Microsoft Software Lead Salaries

34 verified profiles
Last updated on March 9, 2026
Average Annual Total Compensation is $256k

Employees at Microsoft as Software Lead earn an average of $256k, mostly ranging from $217k to $405k based on 34 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.
👩🏻‍💻 White $223k White
Average Salary : $ 223 k
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Salary Profiles
Company
Title(Level)
Annual Salary
Experience
School
Degree
Location
Skills

Base: $172k

Stocks: $31k

(Today) (21.6%) $24k

Bonus: $25k

TC:$228k

(Today) (2.9%) $221k

5yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Reston, VA

Base: $187k

Stocks: $54k

Bonus: $37k

TC:$278k

17yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $181k

Stocks: $44k

Bonus: $29k

TC:$255k

8yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $181k

Stocks: $41k

Bonus: $36k

TC:$259k

10yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $194k

Stocks: $30k

Bonus: $22k

TC:$246k

5yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

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Base: $210k

Stocks: $53k

Bonus: $45k

TC:$308k

15yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $172k

Stocks: -

Bonus: -

TC:$172k

16yrs
Bachelor's in computer engineering

Works in Redmond, WA

Lives in redmond (98052)

Base: $159k

Stocks: $203k

Bonus: $17k

TC:$379k

12yrs
Bachelor's in electrical engineering (engineering related)

Works in Redmond, WA

Lives in seattle (98101)

Base: $149k

Stocks: $29k

Bonus: $29k

TC:$208k

8yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Houston, TX

Base: $181k

Stocks: $206k

Bonus: $25k

TC:$412k

10yrs
NA
NA

Works in Atlanta, GA

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Level
Experience
Avg
25th
50th
75th
90th
95th
5 to 14 yrs
$235k
$208k
$223k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
11 to 16 yrs
$241k
$223k
$259k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
8 to 8 yrs
$255k
$255k
$255k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
15 to 15 yrs
$308k
$308k
$308k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
10 to 10 yrs
$412k
$412k
$412k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
Level
Experience
5 to 14 yrs
Base
$166k
Stocks / Yr
$43k
Bonus
$26k
Total Salary
$235k
Level
Experience
11 to 16 yrs
Base
$185k
Stocks / Yr
$47k
Bonus
$37k
Total Salary
$241k
Level
Experience
8 to 8 yrs
Base
$181k
Stocks / Yr
$44k
Bonus
$29k
Total Salary
$255k
Level
Experience
15 to 15 yrs
Base
$210k
Stocks / Yr
$53k
Bonus
$45k
Total Salary
$308k
Level
Experience
10 to 10 yrs
Base
$181k
Stocks / Yr
$206k
Bonus
$25k
Total Salary
$412k
Microsoft Software Lead salary levels ranges from 63 (Software Engineering Manager) upto Principal EM (Software Engineering Manager), with Principal EM (Software Engineering Manager) level earning average salary of $412k along with $206k worth of stock options.

Frequently asked questions
How much do Microsoft Software Lead employees make?

Employees at Microsoft as Software Lead earn an average of $256k, mostly ranging from $217k per year to $405k per year based on 34 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $331k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Software Lead?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Software Lead is $256k.

What is the highest salary offered at Microsoft as Software Lead?

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Software Lead is $412k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $331k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $405k per year.

What are the most common skills required at Microsoft as Software Lead?

12% of employees have skills in engineering . 12% also know information systems . 12% also know mathematics .

What are the highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Software Lead?

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

  • software engineering manager - $254k per year

  • software engineer - $214k per year

Which are the top locations?
What is the median salary offered at Microsoft as Software Lead?

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $244k per year.

How is the age distributed among employees at Microsoft as Software Lead?

15% of employees lie between 31-36 yrs . 12% of the employees fall in the age group of 36-41 yrs .

What qualifications do employees have at Microsoft as Software Lead?

26% hold a Graduate degree. 12% hold a PostGraduate degree.

Which schools do employees working at Microsoft as Software Lead went to?

6% of employees studied at University of The Philippines Diliman . 3% studied at Biju Patnaik University of Technology Rourkela .

Frequently asked questions
How much do Microsoft Software Lead employees make?

Employees at Microsoft as Software Lead earn an average of $256k, mostly ranging from $217k per year to $405k per year based on 34 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $331k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Software Lead?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Software Lead is $256k.

What is the highest salary offered at Microsoft as Software Lead?

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Software Lead is $412k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $331k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $405k per year.

What are the most common skills required at Microsoft as Software Lead?

12% of employees have skills in engineering . 12% also know information systems . 12% also know mathematics .

What are the highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Software Lead?

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

  • software engineering manager - $254k per year

  • software engineer - $214k per year

Which are the top locations?
What is the median salary offered at Microsoft as Software Lead?

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $244k per year.

How is the age distributed among employees at Microsoft as Software Lead?

15% of employees lie between 31-36 yrs . 12% of the employees fall in the age group of 36-41 yrs .

What qualifications do employees have at Microsoft as Software Lead?

26% hold a Graduate degree. 12% hold a PostGraduate degree.

Which schools do employees working at Microsoft as Software Lead went to?

6% of employees studied at University of The Philippines Diliman . 3% studied at Biju Patnaik University of Technology Rourkela .

Salary Brackets
Percentage
100-200 k 100-200 k
Percentage : 15
200-300 k 200-300 k
Percentage : 32
300-400 k 300-400 k
Percentage : 15
400-500 k 400-500 k
Percentage : 3
Age Brackets
Percentage
21-26 yrs 21-26 yrs
Percentage : 6
26-31 yrs 26-31 yrs
Percentage : 6
31-36 yrs 31-36 yrs
Percentage : 15
36-41 yrs 36-41 yrs
Percentage : 12
Skills
Trending
engineering
12 %
information systems
12 %
mathematics
12 %
visual studio
9 %
javascript
6 %
scripting
6 %
c#
3 %
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