Engineer
For this position, the annual base salary is set at $288K, with additional compensation in the form of stock awards, which amount to $241K per year, and bonuses totaling $4K per year. Overall, the average total compensation for C6 Principal Engineer reaches $533K per year.
It's worth noting that these salaries are just averages, and actual compensation may vary depending on location, skills, education, and experience.
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Career Progression and Salary Increases at NVIDIA
There are six levels for Software Engineers at NVIDIA: IC1, IC2, IC3, IC4, IC5, and IC6. Below is a summary of what to expect regarding salary increases and responsibilities when moving up the ranks.
- IC1 to IC2: Moving from IC1 to IC2 usually comes with a bump in salary of around $36K. At this level, you can expect to take on more responsibilities, such as contributing to larger projects and mentoring junior engineers.
- IC2 to IC3: At this level, you can expect a salary increase of around $51K. You will take on even more complex projects and possibly lead a small team of engineers.
- IC3 to IC4: The jump from IC3 to IC4 is significant, with an average salary increase of $92K. At this level, you will be expected to lead teams and play a key role in driving the company's technical direction.
- IC4 to IC5: The jump from IC4 to IC is significant, with an average salary increase of $96K. At this level, your role will involve designing and implementing intricate software systems while actively collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-performance solutions.
- IC5 to IC6: The jump from IC5 to IC6 is significant, with an average salary increase of $79K. At this level, you will be responsible for leading and mentoring software engineers, contributing to strategic decision-making, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality software solutions
Note that these salary increases are just averages and may vary based on individual performance and other factors.
NVIDIA Salaries by Location
The NVIDIA Software Engineer's Salary varies depending on the location of the job. Here are some examples of how the salary varies in different locations:
| Location | Average Base Salaries |
|---|---|
| California | $154K |
| Washington | $143K |
| Massachusetts | $135K |
| Oregon | $128K |
| New Jersey | $127K |
| Texas | $123K |
| Colorado | $118K |
| North Carolina | $115K |
| Illinois | $115K |
| Alabama | $111K |
It's important to keep in mind that these are just a few examples and that salaries can vary greatly depending on the specific job title, skills, and years of experience.
Top Benefits Offered by NVIDIA
NVIDIA is known for offering competitive benefits packages to its employees. Here are the top benefits, as listed on levels.fyi:
- 401k: NVIDIA provides a 100% match on employee contributions up to $6,000 and a 50% match for the next $500.
- Transport allowance: The company offers transportation benefits to help offset the cost of commuting.
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA): NVIDIA provides a Day Care FSA that allows employees to put aside up to $5,000 annually in pre-tax dollars to pay for daycare expenses.
- Health Savings Account (HSA): NVIDIA provides $3,000 per year in contributions to an HSA.
- Tuition Reimbursement: If you graduated within the past three years, you can apply for reimbursement of $6,000 each year to help repay your student loans, up to $30,000.
- Dental Insurance: NVIDIA offers two options for dental coverage.
- Vision Insurance: Vision benefits are available through the Vision Service Plan (VSP).
- Paternity Leave: Employees are eligible for up to 12 weeks of paternity leave.
- Maternity Leave: NVIDIA offers up to 22 weeks of paid maternity leave.
- PTO (Vacation / Personal Days): Employees have unlimited paid time off.
- Sick Time: Employees have unlimited sick time.
- Donation Match: NVIDIA offers a 100% match on employee donations, up to $2,500.
- Employee Credit: The company offers an employee credit program.
- Volunteer Time Off: Employees can receive up to $25 per hour for volunteer time off.
- Free Lunch: NVIDIA provides free lunch to employees five days a week.
- Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP): The ESPP allows contributions up to 15% of base salary with a 15% discount on the purchase price of the stock.
- Pet-Friendly Workplace: Certain buildings are pet friendly.
- Remote Work: NVIDIA offers remote work opportunities.
- Free Dinner:
- Health Insurance: The company provides health insurance.
- Employee Assistance Program: NVIDIA offers an employee assistance program.
- Free Snacks: Employees have access to free snacks.
- Immigration Assistance: NVIDIA provides immigration assistance.
- On-Site Fitness Classes: The company offers on-site fitness classes.
- On-Site Mother's Room: NVIDIA provides on-site mother's rooms.
- Roth 401k: The company offers a Roth 401k.
- Disability Insurance: NVIDIA provides disability insurance.
- Gym Discount: Employees are eligible for gym discounts.
- Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance: The company provides AD&D insurance.
- Gender Neutral Bathrooms: NVIDIA provides gender-neutral bathrooms.
- Free Breakfast:
- On-Site Clinic: The company provides an on-site clinic.
- Relocation Bonus: NVIDIA offers a relocation bonus.
- Free Drinks: Employees have access to free drinks.
- Pet Insurance: The company offers pet insurance.
- Gym On-Site: There is an on-site gym.
- Life Insurance: NVIDIA provides life insurance.
- Custom Work Station: Employees can access custom workstations.
- Gym / Wellness Reimbursement: The company offers gym and wellness reimbursement.
- Adoption Assistance: NVIDIA provides adoption assistance.
- Employee Discount: Employees are eligible for company discounts.
Working Culture at NVIDIA
When considering a job offer, evaluating the company culture, including work-life balance, happiness, and culture score, is important.
According to Comparably, NVIDIA is rated positive in all of the categories, with Marketing, Culture Score, and Happiness receiving an "A+" rating, while Operations and Business Development received lower ratings.
Below is an overview of the department-wise work-life balance, happiness, and culture scores at NVIDIA, as reported by Comparably
The engineering department at NVIDIA has received high ratings for happiness and culture scores, which aligns with the company's reputation as a leading high-tech organization that values innovation and creativity.
Comparison of NVIDIA Software Engineer Salaries with AMD
When it comes to compensation, it's natural to wonder how NVIDIA stacks up against its competitors. To make a fair comparison, let's take a look at the salary data for Software Engineers at AMD, NVIDIA's biggest rival in the GPU market.
According to Levels.fyi, the average base salary for a Software Engineer II (L5) at AMD is $112K, with a total compensation of $132K.
On the other hand, an IC1 Software Engineer at NVIDIA earns a base salary of $139K, with a total compensation of $166K.
Even a Senior Software Engineer (IC3) at NVIDIA earns a base salary of $176K, with total compensation of $255K, which is significantly higher than the salary of a Senior Software Engineer (L6) at AMD, which is $133K base and $165K total compensation.
Here is a table that compares the salaries for Software Engineer positions at both companies:
| Level name | NVIDIA | AMD |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer II | $139K (Total: $166K) | $112K (Total: $132K) |
| Senior Software Engineer | $176K (Total: $255K) | $133K (Total: $165K) |
| MTS | $223K (Total: $358K) | $162K (Total: $219K) |
| Senior MTS | $263K (Total: $454K) | $189K (Total: $277K) |
It is evident from the above table that NVIDIA offers higher salaries across all levels for Software Engineers than AMD.
FAQs
Q. How much do Software Engineers make at NVIDIA?
Source: Glassdoor
Based on salary data from NVIDIA, software engineers at various levels receive different levels of total compensation. At Level IC1, the total compensation is $166K, while at Level IC2, it increases to $202K. Moving up to Level IC3, software engineers receive a total compensation of $255K. At Level IC4, the total compensation further rises to $358K. For Level IC5, software engineers are rewarded with a total compensation of $454K, and at Level IC6, the total compensation reaches $533K.
Q. What is the average salary of a Software Engineer at NVIDIA?
Source: Glassdoor
Based on the salary data provided, the average total compensation for a Software Engineer at NVIDIA is approximately $241K per year. However, this figure varies depending on the level of the Software Engineer.
Q. What is the highest salary offered to a Software Engineer at NVIDIA?
According to the salary data provided, the highest total compensation offered to a Software Engineer at NVIDIA is $533K per year, which is for employees at Level IC6.
Q. What are the most common skills required for a Software Engineer position at NVIDIA?
The most common skills required for a Software Engineer position at NVIDIA include proficiency in programming languages such as C++, experience with GPU programming, knowledge of computer architecture, and familiarity with software development tools and methodologies.
Q. How much does an entry-level Software Engineer earn at NVIDIA?
Entry-level Software Engineers at NVIDIA typically earn a base salary of approximately $139K per year, with a total compensation of $166K.
Wrapping Up
To sum up, NVIDIA's software engineer salaries, comprehensive compensation packages, and enticing benefits make it an attractive destination for engineering talent. The company's commitment to innovation and vibrant culture foster a dynamic and fulfilling work environment.
So, if you're interested in pursuing a career as a software engineer, make sure to check out the latest job openings at 4 Day Week.
Additionally, delve into their detailed blog section to gain valuable insights into the compensation packages offered by various companies.
