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Microsoft-owned but operates a distinct ladder (Senior / Staff / Senior Staff / Distinguished). Equity is in MSFT.
Ranges aggregated from publicly-available sources. Treat the median (p50) as roughly representative; quartile bands reflect negotiation range. Have specific data points or corrections? Send them in.
LinkedIn was acquired by Microsoft in 2016 but maintains a distinct level scheme: Senior Associate (entry), Senior, Staff, Senior Staff, Distinguished. Equity grants are in publicly-traded MSFT, vesting 25%/year (no cliff), matching Microsoft's schedule. Bonus targets are 10-12% IC, 15-20% manager. LinkedIn's pay-transparency postings (CA / NY / WA) provide tight band estimates. Comp bands are roughly 5-10% lower than equivalent Microsoft levels at the senior IC level due to the LinkedIn-specific calibration.
| Component | p25 | p50 | p75 | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $130K | $145K | $160K | $175K |
| Equity (annualized) | $25K | $35K | $50K | $65K |
| Bonus / sign-on amortized | $12K | $15K | $18K | $22K |
| Total comp | $170K | $195K | $225K | $255K |
Entry-level. LinkedIn equity is in MSFT (parent), vesting on the Microsoft schedule (25%/year, no cliff).
| Component | p25 | p50 | p75 | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $175K | $195K | $215K | $235K |
| Equity (annualized) | $40K | $65K | $95K | $130K |
| Bonus / sign-on amortized | $22K | $28K | $35K | $42K |
| Total comp | $240K | $290K | $350K | $420K |
Mid-level. LinkedIn's 'Senior' title spans 3-6 YOE - lower band than Google L4 / Meta E4 same nominal title.
| Component | p25 | p50 | p75 | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $210K | $235K | $260K | $285K |
| Equity (annualized) | $75K | $115K | $165K | $230K |
| Bonus / sign-on amortized | $35K | $42K | $52K | $65K |
| Total comp | $320K | $390K | $480K | $590K |
Senior IC. Comparable to Google L5 / Microsoft 63. The most-common ladder for senior external hires.
| Component | p25 | p50 | p75 | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $250K | $275K | $300K | $325K |
| Equity (annualized) | $145K | $215K | $305K | $425K |
| Bonus / sign-on amortized | $50K | $60K | $75K | $90K |
| Total comp | $440K | $540K | $670K | $830K |
Staff IC. Equity component grows; LinkedIn comp is roughly equal to Microsoft Principal level.
| Component | p25 | p50 | p75 | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $290K | $320K | $350K | $380K |
| Equity (annualized) | $220K | $335K | $490K | $700K |
| Bonus / sign-on amortized | $75K | $95K | $115K | $140K |
| Total comp | $590K | $750K | $950K | $1.22M |
Distinguished IC. External hires very rare; mostly internal promotion or transfer from Microsoft Partner.
Cross-referenced against public reporting, state pay-transparency postings, and triangulated where source ranges disagreed. Last refresh: May 2026.
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