<div id="readability-page-1"><div><div><p><strong>Microsoft Corp.</strong> <span>MSFT</span> is paying distinguished engineers up to $2.4 million annually, according to leaked internal compensation documents, revealing the software giant’s escalating investment in top-tier technical talent amid Silicon Valley’s heated artificial intelligence hiring war.</p><h2>Pay Structure Spans 14 Levels</h2><p>Internal Microsoft documents obtained by Business Insider detail compensation ranges across 14 engineering levels, from entry-level positions starting at $83,000 to Level 70 distinguished engineers earning maximum salaries of $408,000 plus substantial stock awards.</p><p>The highest-tier Level 70 engineers receive on-hire stock awards up to $1.9 million and annual stock grants reaching $1.476 million, according to the May-updated guidelines.</p><p>Combined with salaries and bonuses, total compensation approaches $2.4 million for elite technical talent.</p><p>Microsoft did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comment.</p><h2>Geographic Pay Differentials Drive Costs Higher</h2><p>The company maintains separate “main” and “high” salary ranges based on location. Engineers at Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington headquarters fall under the main tier, while those in high-cost areas like San Francisco receive premium compensation packages.</p><p>Entry-level engineers (Levels 57-59) earn between $83,000-$163,600, depending on location and experience. Senior engineers begin at Level 63 with salaries ranging from $145,000-$237,600, while principal-level positions start at Level 65 with compensation between $172,800-$282,000.</p><h2>AI Talent War Intensifies Competition</h2><p>The compensation structure includes carve-outs for “competitive situations” where recruiters can seek approval for higher offers, reflecting the industry’s fierce competition for AI specialists.</p><p><strong>Meta Platforms Inc.</strong> <span>META</span> has reportedly offered packages worth $20 million annually to lure researchers from competitors, including Microsoft, <strong>OpenAI</strong> and <strong>Apple Inc. </strong><span>AAPL</span>. OpenAI CEO <strong>Sam Altman</strong> claimed Meta is providing $100 million signing bonuses, though Meta executives dispute these figures.</p><p>The talent shortage affects approximately 2,000 researchers globally capable of building foundational AI models, driving unprecedented compensation inflation across Silicon Valley as companies race to secure artificial intelligence dominance.</p><ul> <li><strong>Samsung's Chip Profits Crash 94% — AI Demand, Tesla Deal, HBM3E Ramp Offer Hope For 2H Comeback As Trump Hits South Korea With 15% Tariff</strong></li> </ul><p><em>Photo courtesy: Shutterstock</em></p></div></div></div>

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<p>Microsoft is reportedly paying top engineers up to $2.4 million annually, as revealed in leaked documents. The compensation structure spans 14 levels, with entry-level salaries starting at $83,000 and distinguished engineers earning up to $408,000 plus stock awards. Geographic pay differentials further increase costs, especially in high-cost areas like San Francisco. The competition for AI talent is intensifying, with companies like Meta offering substantial packages to attract specialists, leading to unprecedented salary inflation in Silicon Valley.</p>

- Microsoft Corp. is reportedly paying distinguished engineers up to $2.4 million annually, reflecting its significant investment in top technical talent amid a competitive AI hiring landscape.  
- Internal documents reveal a pay structure spanning 14 levels, with entry-level salaries starting at $83,000 and top-tier engineers earning substantial stock awards alongside their salaries.  
- The competition for AI specialists is intensifying, with companies like Meta offering lucrative packages, contributing to unprecedented compensation inflation in Silicon Valley.

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Microsoft Is Paying Up To $2.4 Million For Top Tech Talent—Leaked Docs Show Amid AI Talent Arms Race