Nvidia Software Engineer Salary

Nvidia is a leading advanced chip provider in the US and hires tons of software engineers at different levels and focuses. Known for providing leading compensation and benefits packages in the tech industry, Nvidia pays its software engineers competitively among other tech companies. However, the Nvidia software engineer salary varies depending on role, level, location, and other factors. So, how much can you expect to earn as a software engineer at Nvidia? Our salary negotiation team is here to help you figure that out.

With extensive experience negotiating hundreds of tech job offers, we provide insights based on real-world Nvidia salary negotiations and compensation research. In this guide, you'll find detailed information on Nvidia software engineer levels, the key components of an Nvidia software engineer salary, and a breakdown of average Nvidia SWE salary and total compensation packages by level and location.

Want to Negotiate Your Offer? Get offer-specific guidance from an Nvidia Salary Negotiation Coach. We help software engineers negotiate competitive job offers.

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Nvidia has a tiered structure for its software engineering roles just like you’d see at most competing tech companies. Understanding the Nvidia software engineer levels are important before interviewing with and accepting an offer at Nvidia, as they influence your software engineering responsibilities, total compensation, and career trajectory within Nvidia. Nvidia determines the Nvidia SDE levels based on a combination of factors, including years of experience, the scope of responsibilities, software engineering specialty, and the overall impact of the role.

In this section, we provide an overview of the Nvidia software engineer levels to help you navigate their role levels. As a software engineer at Nvidia, you can follow either an Individual Contributor (IC) or Engineering Manager (M) career path. Below are the Nvidia SDE levels for the IC track:

• Nvidia IC1 Software Engineer (SDE I – Entry Level SDE)

• Nvidia IC2 Software Engineer (SDE II)

• Nvidia IC3 Software Engineer (SDE III - Senior SDE)

• Nvidia IC4 Software Engineer (Staff SDE)

• Nvidia IC5 Software Engineer (Senior Staff SDE)

• Nvidia IC6 Software Engineer (Principal SDE)

We focus on the Nvidia software engineering levels for the IC track on this page, but for reference here are the Nvidia Engineering Manager levels for the manager track:

• Nvidia M2 Software Engineering Manager (Engineering Lead)

• Nvidia M3 Software Engineering Manager (Engineering Manager)

• Nvidia M4 Software Engineering Manager (Senior Engineering Manager)

• Nvidia M5 Software Engineering Manager (Engineering Director)

In an Nvidia software engineer salary package, you’ll find a few core compensation components. For more in-depth details from us on Nvidia’s compensation structure, you can check out our Nvidia Salary Negotiation and Software Engineer Salary Negotiation articles. Below is a quick overview of what to expect before we cover the average compensation for Nvidia software engineer salary.

Nvidia Base Salary

This is the fixed amount you’ll receive in each paycheck for your Nvidia SWE salary. There are set base salary ranges for each Nvidia software engineering level and location.

Nvidia Performance Bonus

There is no performance bonus or target bonus at Nvidia. You will not find this compensation component as part of your Nvidia software engineer salary.

Nvidia Equity Package

Upon joining Nvidia, you'll receive an initial grant of Nvidia Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). This Nvidia SWE salary benefit will vest over a four-year period in 6.25% quarterly increments, meaning you'll receive 25% of your RSUs each year at Nvidia.

Nvidia Sign-on Bonuses

Nvidia typically offers software engineers a sign-on bonus in the first year. This one-time bonus serves as an incentive to join Nvidia or to compensate for any benefits or perks you may lose when leaving your current company. 

Nvidia Stock Refreshers

These are annual Nvidia RSU equity grants that you may receive based on your annual software engineering performance review at Nvidia.

Nvidia has a set base salary and total compensation range for all Nvidia software engineer levels. While Nvidia typically aims to pay new hire software engineers within the lower to mid-range of these Nvidia SWE salary bands, we’ve successfully negotiated Nvidia software engineer salaries closer to the top end of each pay range.

Below, we’ve listed the average compensation for Nvidia software engineers across the Nvidia SDE levels. Note that these figures are Nvidia software engineer salary averages based on our research and negotiation experience, and not the top end of the Nvidia SWE salary bands. To identify and reach the top end of the pay range and secure a competitive Nvidia software engineer salary, we recommend working with an Nvidia Salary Negotiation Coach.

Nvidia SDE 1 Salary (IC1)

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for an IC1 Nvidia SDE 1 salary.

Nvidia SDE 2 Salary (IC2)

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for an IC2 Nvidia SDE 2 salary.

Nvidia Senior Software Engineer Salary (IC3 – SDE 3)

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for an IC3 Nvidia senior software engineer salary.

Nvidia Staff Software Engineer Salary (IC4)

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for an IC4 Nvidia staff software engineer salary.

Nvidia Senior Staff Software Engineer Salary (IC5)

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for an IC5 Nvidia senior staff software engineer salary.

Nvidia Principal Engineer Salary (IC6)

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for an IC6 Nvidia principal engineer salary.

Nvidia offers competitive pay for its software engineers, but a Nvidia SWE salary can vary significantly depending on the location. For example, an Nvidia software engineer salary San Francisco won't be the same as an Nvidia software engineer salary in another location, and an Nvidia software engineer salary in Europe will be different compensation than those in the US. As a one of the largest tech companies, Nvidia closely monitors cost-of-living differences when setting their base salary and total compensation ranges for software engineers.

Below, we’ve listed the average compensation for software engineers in some of Nvidia's key hiring locations for software engineers at the Nvidia senior software engineer salary level (IC3). These figures are based on our research and negotiation experience and represent averages, not the top end of the Nvidia SWE salary bands. To identify and reach the top end of the salary range and secure a competitive offer at Nvidia in your specific location, we recommend working with an Nvidia Salary Negotiation Coach.

Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Austin

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Austin.

Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Los Angeles

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Los Angeles.

Nvidia Software Engineer Salary New York

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Nvidia Software Engineer Salary New York.

Nvidia Software Engineer Salary San Francisco

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Nvidia Software Engineer Salary San Francisco.

Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Seattle

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Seattle.

Nvidia software engineer salaries vary significantly across countries and non-US locations will have different Nvidia SWE salary pay rates. For example, an Nvidia software engineer salary Germany won't be the same as an Nvidia software engineer salary Canada. It will also be lower than the Nvidia software engineer salary in the US.

Below, we’ve listed the average compensation for software engineers in some of Nvidia's key international hiring locations for software engineers at the Nvidia senior software engineer salary level (IC3). These figures are based on our research and negotiation experience and represent averages, not the top end of the Nvidia software engineer salary bands. To identify and reach the top end of the Nvidia SDE salary range and secure a competitive offer at Nvidia in Europe or Canada, we recommend working with an Nvidia Salary Negotiation Coach.

Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Canada

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Canada.

Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Germany

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Germany.

Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Switzerland

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Nvidia Software Engineer Salary Switzerland.

Increasing the pay in your job offer at Nvidia requires a deep understanding of their compensation philosophy and the right salary negotiation strategy. Our expert Nvidia Salary Negotiation Coaching will help you navigate the negotiation process and secure the top end of Nvidia’s pay band.