Microsoft Programmer Salary in the United States

How much does a Microsoft Programmer make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Microsoft Programmer in the United States is $128,161 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.

However, a Microsoft Programmer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $148,097
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $116,934 to $138,596
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $106,712
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View as table View as graph 25% $116,934 10% $106,712 90% $148,097 75% $138,596 $128,161 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Microsoft Programmer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $138,596 $11,550 $2,665 $67
Average $128,161 $10,680 $2,465 $62
25th Percentile $116,934 $9,745 $2,249 $56
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Key Factors That Influence Microsoft Programmer Salaries

A Microsoft Programmer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Microsoft Programmer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Microsoft Programmer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $82,803
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $106,557
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $130,500
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $150,989
  • Expert (over 8 years): $173,559
Levels Salary
Software ... Level Microsoft Programmer$82,803
Software ... Level Microsoft Programmer$106,557
Microsoft... Level Microsoft Programmer$130,500
Software ... Level Microsoft Programmer$150,989
Software ... Level Microsoft Programmer$173,559
$82,803 0 yr
$106,557 < 2 yrs
$130,500 2-4 yrs
$150,989 5-8 yrs
$173,559 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Microsoft Programmers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $161,649
  • San Francisco: $160,060
  • Oakland: $156,510

What Skills Can Increase a Microsoft Programmer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.68% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Software Development (Mentioned in 4.7% Job Postings): Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development is a process of writing and maintaining the source code, but in a broader sense, it includes all that is involved between the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation of the software, sometimes in a planned and structured process. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products. Software can be developed for a variety of purposes, the three most common being to meet specific needs of a specific client/business (the case with custom software), to meet a perceived need of some set of potential users (the case with commercial and open source software), or for personal use (e.g. a scientist may write software to automate a mundane task). Embedded software development, that is, the development of embedded software, such as used for controlling consumer products, requires the development process to be integrated with the development of the controlled physical product. System software underlies applications and the programming process itself, and is often developed separately.
  • Software Engineering (Mentioned in 2.8% Job Postings): Software engineering is the application of engineering to the development of software in a systematic method. Notable definitions of software engineering include: "the systematic application of scientific and technological knowledge, methods, and experience to the design, implementation, testing, and documentation of software"—The Bureau of Labor Statistics—IEEE Systems and software engineering - Vocabulary "The application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software"—IEEE Standard Glossary of Software Engineering Terminology "an engineering discipline that is concerned with all aspects of software production"—Ian Sommerville "the establishment and use of sound engineering principles in order to economically obtain software that is reliable and works efficiently on real machines"—Fritz Bauer
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.68%
Software Development 4.7%
Software Engineering 2.8%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Microsoft Programmer's salary.
  • Open Source: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Container: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Open Source
$133,287
4%
Container
$132,006
3%
Innovation
$132,006
3%
Kubernetes
$132,006
3%
Python
$130,724
2%
AWS
$130,724
2%
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How Education impacts a Microsoft Programmer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Microsoft Programmers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Microsoft Programmer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $122,135 and $128,293).

Microsoft Programmer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Microsoft Programmer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 2.0%
Associates 1.4%
Bachelors 46.1%
Masters 44.2%
Doctorate 6.0%
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Microsoft Programmer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Microsoft Programmer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Microsoft Programmer

Salaries for a Microsoft Programmer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $128,746 in 2023 to around $127,480 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Microsoft Programmer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Microsoft Programmer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$128,746
2024
$129,001
2025
$127,480
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $128,746
2024 $129,001
2025 $127,480
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Microsoft Programmer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Microsoft Programmer

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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