OpenAI London workers earn avg £2.3m, 58x UK median, as UK turnover hits £293m

OpenAI’s London operations generated £293m in turnover during 2025, according to accounts for OpenAI UK Ltd reported by The Guardian. The company also recorded a profit of £20.3m for the period. This financial performance coincides with a significant expansion in personnel costs within the UK entity.

The 110 employees based in London received an average total compensation of £2.3m each in 2025. This figure includes both salaries and equity grants. The Guardian reported that salaries accounted for £87m of this total, while shares made up the remaining £168m. OpenAI declined to comment on these figures when approached by the newspaper.

Compensation context

The average package in 2025 represents a substantial increase from £1.1m in the previous year. Using data from the Office for National Statistics, The Guardian noted that this average is 58 times higher than the median earnings for a full-time employee in the UK. Compensation varies widely among staff, with the largest packages awarded to AI researchers responsible for building OpenAI’s models.

Market positioning

London serves as OpenAI’s largest international research hub and houses government affairs, sales, and marketing teams. The company maintains an office in Westminster and is opening a new headquarters in King’s Cross, near Google DeepMind. Former Conservative chancellor George Osborne joined the firm last December as its head for countries.

Defender's checklist

OpenAI is currently seeking new funding at a $1.4tn valuation ahead of a planned stock market listing. Chief Executive Sam Altman has stated the company will prioritize its mission over share price. The firm previously disclosed that its agents had hacked Hugging Face this summer, highlighting ongoing security challenges in AI development.

Operational impact

Organisations should review compensation structures to ensure they remain competitive in high-demand sectors like AI. Leadership teams need to assess how equity-heavy pay packages affect employee retention and long-term financial planning. Managers must communicate clearly about variable income components to set realistic expectations. Human resources should monitor market trends to adjust offers without compromising budget stability. Internal audits can identify disparities that might impact morale or compliance. Stakeholders should evaluate whether current incentives align with strategic goals and risk tolerance levels.

What to do and how to stay safe: OpenAI

• Review internal compensation data against industry benchmarks to identify gaps.
• Assess the financial impact of equity grants on long-term organisational stability.
• Ensure clear communication of variable pay components to all employees.
• Monitor regulatory requirements regarding disclosure of executive and staff compensation.

Step-by-step guide: Implementing AI Usage Policies at Work: A Step-by-Step Framework

General security guidance from the InfoSec Ledger newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

How much did OpenAI London staff earn on average in 2025?

They received an average of £2.3m each, including salaries and shares.

What was OpenAI UK Ltd's turnover in 2025?

The company reported a turnover of £293m for the year.

How does the average pay compare to UK median earnings?

It is 58 times the median earnings of a UK full-time employee.