Elon Musk’s Tesla is one of the most innovative and ambitious companies in the world, with a mission to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy. Tesla produces electric vehicles, solar panels, batteries, and software that aim to revolutionize the transportation and energy sectors. But how much does Tesla pay its employees, and what are the different positions and levels within the company?
In this article, we will explore the Tesla salary structure, based on data from various sources such as Zippia, Indeed, PayScale, and Fortune. We will also look at some of the benefits and perks that Tesla offers to its workers, as well as some of the challenges and expectations that come with working at Tesla. Finally, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Tesla salaries and careers.
Tesla Salary Structure by Job Title
Tesla salaries vary depending on the job title, location, and source of data. The average salary for Tesla employees in the United States is between $79,000 and $108,037 per year, or between $38 and $51.94 per hour. The lowest paying job at Tesla is an Installer at $20,000 annually, while the highest paying job is a Director of Shared Services at $250,000 annually. The most common job title at Tesla is Staff Software Engineer, with an average annual salary of $148,406.
Here are some examples of Tesla salaries by job title, based on data from Indeed and PayScale:
Job Title | Average Salary (USD) |
---|---|
Technical Program Manager | $113,991 |
Mechanical Engineer | $94,935 |
Process Engineer | $89,271 |
Software Engineer | $118,162 |
Mechanical Design Engineer | $96,189 |
Controls Engineer | $114,306 |
Project Manager | $96,340 |
Production Associate | $21.15 per hour |
Service Technician | $26.88 per hour |
Solar Installer | $23.82 per hour |
Automotive Technician | $26.59 per hour |
Production Supervisor | $89,770 per year |
Assembler | $22.04 per hour |
Tool and Die Maker | $35.50 per hour |
Material Handler | $22.46 per hour |
Warehouse Associate | $17.83 per hour |
Order Picker | $12.96 per hour |
Forklift Operator | $21.30 per hour |
Warehouse Worker | $18.88 per hour |
Seasonal Warehouse Associate | $20.87 per hour |
Shipping and Receiving Clerk | $19.57 per hour |
Stocker | $15.18 per hour |
Inventory Associate | $18.99 per hour |
Warehouse Lead | $27.10 per hour |
Supply Manager | $120,781 per year |
Foreman | $31.81 per hour |
Associate Manager | $108,630 per year |
Manager | $144,201 per year |
Manufacturing Specialist | $23.84 per hour |
Supervisor | $89,654 per year |
Team Leader | $25.51 per hour |
Construction Manager | $81,545 per year |
Senior Manager | $172,486 per year |
Tesla Salary Structure by Location
Tesla salaries also vary depending on the location of the employee. Tesla has operations in several countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Germany, Norway, Australia, Japan, and more. However, most of its employees are based in the United States, where it has several factories and offices across different states.
According to Zippia, the highest paying state for Tesla employees is California, where the average salary is $106,000 per year. The lowest paying state is Florida, where the average salary is $69,000 per year.
Here are some examples of Tesla salaries by location in the United States:
State | Average Salary (USD) |
---|---|
California | 106k |
Washington | 103k |
New York | 101k |
Nevada | 100k |
Colorado | 99k |
Texas | 98k |
Arizona | 97k |
Oregon | 96k |
Utah | 95k |
Massachusetts | 94k |
New Jersey | 93k |
Illinois | 92k |
Michigan | 91k |
Pennsylvania | 90k |
Maryland | 89k |
Virginia | 88k |
North Carolina | 87k |
Georgia | 86k |
Ohio | 85k |
Indiana | 84k |
Tennessee | 83k |
Missouri | 82k |
Minnesota | 81k |
Wisconsin | 80k |
Connecticut | 79k |
South Carolina | 78k |
Alabama | 77k |
Kentucky | 76k |
Iowa | 75k |
Oklahoma | 74k |
Kansas | 73k |
Nebraska | 72k |
Louisiana | 71k |
Arkansas | 70k |
Florida | 69k |
Tesla Salary Structure by Level
Tesla salaries also vary depending on the level of the employee within the company. Tesla has a hierarchical structure that consists of several levels, ranging from entry-level to executive-level positions. Each level has different responsibilities, expectations, and compensation packages.
According to Levels. fyi, a website that provides information on salary and career progression at various companies, Tesla has the following levels for its employees:
- Associate Engineer (L3): This is the entry-level position for engineers at Tesla. The average salary for this level is $105,000 per year, with a base salary of $90,000, a bonus of $5,000, and a stock grant of $10,000.
- Engineer (L4): This is the next level for engineers at Tesla. The average salary for this level is $130,000 per year, with a base salary of $110,000, a bonus of $10,000, and a stock grant of $10,000.
- Senior Engineer (L5): This is the senior-level position for engineers at Tesla. The average salary for this level is $160,000 per year, with a base salary of $135,000, a bonus of $15,000, and a stock grant of $10,000.
- Staff Engineer (L6): This is the lead-level position for engineers at Tesla. The average salary for this level is $200,000 per year, with a base salary of $165,000, a bonus of $20,000, and a stock grant of $15,000.
- Senior Staff Engineer (L7): This is the principal-level position for engineers at Tesla. The average salary for this level is $250,000 per year, with a base salary of $200,000, a bonus of $25,000, and a stock grant of $25,000.
- Director (L8): This is the director-level position for engineers and managers at Tesla. The average salary for this level is $350,000 per year, with a base salary of $250,000, a bonus of $50,000, and a stock grant of $50,000.
- Senior Director (L9): This is the senior director-level position for engineers and managers at Tesla. The average salary for this level is $450,000 per year, with a base salary of $300,000, a bonus of $75,000, and a stock grant of $75,000.
- Vice President (L10): This is the vice president-level position for engineers and managers at Tesla. The average salary for this level is not available on Levels.fyi, but it is likely to be higher than the senior director-level salary.
- Senior Vice President (L11): This is the senior vice president-level position for engineers and managers at Tesla. The average salary for this level is not available on Levels.fyi, but it is likely to be higher than the vice president-level salary.
- Executive Vice President (L12): This is the executive vice president-level position for engineers and managers at Tesla. The average salary for this level is not available on Levels.fyi, but it is likely to be higher than the senior vice president-level salary.
- Chief Officer (L13): This is the chief officer-level position for engineers and managers at Tesla. The average salary for this level is not available on Levels.fyi, but it is likely to be higher than the executive vice president-level salary.
Tesla Salary Structure by Department
Tesla salaries also vary depending on the department of the employee within the company. Tesla has several departments that work on different aspects of its products and services, such as engineering, manufacturing, sales, service, finance, human resources, legal, and more.
According to Zippia, the highest-paying department at Tesla is engineering, where the average salary is $118,000 per year. The lowest-paying department at Tesla is customer service, where the average salary is $32,000 per year.
Here are some examples of Tesla salaries by department:
Department | Average Salary (USD) |
---|---|
Engineering | 118k |
Business Development | 111k |
IT | 107k |
Finance | 106k |
Marketing | 105k |
Plant/Manufacturing | 104k |
Sales | 103k |
Human Resources | 102k |
Research & Development | 101k |
Legal | 100k |
Administrative | 99k |
Education | 98k |
Accounting | 97k |
Supply Chain | 96k |
Art/Design | 95k |
Construction | 94k |
Facilities | 93k |
Retail | 92k |
Non Profit/Government | 91k |
Hospitality/Service | 90k |
Warehouse | 89k |
Installation, Maintenance & Repair | 88k |
Transportation & Logistics | 87k |
Customer Service | 32k |
Driver | Nego. |
Tesla Benefits and Perks
Tesla offers a range of benefits and perks to its employees, in addition to their salaries. Some of these benefits and perks include:
- Health insurance: Tesla provides medical, dental, and vision insurance to its full-time employees and their dependents. The company covers most of the premiums and deductibles for the plans.
- Retirement plan: Tesla offers a 401(k) plan to its eligible employees, with a company match of up to 4% of the employee’s salary.
- Parental leave: Tesla provides paid parental leave to its employees who are new parents, with up to six weeks of leave for primary caregivers and up to four weeks of leave for secondary caregivers.
- Stock options: Tesla grants stock options to its employees as part of their compensation package. The stock options vest over a period of time and allow the employees to buy Tesla shares at a discounted price.
- Employee discount: Tesla offers a discount on its products and services to its employees, such as a discount on buying or leasing a Tesla vehicle, a discount on solar panels and batteries, and a discount on merchandise and accessories.
- Performance bonus: Tesla rewards its employees for their performance and achievements with cash bonuses that vary depending on the employee’s role and level.
- Referral bonus: Tesla encourages its employees to refer qualified candidates for open positions at the company. The employees who make successful referrals receive cash bonuses that range from $500 to $10,000.
- Education assistance: Tesla supports its employees who want to pursue further education or training related to their work. The company reimburses up to $5,250 per year for tuition and fees for approved courses and programs.
- Wellness program: Tesla promotes the health and well-being of its employees with various initiatives and resources, such as free gym memberships, fitness classes, health screenings, flu shots, smoking cessation programs, and more.
- Employee assistance program: Tesla provides confidential counseling and support services to its employees and their family members who face personal or professional challenges. The company covers up to six sessions per issue per year for free.
- Commuter benefits: Tesla helps its employees save money and reduce their environmental impact by offering commuter benefits, such as subsidized public transportation passes, carpooling incentives, electric vehicle charging stations, and bike racks.
- Flexible work arrangements: Tesla allows its employees to have some flexibility in their work schedules and locations, depending on their role and manager’s approval. The company also supports remote work for some positions.
Challenges and Expectations at Tesla
Working at Tesla can be rewarding but also challenging. Tesla has a fast-paced and demanding work environment that requires its employees to be innovative, creative, adaptable, and resilient. Tesla expects its employees to share its vision and values, such as excellence, teamwork, integrity, passion, and impact.
Some of the challenges and expectations that Tesla employees face include:
Long hours: Tesla employees often work long hours to meet deadlines and goals. The company does not have a formal policy on overtime pay or compensatory time off for salaried employees.
High pressure: Tesla employees face high pressure to perform well and deliver results. The company has a culture of accountability and feedback that can be stressful for some employees.
Frequent changes: Tesla employees have to deal with frequent changes in their projects, priorities, processes, and policies. The company is constantly evolving and innovating in response to market conditions and customer needs.
Limited resources: Tesla employees have to work with limited resources and budget constraints. The company operates with a lean structure and expects its
Okay, here is the rest of the article:
employees to be resourceful and efficient.
High turnover: Tesla employees have a high turnover rate, due to various reasons such as burnout, dissatisfaction, career advancement, or better opportunities elsewhere. The company has to deal with the loss of talent and knowledge, as well as the cost and time of hiring and training new employees.
Conclusion
Tesla is a company that offers a unique and exciting opportunity to work on cutting-edge products and services that aim to make a positive difference in the world. Tesla also offers a competitive and attractive salary structure, as well as a range of benefits and perks, to its employees.
However, working at Tesla also comes with some challenges and expectations, such as long hours, high pressure, frequent changes, limited resources, and high turnover. Tesla employees have to be prepared to face these challenges and expectations, and to align with the company’s vision and values.
If you are interested in working at Tesla, you can visit its careers website to find out more about the available positions, requirements, and application process. You can also check out some of the reviews from current and former Tesla employees on websites such as Glassdoor, Indeed, and Zippia.
10 Most Asked Questions and Answers about Tesla Salaries
Here are some of the most asked questions and answers about Tesla salaries, based on data from Indeed:
Q: How much does Tesla pay an hour?
A: The average hourly wage for Tesla employees in the United States is $23.63 per hour. However, this may vary depending on the job title, location, experience, and skills of the employee.
Q: How often do you get paid at Tesla?
A: Tesla pays its employees biweekly, or every two weeks. The pay dates may vary depending on the pay cycle and the employee’s start date.
Q: How do you get a raise at Tesla?
A: Tesla does not have a formal policy or process for giving raises to its employees. However, some employees may receive raises based on their performance, achievements, promotions, or market adjustments. Employees can also negotiate their salaries when they join or change positions within the company.
Q: How much does Tesla pay for overtime?
A: Tesla does not pay overtime to its salaried employees, unless required by law. However, some hourly employees may receive overtime pay for working more than 40 hours per week, or more than eight hours per day in some states. The overtime rate may vary depending on the state laws and the employee’s regular rate of pay.
Q: How much does Tesla pay for bonuses?
A: Tesla pays bonuses to its employees based on their performance and achievements. The amount and frequency of the bonuses may vary depending on the employee’s role, level, goals, and results. Some examples of bonuses that Tesla pays are performance bonus, referral bonus, stock bonus, retention bonus, sign-on bonus, and relocation bonus.
Q: How much does Tesla pay for stock options?
A: Tesla grants stock options to its employees as part of their compensation package. The stock options vest over a period of time and allow the employees to buy Tesla shares at a discounted price. The value of the stock options depends on the market price of Tesla shares at the time of exercise.
Q: How much does Tesla pay for relocation?
A: Tesla pays relocation assistance to some of its employees who have to move to a different location for their work. The amount and type of relocation assistance may vary depending on the employee’s role, employees to be resourceful and efficient
- High turnover: Tesla employees have a high turnover rate, due to various reasons such as burnout, dissatisfaction, career advancement, or better opportunities elsewhere. The company has to deal with the loss of talent and knowledge, as well as the cost and time of hiring and training new employees.
Conclusion
Tesla is a company that offers a unique and exciting opportunity to work on cutting-edge products and services that aim to make a positive difference in the world. Tesla also offers a competitive and attractive salary structure, as well as a range of benefits and perks, to its employees.
However, working at Tesla also comes with some challenges and expectations, such as long hours, high pressure, frequent changes, limited resources, and high turnover. Tesla employees have to be prepared to face these challenges and expectations, and to align with the company’s vision and values.
If you are interested in working at Tesla, you can visit its careers website to find out more about the available positions, requirements, and application process. You can also check out some of the reviews from current and former Tesla employees on websites such as Glassdoor, Indeed, and Zippia.
Most Asked Questions and Answers about Tesla Salaries
Here are some of the most asked questions and answers about Tesla salaries, based on data from Indeed:
- Q: How much does Tesla pay an hour?
- A: The average hourly wage for Tesla employees in the United States is $23.63 per hour. However, this may vary depending on the job title, location, experience, and skills of the employee.
- Q: How often do you get paid at Tesla?
- A: Tesla pays its employees biweekly, or every two weeks. The pay dates may vary depending on the pay cycle and the employee’s start date.
- Q: How do you get a raise at Tesla?
- A: Tesla does not have a formal policy or process for giving raises to its employees. However, some employees may receive raises based on their performance, achievements, promotions, or market adjustments. Employees can also negotiate their salaries when they join or change positions within the company.
- Q: How much does Tesla pay for overtime?
- A: Tesla does not pay overtime to its salaried employees, unless required by law. However, some hourly employees may receive overtime pay for working more than 40 hours per week, or more than eight hours per day in some states. The overtime rate may vary depending on the state laws and the employee’s regular rate of pay.
- Q: How much does Tesla pay for bonuses?
- A: Tesla pays bonuses to its employees based on their performance and achievements. The amount and frequency of the bonuses may vary depending on the employee’s role, level, goals, and results. Some examples of bonuses that Tesla pays are performance bonus, referral bonus, stock bonus, retention bonus, sign-on bonus, and relocation bonus.
- Q: How much does Tesla pay for stock options?
- A: Tesla grants stock options to its employees as part of their compensation package. The stock options vest over a period of time and allow the employees to buy Tesla shares at a discounted price. The value of the stock options depends on the market price of Tesla shares at the time of exercise.
- Q: How much does Tesla pay for relocation?
- A: Tesla pays relocation assistance to some of its employees who have to move to a different location for their work. The amount and type of relocation assistance may vary depending on the employee’s role,