Just accepted a new grad SWE offer from Tesla for summer 2026 start. Wanted to share since I couldn't find much current data when I was searching.
My offer: $115k base, Austin TX. No signing bonus. RSUs were $80k over 4 years (25% cliff at year 1, then monthly vesting). Total comp year 1 with the cliff at 25% would be around $135k if stock stays roughly flat. No RSU refresh policy they'd commit to in writing.
For context I had a competing offer from a smaller EV startup at $128k base but way fewer RSUs. Tesla recruiter said the base was firm but they did move the RSU grant up to $80k from an initial $60k when I showed them the competing offer.
A few things to know if you're coming in at entry level: The equity vesting cliff at 12 months is standard for Tesla. Don't expect a cash signing bonus to offset it. Austin offers seem to consistently come in lower than Palo Alto. I've seen Palo Alto new grad SWE offers around $125k base from classmates. They do have a new grad rotation program in some orgs but it's not universal. Worth asking the recruiter specifically. ESPP exists but the discount is 5%, which is lower than a lot of companies.
I looked at a bunch of levels.fyi data before negotiating. For Tesla new grad SWE in 2026 Austin, the range seems to be $110-125k base. New grad PMs I've heard of are coming in around $110-118k base in Austin with similar RSU structures.
Overall I'm happy with it. The mission still pulls people in despite the company politics stuff. Happy to answer questions about the interview process or the offer timeline.