Principal Software Engineer TC~300K at Microsoft vs 600K at Meta. Is 300k pretty low for Principal scope?
The Principal IC role at Microsoft is pretty stressful. 300K seems pretty less for consistently doing 10-12 hours work days and managing staff level scope at Microsoft. Why do folks prefer to stay at Microsoft at these levels? Let's assume the Principal ICs can crack the meta interview with a couple of months of prep.
In the same boat. One factor is job stability and non toxic culture at MS unlike Amazon and Meta.
You are not accounting for stock growth. Many home grown L65 make more than 300k due to stocks.
Dnt consider stock growth in TC
Stock growth makes a difference for those who joined 2+ years back, right now MSFT is at 3T market cap, 33P/E and the most valuable company in the world. It'll grow some but don't bet on it doing 🚀 things anymore like the last decade.
Easier work life balance, and they get embedded in the proprietary tech, work relationships. They feel safe at Microsoft, and are willing to pay 300k+ for that emotional safety feeling.
Stability and WLB over toxicity, money is not everything, specially when you might get PIPed anytime.
I was at MS, WLB is only for specific teams. If you are at Bing or Azure, your wlb level is equivalent to Amazon or Tiktok. Then only get paid with 50% for the same work.
We pay more than Msft and have 3-5x better refreshers and don’t even pay well
Your assumption of MS principal engg. being able to crack Meta is wrong. It would be very tough for most MS principal engg., because they are out of touch of what is going on in the latest cloud and server software.
Last I checked Azure is cloud
That's simply not true. Recently I started reading system design books for interview prep and pleasantly found out that my 15 year old product at Azure uses all the architectural patterns in line with latest industry standards. Everything has a Microsoft flavor added to it, but the design is very much as at par with what goes at all at-scale industry solutions. Microsoft pays less and has a bad reputation for not making cool consumer products, but the products are equally challenging and equally sophisticated as compared to any other big tech company.
Yes that's low lol, I was making 300k+ as a senior
Thats bad. Jump immediately if you have a chance.
Principal at Microsoft isn’t the same as Principal at most Bay Area companies. It’s more like Staff. Same is true at Amazon. Could be a Seattle vs Bay Area thing.
Lol.. Principal at Amazon is same as Staff at other companies? You clearly have no idea about the scope POAs manage
How is principle at 300k that’s absurdly low what’s your base?
Even levels.fyi shows 300ish for Principal At MS.
That’s old data before the recent msft stock pump