Microsoft Research Scientist Salary

IQ Team
Written by IQ Team
IQ Team
Published March 24, 2022
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Table of contents

$129,160

Average Base Salary

$167,981

Average Total Compensation

Min: $59K
Max: $189K
Base Salary
Median: $134K
Mean (Average): $129K
Data points: 6
Min: $36K
Max: $299K
Total Compensation
Median: $175K
Mean (Average): $168K
Data points: 5
The average base salary for a Research Scientist at Microsoft is $129,160
based on 6 data points.
Adjusting the average for more recent salary data points, the average recency weighted base salary is $126,336.

The estimated average total compensation is $167,981
based on 5 data points.
The average recency weighted total compensation is $162,995.

View the full Research Scientist at Microsoft interview guide

Normalized Microsoft Research Scientist Salaries


Average total compensation
0% - Low
15%85%
Cost of living
0% - Low
15%85%
Years of experience
0% - Low
15%85%

The average base salary for Research Scientist at Microsoft is in the top 80% compared to all other companies salaries.

The average base salary for Research Scientist at Microsoft is $129,160 while the average Research Scientist base salary is $93,923.

If we normalize the salaries at Microsoft by the cost of living, then the average base salary for Research Scientist at Microsoft is in the top 77% compared to all other companies.

If we normalize the salaries at Microsoft by the years of experience, then the average base salary for Research Scientist at Microsoft is in the top 0% compared to all other companies.

Microsoft Research Scientist Salary by Seniority Levels

Senior*
$157K
$198K
Senior
Median: $178K
Mean (Average): $178K
Data points: 2
Mid-Level*
$109K
Mid-Level
Median: $109K
Mean (Average): $109K
Data points: 1
Entry Level*
$43K
Entry Level
Median: $43K
Mean (Average): $43K
Data points: 1
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)

Seniority can increase the pay of a Research Scientist at Microsoft. Here are the base salaries of a Research Scientist at Microsoft grouped into 3 seniority categories.

Microsoft Research Scientist Salary Compared to other Positions

Product Analyst*
$180K
Product Analyst
Median: $180K
Mean (Average): $180K
Data points: 1
Product Manager
$71K
$225K
Product Manager
Median: $150K
Mean (Average): $152K
Data points: 628
Machine Learning Engineer
$88K
$217K
Machine Learning Engineer
Median: $145K
Mean (Average): $147K
Data points: 74
Business Intelligence
$66K
$209K
Business Intelligence
Median: $134K
Mean (Average): $142K
Data points: 6
Data Scientist
$110K
$184K
Data Scientist
Median: $138K
Mean (Average): $140K
Data points: 2,388
Software Engineer
$70K
$200K
Software Engineer
Median: $138K
Mean (Average): $138K
Data points: 10,621
Data Engineer
$66K
$184K
Data Engineer
Median: $137K
Mean (Average): $135K
Data points: 63
Growth Marketing Analyst
$92K
$173K
Growth Marketing Analyst
Median: $127K
Mean (Average): $130K
Data points: 44
Research Scientist
$59K
$189K
Research Scientist
Median: $134K
Mean (Average): $129K
Data points: 6
Business Analyst
$94K
$167K
Business Analyst
Median: $125K
Mean (Average): $128K
Data points: 45
Data Analyst
$94K
$160K
Data Analyst
Median: $130K
Mean (Average): $128K
Data points: 162
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)

Most data science positions fall under different position titles depending on the actual role.

From the graph we can see that on average the Product Analyst role pays the most with a $180,000 base salary while the Data Analyst role on average pays the least with a $128,168 base salary.

Top Cities for Microsoft Research Scientist Salaries

Seattle, WA*
$113K
$193K
Seattle, WA
Median: $146K
Mean (Average): $150K
Data points: 4
Atlanta, GA*
$131K
Atlanta, GA
Median: $131K
Mean (Average): $131K
Data points: 1
Milano, Italy*
$43K
Milano, Italy
Median: $43K
Mean (Average): $43K
Data points: 1
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)

The Research Scientist salary in Seattle, WA is the highest paying salary with a $150,240 average base salary. The Research Scientist salary in Milano, Italy is the lowest paying salary with $43,000 average base salary.

Microsoft Research Scientist Salary Compared to other Companies

Netflix
$127K
$630K
Netflix
Median: $335K
Mean (Average): $370K
Data points: 18
Spotify
$156K
$280K
Spotify
Median: $175K
Mean (Average): $212K
Data points: 5
Convoy Inc
$180K
$204K
Convoy Inc
Median: $190K
Mean (Average): $189K
Data points: 7
Waymo
$149K
$220K
Waymo
Median: $178K
Mean (Average): $184K
Data points: 24
Citadel Llc
$135K
$250K
Citadel Llc
Median: $165K
Mean (Average): $177K
Data points: 9
Element
$150K
$196K
Element
Median: $180K
Mean (Average): $174K
Data points: 6
Lyft
$135K
$223K
Lyft
Median: $170K
Mean (Average): $171K
Data points: 26
Criteo
$158K
$192K
Criteo
Median: $160K
Mean (Average): $168K
Data points: 7
Bytedance Inc.
$120K
$200K
Bytedance Inc.
Median: $175K
Mean (Average): $168K
Data points: 41
Baidu
$150K
$190K
Baidu
Median: $167K
Mean (Average): $167K
Data points: 20
Meta
$130K
$228K
Meta
Median: $160K
Mean (Average): $167K
Data points: 921
Google
$132K
$212K
Google
Median: $156K
Mean (Average): $164K
Data points: 257
Apple
$142K
$205K
Apple
Median: $155K
Mean (Average): $164K
Data points: 16
Dataminr, Inc.
$133K
$179K
Dataminr, Inc.
Median: $170K
Mean (Average): $162K
Data points: 14
Microsoft
$59K
$189K
Microsoft
Median: $134K
Mean (Average): $129K
Data points: 6
Base salary
Median
Mean (Average)
* = Low confidence (less than 5 data points)
1
...

The Research Scientist at Netflix salary is the highest paying salary with a $370,348 average base salary. The Research Scientist at University Of Oregon salary is the lowest paying salary with $45,000 average base salary.
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