An internal Microsoft spreadsheet containing nearly 600 employee-reported entries has reportedly leaked online, offering a rare glimpse into the technology giant’s compensation structure across different levels and divisions.
According to a report by Business Insider cited by The Times of India, the spreadsheet includes information on base salaries, raises, cash bonuses and stock awards. While the sample is small compared with Microsoft’s global workforce of around 223,000 employees, the figures provide an unusual look at how compensation varies within the company.
Pay rises sharply across senior levels
The leaked data shows substantial differences in compensation between organisational levels.
Base pay reportedly ranges from $111,000 at level 59 to $280,000 at level 67. Cash bonuses range from zero at some levels to nearly $110,000, while stock awards can reach $300,000 for senior employees.
At level 66, the reported base salary ranges from $200,000 to $272,000, with stock awards between $90,000 and $200,000. At level 67, base pay ranges from $239,100 to $280,000, while stock awards range from $140,000 to $300,000.
AI and cloud employees see bigger packages
The data also highlights differences between Microsoft’s divisions. Employees in Cloud + AI reportedly have base salaries ranging from $111,000 to $450,000, with stock awards reaching as high as $1.4 million.
Azure employees have reported base salaries of up to $252,000 and stock awards of up to $294,000. Microsoft AI has a reported base-pay range of $134,000 to $232,000, with stock awards reaching $140,000.
By comparison, reported Xbox salaries range from $134,000 to $218,000, while stock awards range from $12,000 to $65,000.
Compensation reflects competition for talent
The figures suggest that Microsoft’s compensation differs considerably depending on the employee’s level and division, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing where competition for skilled professionals remains intense.
The leaked spreadsheet reportedly shows raises ranging from zero to 5%, depending on level and organisation. Cash bonuses and equity awards also vary significantly, indicating that total compensation can extend well beyond an employee’s base salary.
Microsoft has not commented on the reported leak, according to the report.
The disclosure has renewed discussion around pay transparency inside large technology companies, while also providing a rare insight into how one of the world’s biggest technology firms structures rewards across its workforce.