Cruise Salaries — Compensation Data by Role

Overall Median Salary

$215,000

Pay Philosophy

Cruise aims to provide market-competitive compensation packages that reflect the high-specialization requirements of autonomous vehicle engineering.

Salary Ranges by Role

Software Engineer

L4San Francisco, CA

$155,000 – $210,000USD

Software Engineer

L5San Francisco, CA

$200,000 – $260,000USD

Senior Software Engineer

L6San Francisco, CA

$240,000 – $310,000USD

Estimates based on aggregated public data from 2024-2025.

Compensation Benefits

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) matching, generous paid time off, wellness stipends, and commuter benefits.

Equity & Stock Options

Cruise typically offers Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as part of the total compensation package, often tied to General Motors' equity structure.

Waymo

Salaries are generally competitive with Waymo, though total compensation structures differ due to parent company equity.

Tesla

Cruise base salaries are often higher than Tesla, though Tesla's equity upside can vary significantly.

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