Unsurprisingly, the tech giant—along with Google and Amazon—is also one of the largest employers of business school grads, too. Every year, the company hires many talented professionals holding degrees from top schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton, offering them roles in everything from financial analysis to product management.
But what do these jobs pay? What does a Microsoft salary look like for business school grads?
Average Microsoft salary for 7 top jobs
1. Microsoft Product Manager
Average salary*: $165K
Product management is a rewarding career path for business grads looking to launch high-earning careers in the tech.
Working as a Microsoft product manager means overseeing products all the way from the creation stage to delivery. This requires strong critical thinking, communication, and time management skills—all of which can be developed while studying a business school degree.
The average Microsoft product manager salary is $165K, with bonuses of up to $30K.
2. Microsoft Program Manager
Average salary: $146K
If you’re aiming for a career in tech and value being a team player, becoming a program manager at a company like Microsoft could be a life-changing opportunity.
Responsible for guiding both managers and their teams toward achieving critical business goals, Microsoft program managers are organized, detail-oriented, and forward-thinking. Additionally, the ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment is essential.
Plus, when recruiting for program managers, Microsoft often seeks business school graduates for their strategic insight and interpersonal skills—making it one of the best positions for students considering a career in tech.
Business school grads working as Microsoft program managers can expect an average base pay of $146K, with a median bonus of $19K.
3. Microsoft Business Analyst
Average salary: $129K
To become a Microsoft business analyst, you’ll need a keen eye for data and a creative knack for problem-solving.
In this role, business analysts are responsible for organizing data into clear, actionable formats, which they then use to help develop solutions for a range of business challenges. This means that successful candidates typically have experience in tech, finance, or other data-focused fields, with a focus on business skillsets such as problem-solving and critical reasoning.
The average Microsoft business analyst salary is $129K with a median bonus of $13K, however given that the job entails a significant amount of responsibility, those with more experience can earn as much as $188K.
4. Microsoft Operations Manager
Average salary: $135K
If you're seeking an energetic, people-centered career, consider applying for a role as a Microsoft operations manager.
In this position, you will oversee and guide a team, ensuring their safety, performance, attendance, and work quality. You'll also need to regularly collaborate with departments like quality control and human resources to coordinate and achieve business goals.
The average Microsoft operations manager salary is $117K, with a median bonus of $42K. For more experienced managers, salaries can even reach as high as $225K.
5. Microsoft Financial Analyst
Average salary: $119K
If you consider yourself a bit of a math whiz, financial analysis could be the career path for you.
As a Microsoft financial analyst, you’ll work closely with other teams to identify strategies for boosting consumer growth and profitability. As such, this role demands excellent communication, organizational, and planning skills, along with technical expertise in data analysis.
The average Microsoft financial analyst salary is $119K, with a median bonus of $11K—however the average salary can jump to $177K with experience.
6. Microsoft Strategy Manager
Average salary: $165K
Becoming a Microsoft strategy manager is a little like signing up to be captain of a ship—if the ship in question was one of the world’s largest tech companies.
Responsible for shaping the long-term direction of a company, strategy managers need to be able to action organization-wide ideas under immense time pressure. As such, skills such as math, analysis, multitasking, and quick decision-making are imperative to succeed in such a role at Microsoft.
The role of a Microsoft strategy manager is undoubtedly intense, but rewarding, with an average salary of $165K and median bonus of $16K. For those with more experience, salaries can climb as high as $226K.
7. Microsoft Director
Average salary: $229K
No one is expecting you to get hired as a Microsoft director straight out of b-school. However, since it’s a job that incorporates many of the skills you learn during a business degree, it’s therefore possible to work your way up to this prestigious role.
Just some of the responsibilities that directors can take on include implementing new policies, preparing documents, and organizing meetings—which require strong organizational, strategic, and people management skills.
Since directors are generally expected to have a high level of impact on the company—especially at a large corporation such as Microsoft—the role shoulders a great amount of responsibility. An average Microsoft director salary is $229 and they can expect an average additional pay of $125K per year, which may include bonuses, stock, commission, profit sharing, and tips. Salaries can reach as high as $444K.
*Average salaries taken from Glassdoor, US data relevant at time of publication
