Nvidia’s shift toward artificial intelligence in the late 2010s has led to tremendous growth in demand for its products and services. As such, the tech giant — which is the largest publicly traded company by market capitalization — has had to significantly increase its workforce across the board, from research and development to sales and marketing.  

Here’s what Nvidia’s workforce looks like in 2026.

How many employees does Nvidia have?

Nvidia reported about 42,000 employees in the U.S. and 37 other countries at the end of its fiscal 2026. That’s up more than fourfold from a decade ago, when the tech giant had 9,227 full-time employees in fiscal 2016.

Related: Nvidia’s headquarters: An ode to space and 3D rendering

Which department at Nvidia has the most employees?

As of 2026, Nvidia had 31,000 employees in research and development, accounting for almost 74% of its total workforce, and many of those employees work in engineering.

That’s up significantly from 2016, when it had 6,566 employees in that area, due in part to the company’s major shift toward artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, support staff also increased to keep up with the growth in R&D.

There were 11,000 in sales, marketing, operations, and administrative positions in 2026, compared to 2,661 in 2016.

What is Nvidia’s revenue per employee?

Nvidia posted $215.9 billion in revenue in its fiscal 2026 ended Jan. 25. Based on 42,000 employees, that put its revenue per employee at $5.1 million.

By comparison, Apple — the second-largest publicly traded company by market value — generated $2.5 million in revenue per employee based on its 2025 data. 

Who are the highest and lowest-paid employees at Nvidia?

Nvidia’s highest-paid employees work in the company’s executive ranks. According to 2025 data, CEO Jensen Huang had a base salary of $1.5 million, but cash and stock awards boosted his total compensation to $49.86 million.

Among its executive vice presidents, Ajay Puri, who is in charge of worldwide field operations, had the highest salary — at almost $950,000 — and also the largest compensation, at $21.59 million.

According to its careers page, as of March 2026, annual salaries for engineers based at Nvidia’s headquarters in Santa Clara, California, typically range from $200,000 to more than $400,000, depending on experience. By comparison, the pay range for executive assistants — categorized in the administration department — was listed at $104,000 to $166,750.

Still, cash and performance-based stock compensation would likely increase total compensation. Those who worked in research and development saw their pay packages increase in fiscal 2026.

Nvidia’s expenses for compensation and benefits — including stock-based compensation, reflecting employee growth and compensation increases — rose by 29%.

More on Nvidia:

• Nvidia’s headquarters: An ode to space and 3D rendering
• History of Nvidia: Company timeline and facts
• Jensen Huang’s net worth: The Nvidia CEO’s wealth & income

Nvidia’s CEO pay ratio

NVIDIA’s CEO pay ratio, which compares the CEO’s compensation to that of the median employee, is 166 to 1 (based on Huang’s $49.86 million in fiscal 2025). That indicates the median compensation for employees was $300,000.

By comparison, Apple’s CEO pay ratio was wider, at 533 to 1, partly due to Apple having more employees in fiscal 2025.

Where do most of Nvidia’s employees work?

The bulk of Nvidia’s employees work at its Santa Clara offices. The two buildings that make up its headquarters can collectively house more than 5,500 employees. Still, thousands more work elsewhere in Santa Clara and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.