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Home / Compensation / Apple vs Microsoft
Apple pays about 16% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Software Engineer: $395K vs $340K median total comp. Below is the full level-by-level breakdown for every role ladder both companies share, from public-source data.
Public-source estimates (Beta). Figures are annualized USD total compensation (base + equity + bonus).
Apple pays about 16% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Software Engineer: $395K vs $340K median total comp. Overall ranges run $165K - $1.4M at Apple and $145K - $1.2M at Microsoft across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | $195K | $395K | $820K |
| Microsoft | $165K | $340K | $730K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| ICT2Software Engineer (New Grad) | $165K - $255Kmedian $195K |
| ICT3Software Engineer | $220K - $380Kmedian $270K |
| ICT4Senior Software Engineer | $320K - $590Kmedian $395K |
| ICT5Staff Software Engineer | $460K - $920Kmedian $580K |
| ICT6Principal / Distinguished Software Engineer | $640K - $1.4Mmedian $820K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (SDE)Software Engineer (New Grad) | $145K - $205Kmedian $165K |
| 60-61 (SDE II)Software Engineer II | $195K - $320Kmedian $230K |
| 62-63 (Senior)Senior Software Engineer | $280K - $500Kmedian $340K |
| 64-65 (Principal)Principal Software Engineer | $410K - $800Kmedian $510K |
| 66+ (Partner)Partner Software Engineer | $580K - $1.2Mmedian $730K |
Apple pays about 16% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Engineering Manager: $920K vs $790K median total comp. Overall ranges run $360K - $2.3M at Apple and $290K - $2.4M at Microsoft across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | $440K | $920K | $1.3M |
| Microsoft | $360K | $790K | $1.3M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| ICT4MEngineering Manager | $360K - $660Kmedian $440K |
| ICT5MSenior Engineering Manager | $510K - $1.0Mmedian $640K |
| ICT6MDirector, Engineering | $720K - $1.6Mmedian $920K |
| ICT7MSenior Director, Engineering | $1.0M - $2.3Mmedian $1.3M |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 62-63 (Manager)Software Engineering Manager | $290K - $540Kmedian $360K |
| 64-65 (Principal Mgr)Principal Engineering Manager | $430K - $850Kmedian $540K |
| 66+ (Partner Mgr)Partner Engineering Manager | $620K - $1.3Mmedian $790K |
| 67+ (CVP)Corporate Vice President / Distinguished Manager | $950K - $2.4Mmedian $1.3M |
Apple pays about 17% more than Microsoft for a mid-level ML Engineer: $415K vs $355K median total comp. Overall ranges run $170K - $1.5M at Apple and $150K - $1.3M at Microsoft across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | $200K | $415K | $855K |
| Microsoft | $170K | $355K | $760K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| ICT2ML Engineer (New Grad) | $170K - $260Kmedian $200K |
| ICT3ML Engineer | $230K - $400Kmedian $280K |
| ICT4Senior ML Engineer | $335K - $625Kmedian $415K |
| ICT5Staff ML Engineer | $480K - $970Kmedian $605K |
| ICT6Distinguished ML Engineer | $670K - $1.5Mmedian $855K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (AS)Applied Scientist (New Grad) | $150K - $215Kmedian $170K |
| 60-61 (AS II)Applied Scientist II | $200K - $340Kmedian $240K |
| 62-63 (Sr AS)Senior Applied Scientist | $290K - $530Kmedian $355K |
| 64-65 (Principal AS)Principal Applied Scientist | $425K - $840Kmedian $535K |
| 66+ (Partner AS)Partner Applied Scientist | $600K - $1.3Mmedian $760K |
Apple pays about 19% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Product Manager: $380K vs $320K median total comp. Overall ranges run $160K - $1.4M at Apple and $140K - $1.1M at Microsoft across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | $190K | $380K | $790K |
| Microsoft | $160K | $320K | $690K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| ICT2Product Manager (Junior) | $160K - $250Kmedian $190K |
| ICT3Product Manager | $215K - $365Kmedian $260K |
| ICT4Senior Product Manager | $305K - $565Kmedian $380K |
| ICT5Staff Product Manager | $440K - $880Kmedian $555K |
| ICT6Group Product Manager | $615K - $1.4Mmedian $790K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (PM)Product Manager (New Grad) | $140K - $200Kmedian $160K |
| 60-61 (PM II)Product Manager II | $185K - $305Kmedian $220K |
| 62-63 (Sr PM)Senior Product Manager | $265K - $470Kmedian $320K |
| 64-65 (Principal PM)Principal Product Manager | $380K - $750Kmedian $480K |
| 66+ (Partner PM)Partner Product Manager | $540K - $1.1Mmedian $690K |
Apple pays about 16% more than Microsoft for a mid-level SRE / DevOps: $390K vs $335K median total comp. Overall ranges run $165K - $1.4M at Apple and $145K - $1.2M at Microsoft across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | $195K | $390K | $805K |
| Microsoft | $165K | $335K | $720K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| ICT2Site Reliability Engineer (New Grad) | $165K - $250Kmedian $195K |
| ICT3Site Reliability Engineer | $215K - $375Kmedian $265K |
| ICT4Senior Site Reliability Engineer | $315K - $580Kmedian $390K |
| ICT5Staff Site Reliability Engineer | $450K - $905Kmedian $570K |
| ICT6Distinguished Site Reliability Engineer | $625K - $1.4Mmedian $805K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (SRE)Site Reliability Engineer (New Grad) | $145K - $205Kmedian $165K |
| 60-61 (SRE II)Site Reliability Engineer II | $190K - $315Kmedian $225K |
| 62-63 (Sr SRE)Senior Site Reliability Engineer | $275K - $495Kmedian $335K |
| 64-65 (Principal SRE)Principal Site Reliability Engineer | $405K - $790Kmedian $505K |
| 66+ (Partner SRE)Partner Site Reliability Engineer | $570K - $1.2Mmedian $720K |
Apple pays about 18% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Data Engineer: $390K vs $330K median total comp. Overall ranges run $162K - $1.4M at Apple and $142K - $1.2M at Microsoft across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | $192K | $390K | $805K |
| Microsoft | $162K | $330K | $715K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| ICT2Data Engineer (New Grad) | $162K - $247Kmedian $192K |
| ICT3Data Engineer | $215K - $375Kmedian $265K |
| ICT4Senior Data Engineer | $315K - $580Kmedian $390K |
| ICT5Staff Data Engineer | $450K - $905Kmedian $570K |
| ICT6Distinguished Data Engineer | $625K - $1.4Mmedian $805K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (DE)Data Engineer (New Grad) | $142K - $200Kmedian $162K |
| 60-61 (DE II)Data Engineer II | $188K - $310Kmedian $222K |
| 62-63 (Sr DE)Senior Data Engineer | $270K - $488Kmedian $330K |
| 64-65 (Principal DE)Principal Data Engineer | $400K - $785Kmedian $498K |
| 66+ (Partner DE)Partner Data Engineer | $565K - $1.2Mmedian $715K |
Apple pays about 24% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Design: $365K vs $295K median total comp. Overall ranges run $152K - $1.3M at Apple and $122K - $1.0M at Microsoft across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | $178K | $365K | $760K |
| Microsoft | $140K | $295K | $635K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| ICT2Designer (New Grad) | $152K - $230Kmedian $178K |
| ICT3Designer | $200K - $350Kmedian $245K |
| ICT4Senior Designer | $295K - $545Kmedian $365K |
| ICT5Staff Designer | $425K - $855Kmedian $540K |
| ICT6Distinguished Designer | $590K - $1.3Mmedian $760K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (Designer)Designer (New Grad) | $122K - $175Kmedian $140K |
| 60-61 (Designer II)Designer II | $165K - $275Kmedian $195K |
| 62-63 (Senior Designer)Senior Designer | $240K - $440Kmedian $295K |
| 64-65 (Principal Designer)Principal Designer | $350K - $700Kmedian $440K |
| 66+ (Partner Designer)Partner Designer | $500K - $1.0Mmedian $635K |
Apple pays about 15% more than Microsoft for a mid-level Security Engineer: $395K vs $343K median total comp. Overall ranges run $168K - $1.4M at Apple and $147K - $1.2M at Microsoft across all levels.
| Company | Entry (p50) | Mid (p50) | Senior (p50) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | $198K | $395K | $820K |
| Microsoft | $167K | $343K | $745K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| ICT2Security Engineer (New Grad) | $168K - $255Kmedian $198K |
| ICT3Security Engineer | $220K - $380Kmedian $270K |
| ICT4Senior Security Engineer | $320K - $590Kmedian $395K |
| ICT5Staff Security Engineer | $460K - $920Kmedian $580K |
| ICT6Distinguished Security Engineer | $635K - $1.4Mmedian $820K |
| Level | Total comp (p25 - p90) |
|---|---|
| 59 (Sec Eng)Security Engineer (New Grad) | $147K - $207Kmedian $167K |
| 60-61 (Sec Eng II)Security Engineer II | $198K - $322Kmedian $233K |
| 62-63 (Senior Sec)Senior Security Engineer | $282K - $505Kmedian $343K |
| 64-65 (Principal Sec)Principal Security Engineer | $415K - $810Kmedian $515K |
| 66+ (Partner Sec)Partner Security Engineer | $590K - $1.2Mmedian $745K |
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