In other years, Cerebras Systems’ IPO might be more of a capital markets landmark. The AI chip company’s $5.55 billion raise from its May 16, 2026 IPO ranks as the 17th largest U.S. IPO ever, according to Renaissance Capital. Yet that happened to come less than a month before SpaceX’s record-setting public market debut.
But even if Cerebras isn’t getting as much attention as SpaceX and some other AI companies, the company has still made a significant impact in Silicon Valley and beyond. So far, the company has minted 800 millionaires, according to CEO and cofounder Andrew Feldman on a May 2026 episode of the 20VC podcast.
Cerebras’ stock has stumbled somewhat since its blockbuster opening day on the public markets, reaching about a $95 billion valuation. But it still remains far above where it was just a few years ago, such as when its 2021 Series F valued it at a little over $4 billion.
However, that doesn’t mean every employee experienced massive equity growth, due to differences in pay structure and factors such as dilution that may have affected net gains. Still, it seems from Feldman’s statement that many employees have done well, and now that Cerebras is public, it’s possible that more employees will liquidate some or all of their equity to realize their gains. Unlike some IPOs that have a full 180-day lock-up period, Cerebras has staggered its post-IPO lock-up release into several tranches running until approximately November 2026.
For Cerebras employees, the ascending valuation (compared to pre-IPO) and the liquidity provided by going public could make the company an attractive place to work. While it doesn’t pay as much as some of the top AI and broader tech companies, it does still offer relatively competitive pay, including by besting the averages of some AI chip competitors.
To help you get a better understanding of what total compensation looks like at Cerebras in 2026, and what the financial implications are of working at and holding equity in Cerebras, we’ve put together this guide.
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Cerebras Pay Breakdown
The median total compensation at Cerebras is $243,098 per year, according to Levels.fyi.
Stacked up against some of the leading AI-related companies as well as some larger tech stalwarts, Cerebras’ pay generally sits on the low end by a small margin, although it does pay above some other AI chip competitors. Note, however, that this self-reported data is directional in nature, as some of the numbers may be skewed based on varying sample sizes and the roles that choose to provide pay data.
That said, one of its most direct competitors, Nvidia, has a slightly higher median reported compensation of $255,667. AI labs like OpenAI ($640,721 median) and Anthropic ($402,350) sit much higher. Cerebras also lags tech giants like Meta ($286,596) and Google ($291,896), though it’s slightly ahead of Apple ($241,061).
Also, Cerebras has a higher median pay than some other AI chip companies like AMD ($201,825) and SambaNova Systems ($181,708). It also bests Intel ($177,867), which has been moving more into AI chips lately.
Cerebras Compensation Comparison (U.S.)
Company | Median Total Comp | Company type |
Intel | $177,867 | Publicly traded tech/AI chip company |
SambaNova Systems | $181,708 | Late-stage private AI chip maker; limited liquidity |
AMD | $201,825 | Publicly traded AI chip company |
Apple | $241,061 | Publicly traded tech |
Cerebras | $243,098 | Post-IPO AI chip company; staggered lock-up period likely to fully expire in November 2026. |
Nvidia | $255,667 | Publicly traded AI chip company |
Meta | $286,596 | Publicly traded tech |
Google | $291,896 | Publicly traded tech |
Anthropic | $402,350 | Pre-IPO AI lab |
OpenAI | $640,721 | Pre-IPO AI lab |
Source: Levels.fyi, as of 08/12/2026
Although Cerebras doesn’t sit at the top of this list, it still pays relatively well on a broader scale, and compensation can vary significantly among different levels and roles, like at many other AI and tech companies. So, to gain a better understanding of Cerebras compensation, it helps to get more specific.
Cerebras Compensation by Level and Role
While the data is relatively limited, some of the highest-paying positions at Cerebras tend to tie together technical and business skills.
For example, the highest-paid position at Cerebras, based on self-reported data to Levels.fyi, is product manager, with total annual compensation of $1.26 million.
Some other examples include:
Role | Average Total Annual Comp Range |
Marketing | $432K – $523K |
Solution architect (L6) | $460K |
Technical program manager | $495K – $599K |
Project manager | $222K – $264K |
Source: Levels.fyi, as of 08/12/2026 | Data for other levels is currently unavailable
Granted, small sample sizes can affect these averages, but directionally, they seem to indicate high-earning potential for these types of roles.
The role with the deepest pay data is software engineer, but this is still relatively thin compared to some larger companies, like Nvidia and Intel. As such, Cerebras’ levels don’t tell a clean story about pay always increasing with seniority.
In reality, an L3 likely makes more than an L2 on average, but the current data does not show that, as there might be variations within pay bands or discrepancies based on when someone joined. Still, Levels.fyi data largely shows an upward trend, and perhaps if more pay information gets reported, the trajectory might smooth out.
Cerebras Software Engineer Average Annual Comp Breakdown (U.S.)
Level | Total Comp | Base | Stock | Bonus |
L2 (entry level) | $194K | $165K | $29.8K | $0 |
L3 | $137K | $133K | $4K | $0 |
L4 | $201K | $176K | $25K | $0 |
L5 | $465K | $224K | $241K | $0 |
L6 | $393K | $241K | $152K | $0 |
L8 | $1.3M | $275K | $1M | $20K |
Source: Levels.fyi, as of 08/12/2026 | Data for L7 is currently unavailable; Levels.fyi data reports L12 compensation that has been excluded from the table due to seeming like an outlier or potentially a misreported level.
Cerebras Base Salary
As this software engineer pay data shows, base salaries at Cerebras account for the bulk of compensation at lower seniority levels, before shifting in favor of equity comp at higher levels, similar to other tech companies.
To broadly generalize, base salaries for many levels and roles fall in the ballpark of $150,000 to $250,000, but there can be variation in either direction.
For L2-L4 software engineers, the base salaries typically account for over 85% of total comp. For L5-L6, base salaries tend to compose roughly 50-60% of total comp, but depending on the specific offer, it’s certainly possible for equity to outweigh base salaries at these higher levels. And at the highest levels, base salaries might not be much more than at these lower levels, with pay instead weighted more toward equity; for L8s, base accounts for about 21% on average.
Cerebras Equity Comp
While equity comp seems to be a relatively small component for lower-level employees, it becomes a significant, if not primary, part of total compensation for higher-level Cerebras staff.
Earlier employees may have received stock options, but for most employees, Cerebras seems to now primarily offer restricted stock units (RSUs), similar to other post-IPO companies. Since the company has gone public, there’s no longer a concern over a liquidity trigger for these RSUs. But Cerebras also offers performance-based RSUs, generally for executives and directors, which have market-based vesting conditions.
That said, Cerebras’ S-1 lays out that its 2026 Incentive Award Plan allows for the use of several types of equity comp, including:
- Nonstatutory stock options (NSOs)
- Incentive stock options (ISOs)
- Restricted stock
- RSUs
- Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs, which are a type of equity comp that essentially gives stock upside exposure without initially granting shares)
- Dividend equivalents (provide dividend rights without requiring underlying stock ownership)
- Other stock or cash-based awards
At lower levels, equity comp might be equivalent to just a few thousand dollars, whereas more senior roles might earn hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more) in equity comp. However, much of the Levels.fyi data is pre-IPO, so it remains to be seen whether Cerebras will shift the methods and amounts of equity pay now that it’s public.
Note that not all employees have the same equity comp agreements, either. So, if you’re a current Cerebras employee or considering a Cerebras job offer, carefully review your paperwork or discuss with HR (or relevant hiring manager) to confirm important information like the equity comp structure and amounts.
Cerebras Equity Vesting Schedule
Vesting schedules may differ for early employees who perhaps have received different forms of equity comp, but currently, Cerebras RSUs largely have a 4-year vesting schedule, with a 1-year cliff.
After that initial cliff, one-quarter of the equity vests, followed by monthly 2.08% vesting (25% a year) for the remaining three years.
Cerebras RSU 4-Year Vesting Schedule
Year | Vesting percentage | Cumulative vesting percentage by year-end |
1 | 25% | 25% |
2 | 2.08% monthly | 50% |
3 | 2.08% monthly | 75% |
4 | 2.08% monthly | 100% |
Source: Levels.fyi, as of 08/12/2026
Cerebras ESPP
In addition to its regular equity awards, Cerebras also offers the opportunity to purchase shares at approximately a 15% discount through its Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), depending on when an employee makes this election during an offering period. The first offering period is expected to end in February 2027, but Cerebras plans on running a series of offerings.
The Cerebras ESPP is meant to be an IRS-qualified plan, which means that the maximum annual value of ESPP purchases can be $25,000.
Cerebras Bonuses
Cash bonuses seem to be relatively rare at Cerebras. Most software engineers, for example, report no bonuses. A couple of recent submissions for L8 software engineers cite $20,000 annual bonuses, but that’s still a tiny fraction of total compensation. That said, it’s not unusual for companies like Cerebras to offer minimal bonuses. Nvidia, for example, similarly seems to offer negligible bonus amounts for software engineers.
Cerebras Benefits and Culture
Cerebras seems to offer mainly roles in Sunnyvale, CA (its headquarters) or Toronto, but it does have some remote positions and has some work-from-home flexibility.
While employee reviews trend positive overall, much of the goodwill apparently relates to the company’s innovative, growth-oriented culture. The work-life balance picture isn’t very positive, though, with several reports of the workplace being a demanding, fast-paced culture. Cerebras CEO Feldman also said on the 20VC podcast last year that it’s “mind-boggling” to think you can build something great working 38 hours a week and having work-life balance, though that referred more to entrepreneurship than rank-and-file employees, necessarily.
In terms of tangible employee benefits, Cerebras’ offerings are relatively modest, especially compared to some larger tech companies that go both deep and wide on employee benefits.
That said, some of the main benefits offered at Cerebras include:
- Medical, dental, vision and life insurance: Some employees report Cerebras fully paying employee health insurance premiums, though that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the case for all plans. In Cerebras’ own words, the company offers “premiere medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.” HSA accounts also seem to be an option at Cerebras, which can provide an additional tax-advantaged way to grow retirement savings.
- 401(k) or RRSP: Cerebras provides access to a 401(k) plan for U.S. employees and a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) in Canada. A past review indicated the company does not offer a 401(k) match, though some more recent job posts indicate there is one. Considering a match can add several thousand per year to your retirement account, it’s likely worth investigating this further before accepting an offer at Cerebras.
- Paid parental leave: Cerebras seemingly offers 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, which doesn’t put it at the top of the tech field, but it’s better than nothing.
- PTO: In the past, Cerebras apparently offered 15 days of PTO, but that has potentially shifted to an unlimited PTO policy. The company states that it offers “generous vacation.” Given some of the negative reports about work-life balance, though, it’s possible that Cerebras isn’t as generous as some other tech companies.
- Free lunch and snacks: In-office employees get free lunch and snacks, which are reportedly high-quality.
Understanding the Financial Implications of Cerebras Compensation
While Cerebras doesn’t pay as much as some competitors or have as comprehensive benefits, it still offers significant compensation in the grand scheme of things, considering the average employee makes well over $200K.
And unlike some other tech and AI-specific companies, Cerebras sits in an interesting middle ground. It’s already gone public, so that removes some liquidity concerns, but it’s only had two reported quarters as a public company and has about one quarter left until its lock-up period fully ends. As such, its valuation arguably has more room for variability — either on an upward or downward trend — than some more established tech companies.
That’s not to say Cerebras’ stock will perform better or worse than others, but those holding Cerebras equity might consider that the company is still in the early stages of being publicly traded, and it has only existed since 2015. So, depending on your perspective, you might see more upside in Cerebras stock vs. more mature companies, or you might see more risk in a potential post-IPO/post lock-up decline.
Before selling any Cerebras stock you might hold, though, or before exercising options, it’s important to understand details such as the tax implications and your concentration risk.
To discuss what holding Cerebras stock means for your financial future or to learn more about how to evaluate Cerebras compensation offers, schedule a complimentary consultation today.
FAQs About Cerebras Compensation
What is the average salary at Cerebras?
The median total compensation at Cerebras is $243,098, according to Levels.fyi, which isn’t quite as much as competitor Nvidia, but it does fall above some other AI chip companies like SambaNova Systems and Intel.
Does Cerebras use RSUs?
Yes, in recent years, Cerebras has been offering RSUs, typically with a four-year vesting schedule. However, Cerebras’ S-1 specifies that its incentive plan allows for the use of several other types of equity comp. But these may be less common for recent and future hires, considering Cerebras is now a publicly traded company.
When does the Cerebras lock-up period end?
Cerebras has staggered its lock-up period into several tranches, including a 15% unlock after Q1 earnings, 16.7% after Q2, and bi-weekly unlocks from mid-August through the end of October, with an expected full expiration by November 2026, following its Q3 earnings.
Does Cerebras pay well?
In the grand scheme of things, yes, Cerebras pays well, considering the median total compensation exceeds $200,000 per year. It’s also publicly traded, so the equity compensation portion of total pay is less theoretical than it might be at some other startups. However, it does not pay as well as Nvidia on average, and it pays less than some big AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and broader tech giants like Meta and Google.
Information in this article is drawn primarily from publicly reported salaries and related data from sources including Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, Blind, and Reddit as of August 2026, as well as Cerebras’ careers page, S-1 filing, and other reported and anecdotal information collected in researching this article.
While efforts have been made to provide accurate data, information presented in this article may not be correct or may be outdated.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not meant to provide formal financial, legal, or employment advice. Formal financial advice should be sought after from a financial advisor, and confirmation of compensation and benefits should be done with Cerebras’ HR team.
