As racing for AI Supremacy consumes a lot of technology, Apple is behind many of its peers.
Bloomberg reported that four of Apple’s top AI top researchers have defected to Meta this past month, and Apple has increased salaries for researchers within the Apple Foundation Models (AFM) group.
Last year, Apple unveiled the Apple Intelligence AI platform. At this year’s Worldwide Developer Conference, Craig Federigi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, said Apple’s work on Siri requires “more time.”
That said, Apple employs hundreds of roles in machine learning and AI, and working in the company remains a dream for many.
In an interview with singer Dua Lipa in 2023, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company would hire him from “every walk of life,” and he praised qualities such as collaboration, curiosity and creativity.
“Essentially, we all believe that one plus one equals three,” Cook said in an interview. “Your ideas and my ideas are better than individual ideas in their own right.”
In addition to competitive salaries, Apple offers a range of benefits, from stock grants to discounts on its products.
Although Apple or other major tech companies do not publish their payroll information, federal filings made when hiring outside the US can suggest payroll scope for a particular role. That said, data refers only to foreign employment and does not include stocks or other benefits that employees can receive in addition to their base salary.
Apple’s salary can bring $312,200 back home by a machine learning engineer or researcher, while human interface designers can earn $468,500.
Apple’s data scientists can earn $322,400 on a base salary, while software development engineers can pocket $378,700.
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
Based on the applications from the second quarter of 2025, here are what Apple pays beyond other important roles:
The role of engineering
CPU Implementation Engineering: $103,164 to $264,200
Designed for Test Engineers: $131,352 to $293,800
Design Verification: $103,164 to $312,200
Electronics Engineers: $108,160 to $264,200
Engineering Project/Program Manager: $105,550 to $301,400
FE Engineering: $125,694 to $312,200
Hardware Development: $124,942 to $293,800
Hardware System Engineering: $125,495 to $378,700
Manufacturing quality: $142,293 to $227,600
Module Design Engineer: $108,796 to $329,600
Physical Design Engineer: $101,982 to $341,200
Production Services Engineer: $122,800 to $293,800
Reliability Engineering: $128,300 to $264,200
RF/Analog/Mixed Signal Engineering: $131,352 to $312,200
Silicon Verification Engineering: $103,164 to $329,600
System Product Design Engineer: $103,164 to $312,200
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Tools and Automation Engineers: $105,602 to $293,800
Wireless Systems Engineering: $128,300 to $312,200
Wireless System Verification Engineer: $126,672 to $312,200
The role of data
Data Engineer: $105,602 to $234,700
Data Scientist: $105,550 to $322,400
The role of AI
Machine Learning: $126,880 to $329,600
Machine Learning Engineers: $143,100 to $312,200
Machine Learning Research: $114,100 to $312,200
The role of software development
AR/VR Software Development: $129,805 to $312,200
Human Interface Designer: $135,400 to $468,500
Software Developer: $132,267 to $264,200
Software Development Engineer: $132,267 to $378,700
Software Development Engineer – Applications: $132,267 to $378,700
Software Development Engineer – Data: $135,400 to $329,600
Software Development Engineer – Firmware: $126,880 to $312,200
Software Development Engineer – Test: $94,640 to $329,600
Software Development Engineering Manager: $166,691 to $378,700
Software Engineering Applications: $103,164 to $378,700
Software Engineering Application Manager: $171,400 to $378,700
Software Engineering Systems: $126,880 to $329,600
Other types of roles
Professional Services Consultants: $100,200 to $258,700
Strategic Procurement Manager: $110,600 to $286,400
Supply and Demand Plan: $100,200-$209,900


