AI researcher says a $1M signing bonus for switching labs is 'not uncommon'
Turn_Trout · x · 2026-09-12
Alignment researcher TurnTrout says he could have easily landed a $1M signing bonus just by switching labs, calling it not uncommon in the field. He adds that's a lower bound: many researchers earn far more, with on-paper wealth ballooning through IPOs and illiquid equity they're sitting on — a window into how fierce the race for top AI talent has become.
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