July 2026 data
Perception startup salary data
As of July 2026, the median Perception salary at startups is $160k across 2 verified Hacker News “Who is Hiring” listings.
Based on 2 verified Perception listings from Hacker News “Who is Hiring”. Sample size is shown so you know how much weight to give the number.
Market Signal (August 2026)
Top Hirers: Waymo leads hiring for Perception roles with 1 active posts, followed by 9 Mothers.
🌍 Location & Remote Dynamics
SF Centric: Perception roles are concentrated in the SF Bay Area (50% of listings), often paying a location premium.
💡 Tech Stack Context
Common Stack: 50% of Perception jobs also require Prediction, and 50% mention Planning.
💰 Compensation Analysis
The median base salary for Perception developers is $160,000, with top-tier roles (P75) reaching $170,000.
Perception jobs
| COMPANY | ROLE | SALARY | VIBE | STACK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waymo | Multiple roles (Software Engineer, ML Engineer) | USD 170,000 - USD 421,000 |
@HR stable
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| 9 Mothers | Software Engineer / Robotics Engineer / EE Engineer / Perception Engineer | USD 150,000 - USD 400,000 |
[F] CRUNCH
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