Tech Remote Salary Comparison June 2026

June 2026 is shaping up to be a great month for remote tech jobs: from Spotify to OpenAI, top companies are opening strategic positions, but almost all are keeping salary ranges secret in their job descriptions.

TL;DR for the impatient:

• Spotify is hiring 2 Machine Learning Product Managers with different levels — Principal likely $180K+, Senior around $140K
• OpenAI needs a ChatGPT Infrastructure Software Engineer — estimated $200K+ but hiring process is brutal
• Supabase offers a Go Software Engineer role — benchmark $100K–$130K with open source exposure
• Vanta is hiring a Senior Product Designer — range $120K–$150K with a focus on security UX
• Only 1 out of 7 listings explicitly mentions equity as a compensation component

Why are big companies hiding salaries in job descriptions?

A trend I've noticed since early 2026: companies like Spotify and OpenAI are deliberately not listing numbers in job descriptions.

The main reasons, according to community discussions:

• Flexibility in negotiation based on location and candidate experience
• Avoid premature anchoring — they want to assess skills first before giving a number
• Competitive secrecy — don't want competitors to know their budgets

But as a candidate, this makes the application process more of a guessing game. You have to research on your own and negotiate from a less-informed position.

How to estimate realistic salaries for these roles?

Based on the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2025 and industry benchmarks, here are my estimates:

These numbers are based on a combination of data points:

• Glassdoor salary reports for those companies
• Levels.fyi for comparable tech companies
• Conversations with recruiters at similar companies

Highest-paying roles: OpenAI vs Spotify

The two most generous companies in terms of compensation are OpenAI for Infrastructure Software Engineer and Spotify for Principal Product Manager.

But don't jump at the big numbers — consider these factors as well:

OpenAI SWE ChatGPT Infrastructure:

• ✅ Comp is likely highest in market ($200K+)
• ✅ Work on cutting-edge AI infrastructure
• ❌ Hiring process extremely selective (<=1% acceptance)
• ❌ On-call rotation intense because production system is critical

Spotify Principal PM ML:

• ✅ Massive impact — directly affect subscription revenue
• ✅ Exposure to machine learning at scale
• ❌ Political complexity — many stakeholders to manage
• ❌ High pressure to deliver growth metrics

If you're in the top 1% of talent and ready for the pressure, both roles are worth applying for. But for most developers, Supabase or Vanta might be more realistic.

Hidden gem: Supabase Software Engineer (Go)

Out of all the listings, the Go Software Engineer role at Supabase might be the most underrated.

The reasons:

• Relevant tech stack: Go, Auth, PostgreSQL — skills that will remain valuable for 5+ years
• Open source exposure — contributions to Supabase used by thousands of developers
• Growth potential — Supabase is growing rapidly as an alternative to Firebase
• Still competitive compensation ($100K–$130K) for their stage

Compare this with the June 2026 tech & AI job trends, demand for Go developers has increased by 34% YoY.

Red flags to watch out for

Even though these companies are well-known, there are still warning signs:

1. Heritage Civil Works Customer Support — description too vague, unclear tech stack or career path
2. Interop Labs Product Marketing — company in the volatile web3 space
3. Multiple roles without compensation clarity — both Spotify and OpenAI are equally opaque in their JDs

I always recommend asking the recruiter directly in the initial call about:

• The compensation range they budget for this role
• Breakdown of base salary vs equity vs bonus
• Special benefits for remote employees

If they avoid answering these questions, that itself is a red flag.

Strategic application based on experience level

For senior engineers (5+ years experience):

• Focus on OpenAI or Spotify Principal PM — high comp but extreme competition
• Prepare for a rigorous interview process with system design and deep technical questions

For mid-level (2–5 years experience):

• Supabase SWE Go or Vanta Designer — better work-life balance and still solid comp
• More realistic chance of getting in with a less intense process

For career changers or juniors:

• Consider the customer support role as an entry point to tech
• Or explore the design vs dev remote comparison for a more suitable option

FAQ

How to negotiate salary when a company doesn't provide a range?

Always ask for the range first — "What's the budgeted range for this role?" If they ask about your expectations, give a range that's slightly above market rate based on your research. Prepare data points from Levels.fyi or the Stack Overflow Survey as supporting evidence.

Is it worth applying to OpenAI from anywhere in the world?

It's worth trying, but manage your expectations. Their hiring process is extremely competitive and usually prefers candidates with experience at top tech companies. But if you have exceptional open source contributions or research background, definitely apply.

Is the equity component important for remote roles?

It depends on the company stage. For early-stage startups like Interop Labs, equity can be a significant portion of comp. For public companies like Spotify, equity is usually more stable but has less upside potential. Always ask about the vesting schedule and liquidation preference.

Out of all the options, the Supabase SWE role seems like the best risk-reward ratio for developers worldwide. Solid tech stack, reasonable comp, and a company with a clear trajectory.

The others are still interesting if you're a top candidate and ready for an intense process. Just be prepared with thorough research and a mature negotiation strategy.