Microsoft India is one of the two largest FAANG employers in the country alongside Amazon, with major engineering centres in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The India Development Centre (IDC) runs engineering on products like Azure, Teams, Bing, and Xbox alongside product-specific teams. The salary numbers are competitive with Google at senior level and above Amazon at some mid-level bands.
Understanding Microsoft's pay requires knowing the internal level system. Microsoft uses numbered levels (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and above) rather than named SDE1/SDE2 titles in their internal system, though the market-facing titles align roughly: SDE1 is level 59 to 60, SDE2 is level 61 to 62, Senior SDE is 63, Principal is 64 to 65.
If you are preparing for a Microsoft interview, Intervue.io connects you with engineers who have been through real Microsoft hiring rounds for one-on-one mock interviews. Visit intevue.io.
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How Microsoft Compensation Works in India
Microsoft's total compensation has three components. Base salary is fixed and paid monthly. RSUs (Restricted Stock Units) vest over 4 years with standard even vesting (25% per year, paid quarterly). Annual bonus is performance-based cash paid once a year.
Unlike Amazon's front-loaded sign-on bonus that compensates for back-loaded RSU vesting, Microsoft uses even RSU vesting. Year 1 RSU income at Microsoft is equivalent to year 4 RSU income, which makes Microsoft's year 1 total compensation more straightforward to compare against other offers.
Microsoft Software Engineer Salary by Level
From Levels.fyi verified data for Microsoft India Software Engineers:
Level 59 (SDE1, Entry):Median total compensation: ₹27.1 LPABase: ₹17.9 LPAStock per year: ₹8.33 LPABonus: ₹0.91 LPA
Level 60 (SDE1, experienced):Median total compensation: ₹31.8 LPABase: ₹21.4 LPAStock per year: ₹9.53 LPABonus: ₹0.89 LPA
Level 61 (SDE2):Median total compensation: ₹48.6 LPABase: ₹30.4 LPAStock per year: ₹15.9 LPABonus: ₹2.32 LPA
Level 62 (SDE2, senior band):Median total compensation: ₹52.6 LPABase: ₹37.6 LPAStock per year: ₹12.7 LPABonus: ₹2.26 LPA
Level 63 (Senior SDE):Median total compensation: ₹73.6 LPABase: ₹42 LPAStock per year: ₹19 LPABonus: ₹5 LPA
Level 64 (Principal SDE):From 6figr data: ₹80 LPA. From Levels.fyi company-wide: TPM at level 64 earns ₹80 LPA (₹56 LPA base + ₹17 LPA stock + ₹7 LPA bonus). Software Engineers at 64 in a similar band.
Level 65 and above (Principal and above):From 6figr: Level 65 SWE earns ₹113 LPA average with ₹42 LPA in stock. The highest reported SWE TC at Microsoft India is ₹2.56 Cr.
The Levels.fyi median across all SWE levels at Microsoft India is ₹55 LPA total compensation. The 10th percentile is ₹24.5 LPA and the 90th percentile is ₹99.7 LPA.
The Market-Facing Salary Picture
The Glassdoor and AmbitionBox data shows a different picture from Levels.fyi because they capture base salary more than total compensation, and their datasets include a broader range of roles beyond software engineering.
SDE1 (Glassdoor): Average ₹13.5 LPA (base only). 90th percentile ₹26.2 LPA. Recent Hyderabad submission (Sep 2026): SDE1 with 1 to 3 years earning ₹29 to 34 LPA (total comp including RSUs).
SDE2 (Glassdoor): Average ₹24.6 LPA (base only). 90th percentile ₹41.9 LPA.
SDE2 (upGrad/AmbitionBox aggregated): Average ₹37 LPA total. Typical band ₹34.6 to ₹39.4 LPA. Top 10%: ₹52.1 LPA. Top 1%: ₹63.9 LPA.
Senior SDE (Glassdoor and upGrad): ₹55 to ₹70 LPA range per the SDE2 article's reference to SDE3.
The upGrad SDE1 data (₹33.5 LPA average per AmbitionBox) appears to reflect experienced SDE1 candidates (1 to 5 years) at higher bands, not entry-level. For a fresh campus hire or 0 to 1 year experience SDE1, ₹15 to 22 LPA base is a more accurate reference.
The most reliable single-number reference: Levels.fyi median across all Microsoft India SWE levels is ₹55 LPA total compensation. This includes base, RSUs, and bonus averaged across the full level distribution.
Other Roles at Microsoft India
From 6figr, Glassdoor, and Levels.fyi:
SDE II (level 61, confirmed): ₹40 LPA (₹32 LPA base + ₹39 LPA stock, appears to be high stock grant, total ₹40 LPA reported by one 6figr submission for 3 to 6 years experience).
Senior Data Scientist (level 63 equivalent): ₹66 LPA (₹44 LPA base + ₹17 LPA stock + ₹6 LPA bonus) per 6figr.
Product Designer level 62: ₹53 LPA (₹36 LPA base + ₹15 LPA stock + ₹5 LPA bonus).Product Designer level 64: ₹86 LPA (₹53 LPA base + ₹59 LPA stock + ₹7 LPA bonus).
Technical Program Manager level 64: ₹80 LPA (₹56 LPA base + ₹17 LPA stock + ₹7 LPA bonus) per 6figr.
Senior Solution Architect: ₹81 LPA (₹54 LPA base + ₹25 LPA stock + ₹15 LPA bonus).
Principal Cybersecurity Architect: Microsoft India is the highest paying employer for cybersecurity roles in India at ₹48.2 LPA average per the cybersecurity salary data.
Microsoft India vs Google India vs Amazon India
At entry level (SDE1): Microsoft level 59 to 60 median TC is ₹27 to 32 LPA. Google entry level median TC is ₹32 LPA. Amazon SDE1 median TC is ₹28.9 LPA. Google pays slightly more at entry. Microsoft and Amazon are comparable.
At mid-level (SDE2): Microsoft level 61 to 62 median TC is ₹49 to 53 LPA. Google mid-level median TC is ₹75 LPA. Amazon SDE2 median TC is ₹66.7 LPA. Google leads at mid-level, followed by Amazon, then Microsoft. The gap between Google and Microsoft at SDE2 is approximately ₹22 to 26 LPA in total compensation.
At senior level: Microsoft Senior SDE (63) median TC is ₹73.6 LPA. Google Senior SDE median TC is ₹119 LPA. Amazon SDE3 median TC is ₹132 LPA. Both Google and Amazon pay significantly more than Microsoft at senior level.
The pattern: Microsoft is competitive with Amazon at entry level, trails both Google and Amazon at mid-level and senior level. Microsoft compensates with strong product access, a collaborative culture, and generally better work-life balance reputation than Amazon or Flipkart-adjacent companies.
City-Wise Salary Data
Hyderabad is Microsoft's largest India engineering centre. Glassdoor September 2026 submissions show SDE1 in Hyderabad at ₹29 to 34 LPA total comp for 1 to 3 years experience.
Bengaluru is the second-largest engineering location. Similar ranges to Hyderabad.
Microsoft does not differentiate pay by India city for equivalent roles. An SDE2 in Hyderabad earns the same as an SDE2 in Bengaluru.
Noida / Gurugram covers Microsoft's enterprise, sales, and some engineering roles. Pay for engineering roles is equivalent to Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
What Microsoft India Interviews Test
Microsoft coding rounds test medium to hard DSA problems. The interview is conducted in an IDE (unlike Google's plain Google Doc), which is a meaningful difference in how the round feels. System design rounds are required from SDE2 level upward. The behavioral rounds focus on growth mindset, collaboration, and impact.
Microsoft interviewers specifically probe problem-solving clarity: can you articulate the approach before coding, explain the trade-offs, and walk through your solution methodically. Microsoft's culture is collaborative and the behavioral signals interviewers look for reflect that: how you work with others, how you give and receive feedback.
At Intervue.io, Microsoft mock interviews are one-on-one with engineers who have conducted real Microsoft hiring rounds and know what each round actually evaluates.
Visit intervue.io to book your Microsoft mock interview.
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FAQs
What is the Microsoft SDE1 salary in India?Level 59 (entry) median total compensation ₹27.1 LPA (₹17.9 LPA base + ₹8.3 LPA RSUs + ₹0.9 LPA bonus). AmbitionBox shows ₹33.5 LPA average for SDE1 with 0 to 5 years. Recent Hyderabad submissions show ₹29 to 34 LPA total comp for 1 to 3 years experience.
What is the Microsoft SDE2 salary in India?Level 61 median total compensation ₹48.6 LPA. Level 62 median ₹52.6 LPA. upGrad/AmbitionBox average ₹37 LPA (likely base-heavy figure). Monthly in-hand at ₹37 LPA average CTC: ₹2.42 to ₹2.47 lakh per month.
What is Microsoft Senior SDE salary in India?Level 63 median total compensation ₹73.6 LPA (₹42 LPA base + ₹19 LPA RSUs + ₹5 LPA bonus). 6figr shows Senior Data Scientist at equivalent level earning ₹66 LPA.
How does Microsoft salary compare to Google and Amazon in India?At entry level, broadly comparable with Amazon, slightly below Google. At mid-level and senior level, Microsoft trails both Google and Amazon. Google pays the most at all levels. Amazon overtakes Microsoft at senior level.
Does Microsoft pay RSUs in India?Yes. RSUs vest over 4 years with standard 25% annual vesting (paid quarterly). Unlike Amazon's 5/15/40/40 schedule, Microsoft's even vesting means year 1 RSU income equals year 4 RSU income.
How can I prepare for a Microsoft interview? Along with practising DSA, system design, and behavioral questions, take a mock interview on Intervue.io with an experienced engineer who has been through Microsoft's hiring process. You can practise solving coding problems, explaining your approach and trade-offs, and communicating your decisions clearly while getting specific feedback before your actual interview.
