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Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) employees leak compensation details through an anonymous spreadsheet as the company battles Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) for artificial intelligence talent with multi-million dollar offers.
More than 850 Microsoft employees have voluntarily shared salary, bonus and stock compensation data in an anonymous spreadsheet reviewed by Business Insider. The self-reported entries provide insight into pay structures as the tech giant competes aggressively for AI engineering talent.
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Business Insider analyzed nearly 300 submissions from U.S.-based software engineers, revealing base salaries ranging from $111,000 to $340,000 depending on experience level and division. The data represents a small sample of Microsoft’s 228,000 global workforce as of June 30.
Cloud + AI division leads average base pay at $204,135, followed by Commerce + Ecosystems at $191,597. The premium reflects Microsoft’s strategic focus on artificial intelligence capabilities, driving record earnings growth.
Stock awards vary significantly by level, with senior engineers (Level 67) receiving $145,000-$252,000 in equity compensation. Cash bonuses range from 8-140% of base salary across different organizational levels.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.
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Microsoft has implemented new pay guidelines with competitive carve-outs to counter Meta’s aggressive recruitment efforts. The Redmond-based company is pursuing Meta’s AI researchers with multi-million dollar compensation packages, according to BI, which cited internal documents.
Meta recently implemented a hiring freeze in its AI division after offering compensation packages reportedly reaching $100 million to recruit over 50 researchers from competitors, including Microsoft, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).
Microsoft maintains flat headcount guidance while cutting thousands of positions, indicating continued selective hiring in strategic areas, according to BI. The company’s focus on AI talent acquisition supports its competitive positioning against Meta’s “Superintelligence Efforts” and broader industry transformation.
