Leaked Microsoft pay data shows how much hundreds of employees report making in AI, cloud, and other teams

As Microsoft approaches its annual review period for pay raises and promotions, a wave of employees has taken to a shared spreadsheet to disclose their compensation details. This document, which has garnered over 850 entries, reveals salaries, bonuses, and stock awards, providing a glimpse into the company's pay structure during a pivotal time for talent acquisition in the AI sector. The urgency for competitive compensation is particularly pronounced as Microsoft seeks to attract elite AI engineers and researchers, especially in light of its record earnings. Reports indicate that the tech giant is actively recruiting talent from Meta, offering multimillion-dollar packages to secure top performers. Additionally, Microsoft has updated its pay guidelines this year to enhance the attractiveness of its offers, as noted in recent internal documents. Despite a significant workforce reduction earlier this year, Microsoft maintains a stance of flat headcount, suggesting ongoing hiring intentions. Analysis of the data from nearly 300 self-reported submissions by U.S. software engineers indicates varying pay ranges and averages by job level and department. A representative from Microsoft opted not to comment on the findings. It's important to note that this data, while valuable for promoting pay transparency, is self-reported and not exhaustive. With a total workforce of 228,000 as of June 30, the 850 responses represent a small fraction of employee compensation insights. Moreover, those at higher salary levels may be less inclined to participate, possibly skewing the data toward lower averages. To ensure accuracy, Business Insider's analysis excluded entries from teams with fewer than three submissions and omitted outliers that could be the result of reporting errors. While stock options play a significant role in tech compensation, base pay remains a critical metric for comparing salaries across different teams. According to the shared data, the average base pay varies across Microsoft groups, often reflecting lower figures compared to the company's official hiring guidelines for new engineering and research roles. For those with insights or tips, the reporter encourages contact through secure channels for confidentiality.