Head-to-head
Figure AI vs Tesla
Pay, ease of entry and the type of work, weighed up for both. The table covers posted pay, the kind of employer, payouts and today's open roles.
Figure AI
TeslaFigure AI vs Tesla: the short answer
, RobotTraining.jobs shows 10 Figure AI jobs open at $30 to $65 an hour typically (median $30), and 177 Tesla jobs open.
Figure AI pays more for typical work ($30-$65/hr typical (median $30, measured live) vs Tesla's $22.72 to $34.50/hr on its US operator postings): on the rates the two job boards state, there is a 70% chance the gap is real.
As two robot labs, they are about equally hard to get into: both are hiring for on-site shift work at the lab, screened for dexterity and reliability rather than a degree.
Both hire for Demonstration Collection; Figure AI also covers Teleoperation; Tesla also covers AV & Drone and Fleet Operations.
Tesla is listing more open roles today: 177 against 10.
Bottom line: getting in is about as hard at either, but Figure AI pays more, so take Figure AI for the rate or Tesla if its work or location suits you better.
| Figure AI | Tesla | |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised pay | $30-$65/hr typical (median $30, measured live) | $22.72 to $34.50/hr on its US operator postings |
| Kind of employer | Robot labs & makers · Humanoid lab | Robot labs & makers · Humanoid and self-driving programs |
| Kinds of work | Teleoperation and Demonstration Collection | Demonstration Collection, AV & Drone, and Fleet Operations |
| How you get paid | Hourly; operator roles are 6-month fixed-term or contract-to-hire positions. The payment schedule is not published. | Hourly, regular Tesla payroll, with cash and stock awards and benefits on US postings. |
| Where you can work | On-site in the US: at Figure's San Jose, California headquarters, where most operator shifts are, and at commercial sites such as Reno, Nevada and Los Angeles. Not a work-from-home role. | On-site. Optimus data collection in California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Nevada, Utah and Arizona; self-driving vehicle operators in many US cities and in countries from South Korea, India and Australia to the UK, Ireland, France and Spain; Robotaxi fleet support in the cities where the service runs. |
| Open roles now | 10 live | 177 live |
| Worth knowing | No independent worker rating verified. | Physically demanding: Optimus postings ask for 7+ hours a day on foot carrying up to 30 lbs; vehicle operators drive 6 to 8 hours a day. |
When an employer's feed has enough roles stating an hourly rate, the pay row shows the band we measure live. Otherwise the figure keeps its own source label (Figure AI: stated by the employer; Tesla: stated by the employer). Our pay method.
Best for operators after the higher advertised rate for hands-on robot work.
10 open roles now →Research: 47 sourced facts about Figure AI · Figure AI hiring data (counted daily)
Best for people who want steady on-site shifts piloting or teaching robots for the company that builds them.
177 open roles now →Research: 52 sourced facts about Tesla · Tesla hiring data (counted daily)
Some links here are referral links: when you join an employer through one, RobotTraining.jobs may receive a commission. It costs you nothing, and the employer pays you exactly the same.
Job alerts
Have new robot training jobs sent to you
Each week we gather the latest paid openings from every employer we follow, with the hourly rate where it is posted, and send them in one email. No cost, and you can stop any time.
Only job openings, nothing else. Unsubscribing takes one click.
Figure AI vs Tesla: common questions
Does Figure AI or Tesla pay more?
Figure AI pays more for typical work ($30-$65/hr typical (median $30, measured live) vs Tesla's $22.72 to $34.50/hr on its US operator postings): on the rates the two job boards state, there is a 70% chance the gap is real.
Which is easier to get into, Figure AI or Tesla?
As two robot labs, they are about equally hard to get into: both are hiring for on-site shift work at the lab, screened for dexterity and reliability rather than a degree.
Can you apply to both Figure AI and Tesla?
Yes. They are independent employers, and applying to one does not affect the other; both hire for Demonstration Collection, so the same experience counts at each. Check each role's location and schedule before you commit to both.
Other matchups
Sorted by what an application to either employer is likely worth to you, with a referral lift for an employer that pays us a referral fee; your pay is never affected.