Microsoft Research Scientist Salaries

35 verified profiles
Last updated on March 6, 2026
Average Annual Total Compensation is $268k

Employees at Microsoft as Research Scientist earn an average of $268k, mostly ranging from $229k to $403k based on 35 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 $333k Male
Average Salary : $ 333 k
👩‍💻 Female $223k Female
Average Salary : $ 223 k
For every $100 paid to men, women are paid $67
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Salary Profiles
Company
Title(Level)
Annual Salary
Experience
School
Degree
Location
Skills
Research Scientist (Principal SDE)
Male

Base: $206k

Stocks: $78k

(Today) (13.8%) $68k

Bonus: $59k

TC:$343k

(Today) (3.1%) $332k

9yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $217k

Stocks: $12k

(Today) (20.7%) $9k

Bonus: $23k

TC:$252k

(Today) (1.0%) $250k

8yrs
NA
Phd

Works in Moscow, ID

Base: $204k

Stocks: $155k

(Today) (19.5%) $125k

Bonus: $33k

TC:$392k

(Today) (7.7%) $362k

9yrs
NA
Phd

Works in Redmond, WA

Research Scientist (Senior SDE)
Male

Base: $188k

Stocks: $34k

(Today) (16.9%) $29k

Bonus: $37k

TC:$259k

(Today) (2.2%) $253k

1yrs
NA
Phd

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $190k

Stocks: $49k

(Today) (16.5%) $41k

Bonus: $34k

TC:$273k

(Today) (2.9%) $265k

0yrs
NA
Phd

Works in Redmond, WA

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Research Scientist (Senior Data Scientist)

Base: $181k

Stocks: $91k

(Today) (4.7%) $95k

Bonus: $79k

TC:$351k

(Today) (1.2%) $355k

4yrs
NA
Phd

Works in Seattle, WA

Research Scientist (Senior SDE)
Female

Base: $245k

Stocks: $86k

(Today) (14.1%) $98k

Bonus: -

TC:$331k

(Today) (3.7%) $343k

1yrs
NA
Phd

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $155k

Stocks: $25k

(Today) (8.3%) $27k

Bonus: -

TC:$180k

(Today) (1.2%) $183k

5yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Seattle, WA

Research Scientist (Principal SDE)
Male

Base: $215k

Stocks: $64k

(Today) (0.6%) $64k

Bonus: $61k

TC:$340k

(Today) (0.1%) $340k

14yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Research Scientist (60)
Female

Base: $141k

Stocks: $78k

(Today) (20.1%) $62k

Bonus: $13k

TC:$231k

(Today) (6.8%) $215k

3yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

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Level
Experience
Avg
25th
50th
75th
90th
95th
5 to 5 yrs
$202k
$202k
$202k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
5 to 6 yrs
$206k
$185k
$193k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
6 to 20 yrs
$211k
$191k
$201k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
2 to 4 yrs
$218k
$209k
$218k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
5 to 6 yrs
$227k
$225k
$229k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
3 to 3 yrs
$231k
$231k
$231k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
1 to 5 yrs
$242k
$210k
$225k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
1 to 8 yrs
$321k
$284k
$314k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
6 to 14 yrs
$345k
$318k
$342k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
4 to 4 yrs
$355k
$355k
$355k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
21 to 21 yrs
$409k
$409k
$409k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
Level
Experience
5 to 5 yrs
Base
$157k
Stocks / Yr
$29k
Bonus
$16k
Total Salary
$202k
Level
Experience
5 to 6 yrs
Base
$167k
Stocks / Yr
$39k
Bonus
$0k
Total Salary
$206k
Level
Experience
6 to 20 yrs
Base
$186k
Stocks / Yr
$18k
Bonus
$19k
Total Salary
$211k
Level
Experience
2 to 4 yrs
Base
$166k
Stocks / Yr
$41k
Bonus
$20k
Total Salary
$218k
Level
Experience
5 to 6 yrs
Base
$177k
Stocks / Yr
$30k
Bonus
$29k
Total Salary
$227k
Level
Experience
3 to 3 yrs
Base
$141k
Stocks / Yr
$78k
Bonus
$13k
Total Salary
$231k
Level
Experience
1 to 5 yrs
Base
$185k
Stocks / Yr
$39k
Bonus
$31k
Total Salary
$242k
Level
Experience
1 to 8 yrs
Base
$206k
Stocks / Yr
$70k
Bonus
$45k
Total Salary
$321k
Level
Experience
6 to 14 yrs
Base
$209k
Stocks / Yr
$96k
Bonus
$47k
Total Salary
$345k
Level
Experience
4 to 4 yrs
Base
$190k
Stocks / Yr
$136k
Bonus
$29k
Total Salary
$355k
Level
Experience
21 to 21 yrs
Base
$281k
Stocks / Yr
$43k
Bonus
$85k
Total Salary
$409k
Microsoft Research Scientist salary levels ranges from Data Scientist II (Data Scientist) upto Senior Director (Software Engineering Manager), with Senior Director (Software Engineering Manager) level earning average salary of $409k along with $43k worth of stock options.

Frequently asked questions
How much do Microsoft Research Scientist employees make?

Employees at Microsoft as Research Scientist earn an average of $268k, mostly ranging from $229k per year to $403k per year based on 35 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $364k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Research Scientist?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Research Scientist is $268k.

What is the highest salary offered at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Research Scientist is $409k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $364k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $403k per year.

What are the most common skills required at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

What are the highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

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

  • software engineer - $280k per year

  • data scientist - $220k per year

What are the new grad salaries at Microsoft as Research Scientist?
  • software engineer - $287k per year

Explore all new grad salaries

Which are the top locations?
What is the median salary offered at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $252k per year.

How is the age distributed among employees at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

What qualifications do employees have at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

Which schools do employees working at Microsoft as Research Scientist went to?

Frequently asked questions
How much do Microsoft Research Scientist employees make?

Employees at Microsoft as Research Scientist earn an average of $268k, mostly ranging from $229k per year to $403k per year based on 35 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $364k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Research Scientist?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Research Scientist is $268k.

What is the highest salary offered at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Research Scientist is $409k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $364k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $403k per year.

What are the most common skills required at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

What are the highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

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

  • software engineer - $280k per year

  • data scientist - $220k per year

What are the new grad salaries at Microsoft as Research Scientist?
  • software engineer - $287k per year

Explore all new grad salaries

Which are the top locations?
What is the median salary offered at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $252k per year.

How is the age distributed among employees at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

What qualifications do employees have at Microsoft as Research Scientist?

Which schools do employees working at Microsoft as Research Scientist went to?

Salary Brackets
Percentage
100-200 k 100-200 k
Percentage : 20
200-300 k 200-300 k
Percentage : 46
300-400 k 300-400 k
Percentage : 31
400-500 k 400-500 k
Percentage : 3
Age Brackets
No age data
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