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The federal visa applications have shed light on how much AI labs are willing to pay for the crème de la crème: Anthropic’s salaries for H-1Bs reportedly go as high as ₹13 crore ($1.38 million) in base pay alone, with no bonuses or equity included. The numbers, drawn from official H-1B filings, provide a rare, clear glimpse into the pay on offer to people working in the AI industry today. Let’s look at the numbers, and what they imply to anyone seeking a career in AI.
Quick Facts on Anthropic H-1B Salaries
| Category | Details |
| The highest base salary that has been reported. | ₹13.02 crore (~$1.38 million) |
| Position associated with the highest salary. | Member of Technical Staff |
| Anthropic’s valuation (May 2026) | $965 billion |
| The number of jobs certified in H-1B (H1 FY26) | ~80 roles |
| Does this include bonuses/equity? | No — base salary only (no bonuses or incentives). |
| Other U.S. labs putting up higher H-1B applications | OpenAI, Nvidia |
The Numbers Behind the Headlines
Federal H-1B filings show that Anthropic H-1B wages for employees with the generic category “Member of Technical Staff” vary from approximately ₹1.26 crore to a jaw-dropping ₹13.02 crore in base pay. Anthropic’s use of this general term in several departments means it’s not clear if these are positions in AI research, engineering, or another field—but the fact that it’s so general shows how hard the company is working to recruit talent.
Be aware that these are salary only and do not include any extras. These figures don’t include equity, and bonuses are not included — and at a startup lab, these can constitute a big part of the overall compensation package.
How Different Roles Compare
| Role | Reported Salary Range (₹) | Reported Salary Range ($) |
| Member of Technical Staff | ₹1.26 Cr – ₹13.02 Cr | $133,952 – $1,380,000 |
| Member of Technical Staff (Manager) | ₹1.26 Cr – ₹8.02 Cr | $134,139 – $850,000 |
| RL Researcher (Technical Staff) | ₹1.06 Cr – ₹4.71 Cr | $112,778 – $500,000 |
| Technical Sales | ₹1.46 Cr – ₹4.71 Cr | $155,522 – $500,000 |
| Commercial Counsel | ₹1.87 Cr – ₹3.01 Cr | $198,765 – $320,000 |
| Product Design Manager | ₹1.32 Cr – ₹3.6 Cr | $140,254 – $385,000 |
| Marketing | ₹1.50 Cr – ₹1.88 Cr | $159,328 – $200,000 |
Because even the low pay tiers in this list, such as marketing jobs, pay six figures base pay, it’s the high end of Anthropic H-1B salaries that are the ones making headlines — and it’s a sign of how far the AI compensation boom is reaching beyond the technical realm.
Why Is the AI Job Market Paying So Much?
These statistics are due to a couple factors:
- Lack of skilled talent (top-tier) – there is fewer or less skilled talent than required in the top-tier when it comes to researchers and engineers in the field of AI
- The cost of key employees going to a competitor is huge – AI labs can be worth hundreds of billions, and the cost of losing an important worker to a competitor is very high.
- While the general US sentiment on hiring H-1B visas changed, prominent AI labs have kept hiring applications up to acquire global talent — visa-related hiring strategy.
- Increased company valuations — in May 2026, Anthropic’s valuation was $965 billion, which appears to be a direct result of investor confidence — is also being reflected in the compensation budgets.
In the case of AI labs, there has been a significant increase in the number of H-1B sponsorships that they are using, whereas, in other industries, it has decreased. In other industries, there has been a decrease in H-1B sponsorships, whereas, in the case of AI Labs, there has been an increase in order to get the talent before anyone else does.
Stay ahead with essential H-1B visa updates.
1. Are There Better Visa Options?
Check out three legal backup visa paths for tech workers who missed the H-1B lottery.
2. Will H-1B Fees Stay Lower?
Find out what the US court ruling means for future H-1B application costs.
3. Can You Beat Visa Deadlines?
Uncover the key steps to survive the H-1B 60-day grace period after layoffs.
4. How Can You Stay Legally?
Look into practical ways to keep your US visa status after losing your H-1B job.
5. Will New Salary Rules Matter?
See how the H-1B salary rule could reshape hiring for Indian IT professionals.
What Does It Mean For Your Future As An AI Professional
The figures given above do not only act as interesting statistics but are important for indicating the salary trends of Anthropic H-1B in 2026:
- The seemingly innocent title is actually a massive pay gap. The “Member of Technical Staff” can earn you up to ₹12 crore, hence ask the right questions.
- Base salary isn’t the full picture. Total compensation can be significantly altered by equity and bonuses, particularly in high valuation private companies.
- The non-engineering jobs are on the bandwagon as well. A strong trend of compensation growth is emerging in legal, finance and product positions at AI labs, beyond research and engineering.
- H-1B sponsorship is now a competitive edge. Despite the uncertainty, companies aggressively chasing visas are serious about investing in global talent for the long haul.
FAQs
What is the role of a “Member of Technical Staff”?
A very general title given to various technical departments in Anthropic. It is not clear from the filings whether it is a particular position in research, engineering or another technical position.
Whereas other industries are shrinking, why are AI companies applying for more H-1B visas?
AI labs are rising to the top of the game for securing niche talent and visa sponsorship is now another tool in companies’ recruiting arsenal for bringing in candidates from around the world.
Is this the usual compensation range for the AI profession?
They are based on publicly filed disclosures from one company. Pay rates can range from one company to another, the specific job, its seniority, and geographic location, but the highest-paying AI labs can offer salaries that are far higher than the average tech salary.
Key Takeaways
- Many reports indicate that the base pay of an Anthropic H-1B ranges from ₹1.26 crore to ₹13.02 crore.
- These numbers do not cover bonuses or equity – potential total compensation is much higher.
- In contrast to the overall trend, AI labs are filing more H-1Bs than they were last year.
- Salaries for non-engineering positions at leading AI firms are also in the six-figures.
- These figures reveal the sheer scale of the AI talent market in 2026, and its profitability, for job seekers.
