Currently, X has 2,840 employees, which marks a nearly 20% increase compared to last year, though it’s still down by 63.6% from the numbers before the mass layoffs. About 80% of the workforce was let go, which sparked concerns, particularly about the effects on women and older employees.
Despite these challenges, X continues to perform strongly in the tech industry, with employees earning an average annual salary of $122,000, along with an additional $16,000 in bonuses.
Since Elon Musk took over Twitter and rebranded it as X in late 2022, the company has undergone significant changes, especially within its workforce.
This report offers a detailed look at X’s current employee numbers, salaries, the impact of the layoffs, and more.
X/Twitter Employee Count: Key Highlights
- X (formerly Twitter) currently has 2,840 employees working.
- The average annual salary for an employee at X is $122,000, along with a bonus of $16,000.
- After Elon Musk’s acquisition, nearly 80% of X’s workforce was laid off.
- 63% of the women were laid off, compared to 48% of the men.
- 60% of the employees who were let go were 50 or older.
How Many Employees Does Twitter Have?
As of now, X/ Twitter has 2,840 employees.
This marks a 19.8% increase compared to 2023. However, it’s significantly lower—down by 63.6%—than the workforce size before Elon Musk’s major layoffs in late 2022.
After Musk’s acquisition in late 2022, nearly 80% of X’s employees were laid off, reducing the workforce to just 1,560. However, the company’s hiring trend picked up in 2023 and 2024, with the employee count rising to 2,370 in 2023 and reaching 2,840 by the end of 2024.
The following table displays the number of Twitter Employees By year:
Year | Number of Employees | Increase/ Decrease In Employee Count | Percentage Increase/ Decrease |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | 2,840 | 470 | 19.8% |
2023 | 2,370 | 810 | 51.9% |
2022 (Post-Layoffs) | 1,560 | — 5,930 | – 79.2% |
2021 | 7,490 | 1,810 | 31.9% |
2020 | 5,680 | 740 | 15.0% |
2019 | 4,940 | 1,020 | 26.0% |
2018 | 3,920 | 550 | 16.3% |
2017 | 3,370 | – 210 | – 5.9% |
2016 | 3,580 | – 320 | – 8.2% |
2015 | 3,900 | 260 | 7.1% |
2014 | 3,640 | 930 | 34.3% |
2013 | 2,710 | 2,360 | 674.3% |
2011 | 350 | 220 | 169.2% |
2010 | 130 | 101 | 348.3% |
2009 | 29 | 21 | 262.5% |
2008 | 8 | – | – |
Source: SEO.AI
Did you know? Twitter has 611 million monthly active users.
X (Twitter) Employees Salary
According to Payscale, the average annual salary for an employee at X (formerly Twitter) is $122,000. On top of that, employees typically receive an average bonus of $16,000.
For specific roles, a software engineer at X can expect to earn between $78,000 and $143,000 annually, with the average salary falling around $107,595.
Meanwhile, a software developer at X earns an estimated average salary of $96,917.
The following table displays the estimated salary of X (Twitter) employees by job title:
Job Title | Estimated Range | Average Salary |
---|---|---|
Software Engineer | $78k – $143k | $107,595 |
Software Developer | $63k – $145 | $96,917 |
Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) | $104k – $193k | $148,775 |
Machine Learning Engineer | $87k – $172k | $126,961 |
Operations Manager | $41k – $120k | $70,693 |
Account Executive | $35k – $60k | $46,823 |
Software Engineering Manager | $129k – $203k | $167,786 |
Senior UX Designer | $106k – $172k | $134,942 |
Senior Tax Manager | $142k – $215k | $175,724 |
Senior Software Engineer | $112k – $204k | $156,335 |
Source: Payscale
Why Did Musk Fire 80% Of X (Twitter) Employees?
Following Elon Musk’s acquisition of X (formerly Twitter), the company underwent significant reforms aimed at addressing a $3 billion negative cash flow. As part of these cost-cutting measures, Musk implemented massive layoffs, reducing the workforce by nearly 80%, which amounted to approximately 6,000 employees.
The massive layoffs faced widespread criticism, raising concerns about the platform’s future and drawing empathy for the thousands of employees who abruptly lost their jobs.
In response to the backlash, Musk defended the decision, stating that many roles were redundant and added limited value to the organization. He stressed the importance of building a high-performance culture where the remaining team would be expected to work long hours and deliver exceptional results.
Source: Get Aura
Where Are X (Twitter) Employees Now After the Layoffs?
Following the layoffs at X (formerly Twitter), 16% of the affected employees transitioned to roles at TikTok.
Similarly, 13% joined Reddit, while 12% found opportunities at Google.
In addition to these companies, a notable portion of the laid-off workforce secured positions at Meta, Spotify, Snap, and Pinterest.
Others transitioned to roles at Uber, Netflix, and Apple, reflecting the broad appeal of Twitter employees across the tech industry.
Here is a table displaying the companies joined by employees laid off by X (Twitter):
Company Joined After Layoff | Share Of Laid-off X (Twitter) Employees |
---|---|
TikTok | 16% |
13% | |
12% | |
Meta | 11% |
Spotify | 10% |
Snap | 9% |
9% | |
Uber | 7% |
Netflix | 7% |
Apple | 6% |
Source: Get Aura
X (Twitter) Employee Demographics
X (Twitter) has not yet shared the most recent demographic data about its employees. However, let’s take a look at some of the available data from both before and after the acquisition as well as of layoffs.
X (Twitter) Employee Gender Demographics
Before the layoffs, X’s workforce was made up of 56.1% male employees and 43.9% female employees.
However, recent data shows that the layoffs disproportionately affected women, with 57% of female employees being let go compared to 47% of male employees.
This gender gap was particularly evident in engineering roles, where 63% of women lost their jobs, compared to 48% of men in similar positions.
Source: Zippia, SHRM
X (Twitter) Employee Age Demographics
Before the layoffs, the majority (58%) of X’s workforce consisted of employees aged 20 to 30, with a notable portion of the staff being over 50 years old.
During the layoffs, however, it was reported that 150 older employees were let go.
According to a lawsuit filed by a former employee, 60% of those laid off were aged 50 or older. Additionally, nearly three-quarters of employees over 60 were affected, compared to 54% of employees under the age of 50.
This raised concerns about the disproportionate impact of the layoffs on older workers.
Source: Reuters, The Register.
Distribution Of Ex-X (Twitter) Employees By Region
The majority of X (Twitter)’s laid-off employees, about 74%, remain in North America.
This highlights the platform’s strong presence in the U.S. and Canada.
Meanwhile, 14% of former employees are now based across Europe and Africa, reflecting X (Twitter)’s global reach. Additionally, 11% of the laid-off workforce is currently located in Asia.
Source: Get Aura.
What Is The Average Length Of Employment At X (Twitter)?
41% of the employees at X (Twitter) leave within a year of employment.
On the flip side, 21% stick around for an average of 1 to 2 years. Interestingly, only a small group—just 8%—remains at the company for 11 years or longer.
Here is a table displaying the average length of employment of X (Twitter) employees:
Average Length Of Employment | Percentages Of Employees |
---|---|
Less than one year | 41% |
1-2 years | 21% |
3-4 years | 5% |
5-7 years | 16% |
8-10 years | 9% |
11+ years | 8% |
Source: Zippia
Conclusion: X (Twitter) Employs 2,840 Individuals
According to the latest data, 2,840 employees work at Twitter, marking a 19.8% increase from 2,370 employees recorded in 2023.
Besides, in terms of compensation, the average annual salary at X is $122,000, with an additional average bonus of $16,000.
Despite the reduction of Twitter’s workforce by 80% in late 2022, the company is still doing well, and in the past two years, the number of employees has also slightly increased