Microsoft salaries by job title (2026)
Microsoft filed 5,106 certified H-1B applications for full-time roles in FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). The median base salary is $177,000, and the middle half of offers fall between $159,210 and $197,600.
Microsoft base salary by job title
| Job title | Median base | Middle 50% | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineering | $178,995 | $160,210 – $198,109 | 3,178 |
| Product Management | $188,100 | $164,000 – $210,210 | 265 |
| Applied Sciences | $185,906 | $167,838 – $205,000 | 234 |
| Technical Program Management | $185,000 | $163,372 – $203,152 | 162 |
| Data Science | $170,390 | $160,350 – $194,870 | 155 |
| Silicon Engineering | $190,340 | $164,348 – $224,881 | 111 |
| Technical Support Engineering | $133,465 | $123,250 – $148,213 | 68 |
| Financial Analysis | $145,000 | $132,000 – $154,271 | 58 |
| Product Design | $176,240 | $155,284 – $196,728 | 55 |
| Product Marketing | $154,156 | $140,660 – $180,000 | 53 |
| Customer Experience Engineering | $169,581 | $157,366 – $181,480 | 46 |
| Digital Solution Engineering | $172,702 | $151,871 – $188,625 | 43 |
| Cloud Network Engineering | $177,406 | $158,160 – $192,735 | 41 |
| Hardware Engineering | $190,000 | $173,750 – $206,321 | 36 |
| Research Sciences | $194,835 | $187,900 – $208,250 | 35 |
By location
| Worksite | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Redmond, WA | $180,000 | 3,462 |
| Mountain View, CA | $205,000 | 433 |
| Atlanta, GA | $143,500 | 121 |
| New York, NY | $176,170 | 89 |
| Irving, TX | $144,667 | 67 |
| Austin, TX | $170,500 | 63 |
| San Francisco, CA | $185,000 | 45 |
| Cambridge, MA | $154,000 | 32 |
| San Jose, CA | $178,876 | 30 |
| Charlotte, NC | $137,550 | 28 |
Take-home pay
Most of Microsoft's filings are for jobs in Washington. There, the median base of $177,000 leaves about $129,790 a year, or $10,816 a month, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Washington taxes for a single filer with no 401(k) contributions. For Software Engineering ($178,995), it is about $131,126 a year. Use the Washington paycheck calculator to add a 401(k), a spouse or children.
Experience levels
Each filing names the prevailing-wage level the job was matched to, from entry level (I) to fully competent (IV).
| Wage level | Share of filings |
|---|---|
| I: Entry level | 8% |
| II: Qualified | 38% |
| III: Experienced | 41% |
| IV: Fully competent | 14% |
By occupation
| Occupation | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $179,000 | 3,210 |
| Data Scientists | $180,000 | 436 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $183,500 | 323 |
| Electrical Engineers | $179,700 | 123 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $166,267 | 119 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $163,400 | 103 |
About this data
- Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, LCA disclosure data for FY2026 Q1–Q3 (decisions Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026). Only certified H-1B applications for full-time positions are counted (384,130 filings).
- Each figure is the base wage the employer stated on the application, converted to a yearly amount. Bonuses, stock (RSUs) and benefits are not included, so total pay at large tech firms is usually much higher.
- An application is filed before a worker starts and can cover a range of pay; we use the lower end of that range. Not every application leads to a hire.
- Median: half of filings are above, half below. Middle 50%: the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary at Microsoft?
The median base salary in Microsoft's 5,106 certified H-1B filings is $177,000 a year, and the middle half fall between $159,210 and $197,600. Bonuses and stock are extra.
How much does a Software Engineering at Microsoft make?
The median base salary for Software Engineering is $178,995 across 3,178 filings (middle 50%: $160,210 – $198,109).
Where does Microsoft pay the most?
Among locations with at least five filings, Mountain View, CA has the highest median base salary at $205,000.
What is $177,000 after tax in Washington?
About $129,790 a year ($10,816 a month) for a single filer after federal, Social Security, Medicare and Washington taxes.