Tesla Salaries in 2026
Tesla designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles, energy generation and storage systems. Led by innovation in autonomous driving technology and sustainable energy solutions.
Average Salary
$130,405
$10,867/mo
Total Compensation
$208,648
base + bonus + equity
Employees
128K
large company
Rating
3.6
★★★★☆
Tesla Salary by Level
Salary progression from entry-level to director positions at Tesla.
Entry-level employees at Tesla earn around $65,203, while directors can earn $282,979 or more.
Top Paying Roles at Tesla
| Role | Base Salary | Est. Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Program Manager | $143,000 | $167,310 |
| Software Engineer | $137,000 | $160,290 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $124,000 | $145,080 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,000 | $140,400 |
| Quality Engineer | $107,000 | $125,190 |
Total compensation estimates include base salary and an average 17% bonus. Stock options/equity are offered but vary significantly by role and level.
Tesla Benefits & Perks
Tesla Salary Calculator
Select a role and experience level to estimate your salary at Tesla.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Salary at Tesla
$130,000
$10,833/month · $62.50/hr
Est. total comp with 17% bonus: $152,100
About Tesla
Tesla designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles, energy generation and storage systems. Led by innovation in autonomous driving technology and sustainable energy solutions.
Headquarters
Austin, TX
Founded
2003
Industry
Automotive
Company Size
large
Employees
127,855
Median Salary
$117,365
Hourly Rate
$62.69/hr
Monthly Pay
$10,867
Tesla Employee Ratings
3.6
★★★★☆
Overall Rating
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Methodology & Sources for Tesla Salary Data
How we estimate Tesla compensation data: Our salary figures combine self-reported employee compensation data (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, Comparably, Blind), SEC filings for public companies (DEF 14A proxy statements include executive compensation), and BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for industry baselines. We weight recent data points (last 2 years) higher to reflect current market conditions.
- Base salary distribution aggregated from employee-reported data points. Tesla (founded 2003, 128K employees, headquartered in Austin, TX) is in the Automotive sector.
- Total compensation includes base salary, bonus, and where applicable, equity or other long-term incentives. At Tesla, bonuses vary by role, level, location, performance cycle, and business division.
- Level mapping normalizes role names across companies (Entry/Junior/Mid/Senior/Lead/Principal/Director) for cross-company comparison.
- Cost-of-living adjustment uses BLS regional CPI-U data when comparing Tesla's Austin, TX salaries to other markets.
- Industry benchmarking compares Tesla compensation to BLS national averages for Automotive sector occupations.
Authoritative compensation data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national salary baselines for Automotive
- SEC EDGAR — Company Filings — public company executive compensation in DEF 14A proxies
- BLS Industries at a Glance — Automotive — sector employment, wages, productivity
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level wage data by industry
- DOL Wage and Hour Division — federal wage compliance and minimum wage
Disclaimer: Tesla compensation data is aggregated from multiple sources and reflects general patterns, not guaranteed offers. Actual salaries vary based on level, location, negotiation, performance, and equity vesting. For personalized career advice, consult HR professionals or executive coaches. For job offers, always negotiate based on multiple data points and your unique value.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Last updated May 12, 2026 · BLS data current as of latest annual release
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