Here’s the Salary You Could Earn Working for Tesla
Written by
Karen Doyle
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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Technology companies have long been popular for their high salaries and competitive benefits. And companies that expect to grow quickly need to pay well in order to hire the best and the brightest, in large numbers. So it’s not surprising that Tesla pays comparably well for many positions.
But exactly how much can you make working for the EV, solar and AI giant?
Engineering
Engineers are critical to Tesla’s business, as they design cars, trucks and solar panels, as well as AI and robotics.
Software Engineers
A senior software engineer earns an average salary of $171,638 at Tesla. A software engineer can expect to earn about $133,589.
A generalist software engineer in AI inference would need to be proficient in Python and C++, as well as with a machine learning framework such as PyTorch. This position also requires experience with training and deploying neural networks for AI and experience with CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture). The compensation for this job, according to Tesla, is $118,000 to $390,000 plus cash and stock awards and benefits.
Machine Learning Engineers
A machine learning engineer working on self-driving vehicles can expect to earn between $140,000 and $420,000 per year, plus stock and cash awards and benefits, according to Tesla.
To qualify for this position, you’ll need Python experience, a major deep learning framework and best practices in software engineering, along with experience deploying machine learning models for self-driving, robotics or natural language processing.
Engineering Interns
An intern who works as a system software engineer can expect to earn $36.05 to $56.13 per hour plus benefits. These interns work 40 hours per week, onsite, for a minimum of 12 weeks.
This type of internship is for students who are currently enrolled in an academic program, pursuing a Computer Engineering or Computer Science degree and have experience with C/C++ and Linux.
Manufacturing
Tesla requires skilled workers in its manufacturing facilities to assemble electric vehicles, solar equipment, satellites and more.
Quality Technicians
A quality technician can expect to earn $49,000 to $67,000 per year.
These technicians perform inspections, audits and testing, analyze quality issues, implement corrective action and maintain documentation on quality and performance. Technicians are required to be proficient with quality systems and tools.
Equipment Maintenance Technicians
An equipment maintenance technician earns an average of $36.88 per hour.
This position requires the technical skills needed to install, repair and maintain mechanical and electrical systems, robotics and factory automation. Experience as an automotive technician or technical military experience is required.
Sales
As an innovative company with leading-edge technologies, Tesla needs sales personnel to get their products into the right hands.
Sales Advisors
Sales advisors for Tesla make between $41,000 and $62,000 per year. Those who sell more cars or who have been with the company for several years may earn more.
Candidates for a sales position are expected to have a year or more of sales or customer service experience.
General Managers
General managers in sales can earn between $102,000 and $153,000 per year, plus cash and stock awards, and benefits, according to Tesla. GMs oversee sales and service operations and manage and develop sales staff.
How Employees Feel About Working at Tesla
As nice as it is to have a high salary, a fat paycheck isn’t the only reason to work for a particular company. There are many other factors to be considered, as well, such as benefits, work-life balance, advancement potential and job security.
Glassdoor and Indeed allow employees to post anonymous reviews of the companies they work — or worked — for. These reviews offer a less biased view of what it’s like to work at Tesla, though it must be noted that people are generally more likely to leave negative reviews than positive ones.
Glassdoor Reviews
For example, just over half (55%) of Tesla employees on Glassdoor feel they are compensated fairly. About the same number (56%) said they would recommend working at Tesla.
The overall rating given to the company by employees was 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Indeed Reviews
The sentiment was similar on Indeed. The overall rating was 3.3 out of 5 stars.
Indeed breaks down the ratings further, which showed that the company is more highly regarded for pay and benefits than anything else. Tesla was rated 3.6 out of 5 stars for pay and benefits, but 3.2 for culture, 2.9 for work-life balance, 2.8 for job security and advancement and 2.8 for management.
Working at Tesla, or any other company, is about more than just the salary, although that is a big consideration. Finding a job where you are valued, both financially and as a contributor, is the key factor.
Editor’s note: Salary information was sourced from Indeed and Glassdoor unless otherwise stated and is accurate as of June 3, 2025.
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