The annual compensation for leading research scientists in the realm of artificial intelligence has surpassed the $10 million threshold, with a typical salary range now spanning from $3 million to $7 million. This marks an approximate 50% increase from 2022 levels. Notably, Meta offers salaries ranging from $186,000 to $3.2 million, whereas OpenAI's range is between $212,000 and $2.5 million, with OpenAI's median salary slightly edging ahead. For mid-to-senior research scientists at major tech firms, the estimated total compensation falls between $500,000 and $2 million, also surpassing 2022 figures. In stark contrast, the annual salaries of senior software engineers without AI expertise remain relatively steady, hovering between roughly $180,000 and $220,000. Amidst the burgeoning computing power, elite AI talent has emerged as a pivotal bottleneck in industry progression, with signing bonuses now comparable to those of professional athletes.