NVIDIA salaries revealed: Software engineers can earn up to ₹3.74 crore as AI giant expands H-1B hiring
While many major tech companies are reducing foreign hiring in the challenging U.S. immigration environment, NVIDIAa is charting a different path.
Federal worker filings show AI chip maker increasing H-1B visa purchases in first half of fiscal 2026; This underlines the determination to secure top engineering and research talent as competition in the AI sector intensifies.
The filings also offer a rare glimpse into the compensation NVIDIA is willing to pay to attract experts in software engineering, chip design, AI research and leadership roles.
NVIDIA certified for approximately 1,200 H-1B positions in the first two quarters of fiscal 2026, compared to approximately 1,000 in the same period a year ago.
This increase contrasts with trends at some of the tech industry’s largest employers. Google recorded nearly 2,200 approved H-1B hires in the second quarter of this year; this number was approximately 5,100 the previous year. Amazon’s approvals also declined over the same period, dropping from about 6,100 to 4,300.
The numbers show that NVIDIA continues to invest aggressively in talent as demand for AI infrastructure and advanced computing systems accelerates worldwide.
Jensen Huang says immigrants are vital to NVIDIA’s success
Born in Taiwan, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has repeatedly emphasized the importance of global talent to the company’s growth.
“Immigrants are vital to the company’s mission.”
The company has become one of the most coveted employers in tech as rising stock prices turn equity awards into a powerful recruiting tool. Although H-1B applications disclose only base salaries and exclude stock awards, bonuses and other incentives, they still reveal the scale of compensation available at the AI powerhouse.
Salaries announced Business Content
NVIDIA AI researcher salaries exceeded ₹4 crore
AI researchers continue to be among NVIDIAa’s highest-paid technical employees.
| ROLE | SALARY RANGE |
|---|---|
| Research Scientist | ₹99.37 lakhs – ₹3.41 crore ($104,000 to $356,500) |
| Chief Research Scientist | ₹2.60 crore ₹4.12 crore ($272,000 – $431,250) |
| Senior Research Scientist | ₹1.29 crore ₹3.41 crore ($134,971 to $356,500) |
Architect salaries are increasing at NVIDIA ₹4 crore
The company also pays large sums to experts who design next-generation computing systems and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
| ROLE | SALARY RANGE |
|---|---|
| Architect | ₹1.26 crore to ₹3.41 crore ($131,362 to $356,500) |
| Chief Architect | ₹2.37 crore to ₹4.07 crore ($248,000 – $425,500) |
| Senior Architect | ₹1.41 crore ₹3.41 crore ($148,000 – $356,500) |
| Solution Architect | ₹1.33 crore ₹3.41 crore ($139,235 to $356,500) |
NVIDIA chip engineering salaries reveal fierce fight for semiconductor talent
| ROLE | SALARY RANGE |
|---|---|
| ASIC Engineer | ₹1.30 crore ₹3.52 crore ($136,000 to $368,000) |
| Hardware Engineer, Electronics | ₹91.73 lakhs – ₹2.97 crore (US$ 96,000 to 310,500) |
| Product Development Engineer | ₹1.26 crore to ₹3.08 crore ($131,362 to $322,000) |
| Senior ASIC Engineer | ₹1.57 crore to ₹2.97 crore ($163,925 to $310,500) |
| Senior Mixed Signal Design Engineer | ₹1.56 crore ₹2.97 crore ($163,494 to $310,500) |
| Senior Physical Design Engineer | ₹1.53 crore ₹2.97 crore ($160,481 to $310,500) |
| Senior Verification Engineer | ₹1.30 crore ₹2.97 crore ($135,907 to $310,500) |
| System Design Engineer | ₹1.51 crore ₹3.08 crore ($157,857 to $322,000) |
| Test Engineer | ₹1.22 crore ₹2.75 crore ($128,000 – $287,500) |
| Verification Engineer | ₹1.14 crore to ₹2.97 crore ($119,184 to $310,500) |
Software engineers can earn almost ₹3.75 crore in basic salary
Software development and AI-focused engineering roles continue to be at the core of NVIDIA’s hiring strategy.
| ROLE | SALARY RANGE |
|---|---|
| Development Operations Engineer | ₹1.38 crore ₹3.19 crore (US$ 144,000 to 333,500) |
| Distinguished Artificial Intelligence Algorithm Engineer | ₹2.94 crore ₹4.50 crore ($308,000 to $471,500) |
| Chief Software Engineer | ₹2.53 crore ₹4.07 crore ($264,514 to $425,500) |
| Chief Systems Software Engineer | ₹2.60 crore ₹4.12 crore ($272,000 – $431,250) |
| Senior Network Infrastructure Engineer | ₹1.30 crore ₹3.19 crore ($136,000 to $333,500) |
| Senior Software Engineer | ₹1.33 crore ₹3.41 crore ($139,152 to $356,500) |
| Senior Systems Software Engineer | ₹1.33 crore ₹3.41 crore ($139,152 to $356,500) |
| Software Engineer | ₹up to 1.03 crore ₹3.74 crore ($108,000 to $391,000) |
| System Software Engineer | ₹1.26 crore to ₹2.75 crore ($131,997 to $287,500) |
Product managers and directors earn more than: ₹4.6 crore
Management and leadership positions are among the highest-paying roles disclosed in NVIDIA’s H-1B filings.
| ROLE | SALARY RANGE |
|---|---|
| Director of Architecture | ₹up to 3.06 crore ₹4.67 crore ($320,000 to $488,750) |
| Developer Relations Director | ₹2.94 crore ₹4.50 crore ($308,000 to $471,500) |
| Hardware Engineering Director | ₹2.71 crore – ₹4.12 crore ($284,000 to $431,250) |
| Hardware Engineering Manager | ₹1.87 crore – ₹3.52 crore ($196,000 – $368,000) |
| Product Manager | ₹1.90 crore ₹3.63 crore ($198,702 to $379,500) |
| Program Manager | ₹1.54 crore – ₹3.08 crore ($161,034 to $322,000) |
| Senior Manager, System Software | ₹2.60 crore ₹4.12 crore ($272,000 – $431,250) |
| Software Engineering Director | ₹3.72 crore ₹4.50 crore ($388,918 to $471,500) |
| System Software Manager | ₹1.76 crore – ₹3.41 crore ($184,000 – $356,500) |
NVIDIA continues its search for talent as the artificial intelligence race accelerates
The latest H-1B data shows NVIDIA continues to hire aggressively in hardware, software, research and customer-facing functions despite a larger slowdown in foreign hiring in the tech sector.
As companies around the world race to build and deploy artificial intelligence systems, the chipmaker looks set to bolster its workforce with highly skilled engineers, scientists and managers. The salary disclosures offer a snapshot of how much NVIDIA is willing to spend to secure talent it believes will shape the next phase of the AI boom.
Currency conversions are approximate and based on the exchange rate. ₹95.55 per US dollar as of June 2, 2026 and reflects base salary only. Stock awards, bonuses and other compensation are not included in federal filings.
