Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Microsoft Employee Data Reveals AI and Cloud Compensation
Microsoft employees shared information about how much they are paid.
The information includes regular pay, raises, bonuses and company stock.
Almost 600 employees contributed to the spreadsheet.
Workers in Microsoft’s AI and cloud businesses can receive especially large stock awards.
Some reported stock awards were worth as much as $1.4 million.
Higher-level employees generally reported higher salaries and bonuses.
Raises were usually smaller than bonuses or stock awards.
The spreadsheet is not an official Microsoft pay database because employees shared the information voluntarily and anonymously.
The disclosures came while Microsoft was investing in AI and restructuring its workforce.
An anonymous spreadsheet submitted by almost 600 Microsoft employees details salaries, raises, bonuses and stock awards.
Reported base salaries range from $111,000 to $450,000 in Microsoft’s Cloud + AI organization.
Cloud + AI stock awards reportedly range from $9,000 to $1.4 million, while cash bonuses reach $300,000.
Companywide reported base pay rises from $111,000–$134,000 at level 59 to $239,100–$280,000 at level 67.
The data is voluntary and unofficial, covering only a small portion of Microsoft’s workforce amid AI investment and job cuts.
- Who
- Almost 600 Microsoft employees contributed compensation information; the figures cover workers in areas including Cloud + AI, Azure and Microsoft AI.
- What
- An employee-shared spreadsheet reported Microsoft salaries, raises, cash bonuses and stock awards.
- When
- The disclosures were reported as Microsoft continued its AI investment and after it cut thousands of jobs in July of the referenced year.
- Where
- Within Microsoft’s operations, including its Cloud + AI, Azure and Microsoft AI divisions.
- Why
- The data provides a look at compensation for technical talent as Microsoft competes for AI and cloud workers.
- Data source
- An internal spreadsheet with compensation details voluntarily and anonymously submitted by almost 600 Microsoft employees.
- Cloud + AI base pay
- Reported salaries ranged from $111,000 to $450,000.
- Cloud + AI stock awards
- Reported awards ranged from $9,000 to $1.4 million.
- Cloud + AI cash bonuses
- Reported bonuses reached $300,000.
- Level 59 base pay
- Reported base salaries ranged from $111,000 to $134,000.
- Level 67 base pay
- Reported base salaries ranged from $239,100 to $280,000.
- Data limitation
- The spreadsheet is unofficial and represents only a small portion of Microsoft’s workforce.