Microsoft employees have shared compensation figures that offer a rare look at how much workers across the technology giant can earn, with some packages reaching well into seven figures once stock awards are included.
The data comes from an internal spreadsheet containing compensation details voluntarily submitted by almost 600 employees. It covers base salaries, annual raises, cash bonuses and equity awards across several parts of Microsoft.
The figures are particularly striking in its AI and cloud operations, where reported stock awards reach as much as £1.04 million ($1.4 million), while base salaries can reach roughly £333,000 ($450,000).
The disclosures come as Microsoft continues investing heavily in AI and cloud while competing for experienced engineers and researchers with Google, Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic and smaller AI firms. The figures also show why salary alone does not tell the full story about what some Microsoft workers can earn.
Pay Can Vary Sharply by Role and Division
The employee-submitted figures show substantial differences between job levels. At level 59, reported base pay ranges from £82,000 to £99,000 ($111K–$134K), with raises of 0%–2.4%, cash bonuses reaching £13,000 ($17.9K) and stock awards reaching £7,400 ($10K).
At level 60, base pay ranges from £85,000 to £115,000 ($115K–$155.5K), with raises of 0.8%–2.5%, bonuses of £7,400–£18,500 ($10K–$25K) and stock awards of £7,400–£18,500 ($10K–$25K).
Level 61 reports range from £84,000 to £131,000 ($113K–$177K) in base pay, with raises of 0.6%–2.5%, bonuses of up to £22,000 ($30K) and stock awards reaching £26,600 ($36K).
At level 62, salaries range from £74,000 to £143,000 ($100.2K–$192.8K), while bonuses reach £57,700 ($78K) and stock awards reach £100,000 ($135K).
Level 63 employees reported base pay of £101,000 to £162,000 ($136.4K–$218K), with raises of 0%–2.9%, bonuses of up to £32,500 ($43.9K) and stock awards of up to £47,400 ($64K).
At level 64, reported salaries range from £104,000 to £181,000 ($140K–$245K), with raises of up to 5%, bonuses reaching £44,400 ($60K) and stock awards up to £59,200 ($80K).
At level 65, base pay ranges from £125,000 to £196,000 ($169K–$263.9K), with bonuses of up to £73,800 ($99.6K) and stock awards reaching £96,200 ($130K).
The highest reported levels show how much compensation can rise. Level 66 employees reported base pay of £148,000 to £202,000 ($200K–$272K), bonuses of £20,000–£51,000 ($27K–$69K) and stock awards between £66,600 and £148,000 ($90K–$200K).
At level 67, base pay ranges from £178,000 to £208,000 ($239.1K–$280K), with bonuses reaching £81,400 ($110K) and stock awards up to £222,000 ($300K).
Stock Awards Can Change the Picture
The organisational figures show even wider differences. In Azure, reported base pay ranges from £91,000 to £187,000 ($123K–$252K), while bonuses reach £77,700 ($105K) and stock awards reach £218,000 ($294K).
Cloud + AI has the widest reported range, with base salaries from £82,000 to £333,000 ($111K–$450K), cash bonuses reaching £222,000 ($300K) and stock awards ranging from £6,700 to £1.04 million ($9K–$1.4M).
Experiences and Devices employees reported base pay of £85,000 to £188,000 ($115K–$253.1K), with stock awards reaching £218,000 ($294K). Microsoft AI reported salaries from £99,000 to £172,000 ($134K–$232K) and stock awards of up to £104,000 ($140K).
Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions reported base pay reaching £180,000 ($242K), while Security employees reported salaries as high as £172,000 ($232K). Xbox employees reported base pay reaching £162,000 ($218K), with stock awards topping out at £48,000 ($65K).
The data shows why looking only at salary can give an incomplete picture of Microsoft's compensation structure. Equity can make up a large portion of an employee's overall package, particularly for higher-level positions and specialised areas.
The reported raises are generally much smaller than potential bonuses and stock awards. Level 67 employees, for example, reported annual increases of 0.5%–1%, compared with bonuses of up to £81,400 ($110K) and stock awards of up to £222,000 ($300K).
The spreadsheet should not be viewed as Microsoft's official salary database. The information was submitted voluntarily and anonymously by employees, and the sample represents only a small portion of Microsoft's workforce.
The disclosures also come as Microsoft continues investing heavily in AI while restructuring its workforce. The company cut thousands of jobs in July, even as it remained focused on its AI and cloud businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the highest reported stock award for Microsoft employees?The highest reported stock award for Microsoft employees is £1.04 million ($1.4 million) in the AI and cloud operations.
- How does compensation vary by role and division at Microsoft?Compensation varies significantly by role and division, with base salaries, bonuses, and stock awards differing across levels and departments.
- Why should salary not be the only factor considered in Microsoft's compensation structure?Salary should not be the only factor considered because equity and bonuses can make up a large portion of an employee's overall compensation package.
