Microsoft Principal Salaries

1359 verified profiles
Last updated on February 28, 2026
Average Annual Total Compensation is $343k

Employees at Microsoft as Principal earn an average of $343k, mostly ranging from $304k to $630k based on 1359 profiles.

Employee Count
massive
Equity Vest
3.5 yrs ; 29% , 29% , 29% , 13%
Signing Bonus
$25k - $50k
  30,761 people laid off in the last year.
👨‍💻 Male $344k Male
Average Salary : $ 344 k
👩‍💻 Female $346k Female
Average Salary : $ 346 k
🧑 Non-binary $291k Non-binary
Average Salary : $ 291 k
For every $100 paid to men, women are paid $101
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Salary Profiles
Company
Title(Level)
Annual Salary
Experience
School
Degree
Location
Skills

Base: $208k

Stocks: $93k

(Today) (16.7%) $78k

Bonus: $51k

TC:$352k

(Today) (4.4%) $337k

26.2yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, Washington, United States

Backend engineer (Principal SDE)
Male

Base: $190k

Stocks: $39k

(Today) (19.1%) $31k

Bonus: $29k

TC:$258k

(Today) (2.9%) $251k

18yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Atlanta, GA

Principal Software Engineer (Principal SDE)
Male

Base: $241k

Stocks: $54k

(Today) (18.8%) $44k

Bonus: $49k

TC:$343k

(Today) (3.0%) $333k

13yrs
NA
Masters

Works in New York, NY

Principal Solution Engineer (Principal Solution Architect)
Male

Base: $210k

Stocks: $101k

(Today) (17.5%) $83k

Bonus: $85k

TC:$396k

(Today) (4.5%) $378k

22yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Reston, VA

Research Scientist (Principal SDE)
Male

Base: $206k

Stocks: $78k

(Today) (17.5%) $65k

Bonus: $59k

TC:$343k

(Today) (4.0%) $329k

9yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

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Machine Learning Engineer (Principal SDE)
Male

Base: $255k

Stocks: $75k

(Today) (18.0%) $61k

Bonus: $49k

TC:$378k

(Today) (3.5%) $365k

9yrs
NA
Masters

Works in San Francisco, CA

Principal Product Manager (Principal Technical Program Manager)
Male

Base: $206k

Stocks: $39k

(Today) (18.6%) $32k

Bonus: $29k

TC:$274k

(Today) (2.7%) $267k

18yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Production Engineer (Principal SDE)
Male

Base: $206k

Stocks: $39k

(Today) (19.9%) $31k

Bonus: $39k

TC:$284k

(Today) (2.7%) $276k

10yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Data Engineer (Principal SDE)
Male

Base: $217k

Stocks: $62k

(Today) (19.2%) $50k

Bonus: $43k

TC:$322k

(Today) (3.7%) $310k

21yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $235k

Stocks: $333k

(Today) (19.4%) $269k

Bonus: $98k

TC:$666k

(Today) (9.7%) $602k

28yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Seattle, WA

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Showing only 50 profiles out of 1359. Upgrade to view elite profiles
Level
Experience
Avg
25th
50th
75th
90th
95th
18 to 18 yrs
$172k
$172k
$172k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
11 to 20 yrs
$267k
$207k
$292k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
25 to 25 yrs
$281k
$281k
$281k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
7 to 16 yrs
$300k
$288k
$297k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
16 to 32 yrs
$301k
$284k
$297k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
12 to 25 yrs
$304k
$271k
$289k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
13 to 25 yrs
$305k
$275k
$299k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
8 to 10 yrs
$307k
$299k
$307k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
10 to 20 yrs
$309k
$277k
$304k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
9 to 9 yrs
$312k
$312k
$312k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
15 to 24 yrs
$313k
$291k
$305k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
14 to 14 yrs
$315k
$315k
$315k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
15 to 24 yrs
$316k
$302k
$305k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
15 to 23 yrs
$318k
$295k
$309k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
9 to 21 yrs
$322k
$287k
$314k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
7 to 16 yrs
$322k
$294k
$321k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
12 to 12 yrs
$327k
$327k
$327k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
10 to 20 yrs
$328k
$291k
$320k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
9 to 18 yrs
$333k
$291k
$316k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
9 to 20 yrs
$334k
$306k
$324k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
8 to 25 yrs
$334k
$291k
$327k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
10 to 22 yrs
$336k
$310k
$325k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
25 to 25 yrs
$347k
$347k
$347k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
15 to 23 yrs
$367k
$318k
$347k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
14 to 24 yrs
$381k
$344k
$370k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
20 to 20 yrs
$387k
$387k
$387k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
10 to 23 yrs
$395k
$359k
$387k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
17 to 27 yrs
$403k
$330k
$349k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
7 to 13 yrs
$407k
$377k
$423k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
10 to 20 yrs
$421k
$351k
$382k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
15 to 23 yrs
$424k
$416k
$429k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
16 to 19 yrs
$445k
$405k
$445k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
41 to 41 yrs
$448k
$448k
$448k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
23 to 23 yrs
$473k
$473k
$473k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
14 to 28 yrs
$546k
$521k
$538k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
13 to 24 yrs
$548k
$525k
$537k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
22 to 23 yrs
$552k
$504k
$538k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
27 to 27 yrs
$554k
$554k
$554k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
12 to 24 yrs
$654k
$549k
$612k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
Level
Experience
18 to 18 yrs
Base
$172k
Stocks / Yr
$0k
Bonus
$0k
Total Salary
$172k
Level
Experience
11 to 20 yrs
Base
$193k
Stocks / Yr
$64k
Bonus
$47k
Total Salary
$267k
Level
Experience
25 to 25 yrs
Base
$194k
Stocks / Yr
$49k
Bonus
$39k
Total Salary
$281k
Level
Experience
7 to 16 yrs
Base
$206k
Stocks / Yr
$58k
Bonus
$47k
Total Salary
$300k
Level
Experience
16 to 32 yrs
Base
$200k
Stocks / Yr
$68k
Bonus
$43k
Total Salary
$301k
Level
Experience
12 to 25 yrs
Base
$196k
Stocks / Yr
$61k
Bonus
$48k
Total Salary
$304k
Level
Experience
13 to 25 yrs
Base
$196k
Stocks / Yr
$63k
Bonus
$46k
Total Salary
$305k
Level
Experience
8 to 10 yrs
Base
$204k
Stocks / Yr
$57k
Bonus
$48k
Total Salary
$307k
Level
Experience
10 to 20 yrs
Base
$201k
Stocks / Yr
$71k
Bonus
$44k
Total Salary
$309k
Level
Experience
9 to 9 yrs
Base
$216k
Stocks / Yr
$64k
Bonus
$32k
Total Salary
$312k
Level
Experience
15 to 24 yrs
Base
$207k
Stocks / Yr
$66k
Bonus
$43k
Total Salary
$313k
Level
Experience
14 to 14 yrs
Base
$192k
Stocks / Yr
$74k
Bonus
$49k
Total Salary
$315k
Level
Experience
15 to 24 yrs
Base
$185k
Stocks / Yr
$71k
Bonus
$59k
Total Salary
$316k
Level
Experience
15 to 23 yrs
Base
$189k
Stocks / Yr
$71k
Bonus
$57k
Total Salary
$318k
Level
Experience
9 to 21 yrs
Base
$206k
Stocks / Yr
$72k
Bonus
$44k
Total Salary
$322k
Level
Experience
7 to 16 yrs
Base
$212k
Stocks / Yr
$75k
Bonus
$46k
Total Salary
$322k
Level
Experience
12 to 12 yrs
Base
$216k
Stocks / Yr
$69k
Bonus
$43k
Total Salary
$327k
Level
Experience
10 to 20 yrs
Base
$210k
Stocks / Yr
$80k
Bonus
$46k
Total Salary
$328k
Level
Experience
9 to 18 yrs
Base
$207k
Stocks / Yr
$78k
Bonus
$53k
Total Salary
$333k
Level
Experience
9 to 20 yrs
Base
$208k
Stocks / Yr
$81k
Bonus
$45k
Total Salary
$334k
Level
Experience
8 to 25 yrs
Base
$212k
Stocks / Yr
$78k
Bonus
$52k
Total Salary
$334k
Level
Experience
10 to 22 yrs
Base
$213k
Stocks / Yr
$74k
Bonus
$50k
Total Salary
$336k
Level
Experience
25 to 25 yrs
Base
$234k
Stocks / Yr
$59k
Bonus
$54k
Total Salary
$347k
Level
Experience
15 to 23 yrs
Base
$213k
Stocks / Yr
$88k
Bonus
$67k
Total Salary
$367k
Level
Experience
14 to 24 yrs
Base
$222k
Stocks / Yr
$111k
Bonus
$51k
Total Salary
$381k
Level
Experience
20 to 20 yrs
Base
$216k
Stocks / Yr
$132k
Bonus
$39k
Total Salary
$387k
Level
Experience
10 to 23 yrs
Base
$222k
Stocks / Yr
$121k
Bonus
$55k
Total Salary
$395k
Level
Experience
17 to 27 yrs
Base
$222k
Stocks / Yr
$120k
Bonus
$62k
Total Salary
$403k
Level
Experience
7 to 13 yrs
Base
$225k
Stocks / Yr
$134k
Bonus
$49k
Total Salary
$407k
Level
Experience
10 to 20 yrs
Base
$222k
Stocks / Yr
$116k
Bonus
$83k
Total Salary
$421k
Level
Experience
15 to 23 yrs
Base
$234k
Stocks / Yr
$137k
Bonus
$53k
Total Salary
$424k
Level
Experience
16 to 19 yrs
Base
$221k
Stocks / Yr
$151k
Bonus
$74k
Total Salary
$445k
Level
Experience
41 to 41 yrs
Base
$276k
Stocks / Yr
$137k
Bonus
$34k
Total Salary
$448k
Level
Experience
23 to 23 yrs
Base
$220k
Stocks / Yr
$165k
Bonus
$88k
Total Salary
$473k
Level
Experience
14 to 28 yrs
Base
$244k
Stocks / Yr
$221k
Bonus
$84k
Total Salary
$546k
Level
Experience
13 to 24 yrs
Base
$233k
Stocks / Yr
$239k
Bonus
$77k
Total Salary
$548k
Level
Experience
22 to 23 yrs
Base
$236k
Stocks / Yr
$223k
Bonus
$92k
Total Salary
$552k
Level
Experience
27 to 27 yrs
Base
$229k
Stocks / Yr
$243k
Bonus
$82k
Total Salary
$554k
Level
Experience
12 to 24 yrs
Base
$260k
Stocks / Yr
$271k
Bonus
$123k
Total Salary
$654k
Microsoft Principal salary levels ranges from 65 (Principal Solutions Specialist) upto 67 (Software Engineer), with 67 (Software Engineer) level earning average salary of $654k along with $271k worth of stock options.

Frequently asked questions
How much do Microsoft Principal employees make?

Employees at Microsoft as Principal earn an average of $343k, mostly ranging from $304k per year to $630k per year based on 1359 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $436k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Principal?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Principal is $343k.

What is the highest salary offered at Microsoft as Principal?

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Principal is $1697k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $436k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $630k per year.

What are the most common skills required at Microsoft as Principal?

1% of employees have skills in engineering . 1% also know information systems . 1% also know mathematics .

What are the highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal?

The top 5 highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal with reported salaries are:

  • product design manager - $424k per year

  • data science manager - $395k per year

  • venture capitalist - $390k per year

  • software engineering manager - $375k per year

  • product manager - $351k per year

What is the median salary offered at Microsoft as Principal?

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $323k per year.

How is the age distributed among employees at Microsoft as Principal?

1% of employees lie between 31-36 yrs . 1% of the employees fall in the age group of 36-41 yrs .

What qualifications do employees have at Microsoft as Principal?

2% hold a Graduate degree. 2% hold a PostGraduate degree.

Which schools do employees working at Microsoft as Principal went to?

0% of employees studied at University of California . 0% studied at The University of Michigan .

Frequently asked questions
How much do Microsoft Principal employees make?

Employees at Microsoft as Principal earn an average of $343k, mostly ranging from $304k per year to $630k per year based on 1359 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $436k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Principal?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Principal is $343k.

What is the highest salary offered at Microsoft as Principal?

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Principal is $1697k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $436k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $630k per year.

What are the most common skills required at Microsoft as Principal?

1% of employees have skills in engineering . 1% also know information systems . 1% also know mathematics .

What are the highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal?

The top 5 highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal with reported salaries are:

  • product design manager - $424k per year

  • data science manager - $395k per year

  • venture capitalist - $390k per year

  • software engineering manager - $375k per year

  • product manager - $351k per year

What is the median salary offered at Microsoft as Principal?

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $323k per year.

How is the age distributed among employees at Microsoft as Principal?

1% of employees lie between 31-36 yrs . 1% of the employees fall in the age group of 36-41 yrs .

What qualifications do employees have at Microsoft as Principal?

2% hold a Graduate degree. 2% hold a PostGraduate degree.

Which schools do employees working at Microsoft as Principal went to?

0% of employees studied at University of California . 0% studied at The University of Michigan .

Salary Brackets
Percentage
< 100 k < 100 k
Percentage : 0
100-200 k 100-200 k
Percentage : 1
200-300 k 200-300 k
Percentage : 29
300-400 k 300-400 k
Percentage : 49
400-500 k 400-500 k
Percentage : 10
> 500 k > 500 k
Percentage : 7
Age Brackets
Percentage
21-26 yrs 21-26 yrs
Percentage : 0
26-31 yrs 26-31 yrs
Percentage : 0
31-36 yrs 31-36 yrs
Percentage : 1
36-41 yrs 36-41 yrs
Percentage : 1
> 41 yrs > 41 yrs
Percentage : 1
Skills
Trending
engineering
1 %
information systems
1 %
mathematics
1 %
c++
1 %
c#
0 %
project management
0 %
unit testing
0 %
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