Working At Microsoft: Employee Reviews and Culture

Q: Does Microsoft drug test?

No, Microsoft does not drug test. Microsoft is similar to other large tech companies in that it does not care what you do on your own time as long as you can successfully perform your job and work well with your colleagues.

Q: Does Microsoft hire felons?

Yes, Microsoft does hire felons. It is one of the employers that signed the Fair Chance Business Pledge, meaning that it gives each candidate a fair chance based on their qualifications rather than their past. However, felonies related to cybercrimes, or physical or sexual assault, will likely disqualify a candidate from employment.

The Culture At Microsoft

Information provided by the company

Microsoft is a company where passionate innovators come to collaborate, envision what can be, and take their careers to levels they can't achieve anywhere else. This is a world of more possibilities, more innovation, more openness, and sky's-the-limit thinking -- a cloud-enabled world. We care deeply about taking our ideals and vision around the globe, and to make a difference in peoples' lives and organizations in all corners of the planet. Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet.

As a Microsoft Retail Store employee, you have the unique opportunity to impact our company's mission every single day. Microsoft Retail Stores are the hub of cutting-edge devices and services, providing our customers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the latest and greatest in technology solutions that fit into their everyday lifestyle.

Are you passionate about building cool devices and technologies The Surface Team focuses on building devices that empower every person and every organization to achieve more.

Are you passionate about building cool devices and technologies The Surface Team focuses on building devices that fully express the Microsoft's vision to help people and business realize their full potential.

But more importantly, we've created a collaborative culture where new ideas are embraced and encouraged. Our goal is to create an engaging environment where you can do your best work.

Microsoft Overview

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft's devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses Windows operating system and related software; Microsoft Office for consumers; and Windows Phone operating system. The company's computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C other segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft's commercial licensing segments licenses server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial other segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online. Microsoft Corporation was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1974. It is based in Redmond, Washington.

The staff at Microsoft come from unusually diverse demographic backgrounds. The company is 33.7% female and 43.9% ethnic minorities. Despite its diversity in other areas, Microsoft employees are noticeably lacking in political diversity. It has an unusually high proportion of employees who are members of the Democratic Party, at 83.0%. Employees seem to enjoy working in an otherwise diverse workplace that is dominated by members of the Democratic Party. Microsoft has great employee retention with staff members usually staying with the company for 5.2 years. The average employee at Microsoft makes $139,993 per year. In comparison, some of its highest paying competitors, like Meta, Google, and LinkedIn, pay $163,526, $147,426, and $142,860, respectively.

Based in Redmond, WA, Microsoft is an industry leader with 182,268 employees and an annual revenue of $143.0B.

The Organization’s Mission

To enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential.

Industry

Technology

Revenue

$143.0B

Employees

182,268

Founded in

1975

Headquarters

Redmond, WA

Website

www.microsoft.com

Organization Type

Public

Nothing

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The Team At Microsoft

Key People

Satya Nadella

Paul Allen

William Henry Gates III

Microsoft Company Rankings

Microsoft is ranked #6 on the Best Technology Companies to Work For in America list. Zippia's Best Places to Work lists provide unbiased, data-based evaluations of companies. Rankings are based on government and proprietary data on salaries, company financial health, and employee diversity.

#6 in Best Technology Companies to Work For in America
#17 in Best Fortune 500 Companies to Work For in America
#1 in Best Companies to Work For in Washington
#1 in Best Technology Companies to Work For in Washington
#1 in Best Fortune 500 Companies to Work For in Washington
#1 in Best Companies to Work For in Redmond, WA
#1 in Best Technology Companies to Work For in Redmond, WA
#1 in Best Fortune 500 Companies to Work For in Redmond, WA
#76 in Biggest Companies in America
#4 in Biggest Companies in Washington
#1 in Biggest Companies in Redmond, WA

Microsoft Salaries

9.9

Salary Score

The national average salary for a Microsoft employee in the United States is $139,993 per year. Employees in the top 10 percent can make over $181,000 per year, while employees at the bottom 10 percent earn less than $108,000 per year.

Average Microsoft Salary

$139,993 yearly

$67.30 hourly

Updated July 11, 2022

$108,000

10 %

$139,000

Median

$181,000

90 %

Average Employee Earnings

$147,426

$133,659

$124,617

$98,699

$90,656

Highest Paying Jobs At Microsoft

Rank	Job Title	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
1	Researcher	$169,148	$81
2	Senior Project Manager	$161,271	$78
3	Solutions Architect	$152,821	$73
4	Data Scientist	$148,176	$71
5	Software Engineer	$143,682	$69
6	Product Advisor	$139,815	$67
7	Business Analyst	$137,532	$66
8	Program Manager	$136,725	$66
9	Designer	$135,596	$65
10	Software Development Engineer	$133,137	$64
11	Computer Systems Analyst	$127,074	$61
12	Consultant	$114,103	$55
13	Systems Administrator	$112,104	$54
14	Technical Writer	$111,993	$54

Microsoft Demographics Summary

9.6

Diversity Score

We calculated the diversity score of companies by measuring multiple factors, including the ethnic background, gender identity, and language skills of their workforce.

Microsoft Gender Distribution

Male

66%

Female

34%

Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for Microsoft. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

Microsoft has 182,268 employees.
34% of Microsoft employees are women, while 66% are men.
The most common ethnicity at Microsoft is White (56%), followed by Asian (18%) and Hispanic or Latino (14%).
Microsoft employees are most likely to be members of the democratic party.
On average, employees at Microsoft stay with the company for 5.2 years.
The average employee at Microsoft makes $139,993 per year.

Biggest Microsoft Locations

Rank	City	Job Count
1	Dallas, TX	583
2	Chicago, IL	564
3	New York, NY	481
4	Houston, TX	468
5	Los Angeles, CA	269
6	Phoenix, AZ	215
7	Philadelphia, PA	158
8	San Antonio, TX	118
9	San Diego, CA	118
10	San Jose, CA	89

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Microsoft Employee Political Affiliation

Microsoft employees are most likely to be members of the Democratic Party. The largest donation made to a political party by a Microsoft employee was by Bradford Smith. Bradford Smith donated $472,232 to the Democratic Party.

Microsoft

Parties

Democratic Party

84.0 %

Republican Party

15.0 %

Libertarian Party

0.5 %

Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

0.2 %

Employee Political Donations

Name	Job Title	Party	Donation
Bradford Smith	Executive Vice President	Democratic Party	$472,232
John Frank	Attorney	Democratic Party	$261,440
John Sell	Requirements Engineer	Democratic Party	$198,300
George Spix	Requirements Engineer	Republican Party	$182,750
Mary Snapp	Corporate Vice President	Democratic Party	$180,710
Suzan Levine	Communications Director	Democratic Party	$155,100
James Scott	Chief Technology Officer	Democratic Party	$127,000
Brian Smith	Requirements Engineer	Democratic Party	$125,750
Jerry Dunietz	Software Engineer	Democratic Party	$99,600
Steven Ballmer	Board Of Directors, Treasurer	Democratic Party	$86,800

Microsoft Employment Videos

Microsoft Intern - Diego

What's It Like Working at Microsoft?

A Day in My Life as a Microsoft Intern

Microsoft Financial Performance

9.9

Performance Score

We calculated the performance score of companies by measuring multiple factors, including revenue, longevity, and stock market performance.

Microsoft Annual Revenue

$143B

$114B

$86B

$57B

$29B

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

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Microsoft Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries to Microsoft include LinkedIn, Yammer, and N-trig. Employees at the parent company, Microsoft, earn $139,993. In comparison, the salaries at LinkedIn, Yammer, and N-trig are $142,860, $102,245, and $75,531.

Company

Average Salary

$143k$142,860

Yammer

$102k$102,245

N-trig

$76k$75,531

$55k

$163k

Microsoft Competitors

Based on our research, similar companies to Microsoft are Meta, Google, and LinkedIn. The wages at Meta average higher than the other similar companies, where the median salary is $163,526 per year. The salaries at Google average $147,426 per year, and the salaries at LinkedIn come in at $142,860 per year.

Company

Average Salary

Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft

When was Microsoft founded?

Microsoft was founded in 1975.

How many Employees does Microsoft have?

Microsoft has 182,268 employees.

How much money does Microsoft make?

Microsoft generates $143.0B in revenue.

What industry is Microsoft in?

Microsoft is in the technology industry.

What is Microsoft's mission?

Microsoft's mission statement is "To enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential."

What type of company is Microsoft?

Microsoft is a public company.

Who are Microsoft's competitors?

Microsoft competitors include IBM, Adobe, Dell, Google, VMware, Intel, NVIDIA, Box, Sophos, Amd, Red Hat, Oracle, HP, Cisco, Salesforce, Meta, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Cognizant, LinkedIn.

Who works at Microsoft?

Satya Nadella (CEO)

Paul Allen (Founder)

William Henry Gates III (Founder)

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Microsoft FAQs

Does Microsoft drug test?

No, Microsoft does not drug test. Microsoft is similar to other large tech companies in that it does not care what you do on your own time as long as you can successfully perform your job and work well with your colleagues.

Does Microsoft hire felons?

Yes, Microsoft does hire felons. It is one of the employers that signed the Fair Chance Business Pledge, meaning that it gives each candidate a fair chance based on their qualifications rather than their past. However, felonies related to cybercrimes, or physical or sexual assault, will likely disqualify a candidate from employment.

How do you answer, "Why are you interested in working for Microsoft"?

You answer, "Why are you interested in working for Microsoft?" by focusing on the impressive history of the company, how its products and services have changed the world, and how that relates to your own professional development. We recommend coming up with at least three reasons you want to work at Microsoft.

How do you write a cover letter for a job at Microsoft?

You write a cover letter for a job at Microsoft by demonstrating that you understand the company's mission and are suitable for the position. Microsoft is an industry leader, and changed the world through its technological advances. Convey in your cover letter your enthusiasm for Microsoft and its products and services.

How old do you have to be to work at Microsoft?

There are no formal age requirements to work at Microsoft, but most entry-level positions require a college degree, and some require years of relevant work experience. The median age of Microsoft employees is 33 years old.

What benefits does Microsoft offer?

Microsoft is known for offering its employees impressive and comprehensive benefits packages and employee perks, including healthcare financial planning, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

What is the dress code at Microsoft?

The dress code at Microsoft ranges from casual to business casual, depending on the role. Most technical employees and engineers dress very casually. Those in leadership or client-facing positions tend to dress more business casual.

What is the hiring process at Microsoft?

The hiring process at Microsoft isn't as structured as other tech firms like Amazon - but it's evolving, and in the past couple of years, it has been updated to include phone screenings and on-site interviews.

Have more questions? See all answers to common company questions.

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Updated July 11, 2022

Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Microsoft, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Microsoft. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Microsoft. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Microsoft. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Microsoft and its employees or that of Zippia.

Microsoft may also be known as or be related to MICROSOFT CORP, Microsoft, Microsoft Corporation and Microsoft Romania SRL.

Working At Microsoft

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