One of the top performers in my team - recent promotion to L64 @ Azure. 11 YoE. 3 years at msft. I expect top rewards this year. Last year TC: 210K at L63. Total granted stock was like $120K and the cash reward was like $40k which puts the total rewards over $300k. I think I should see close to $300k in a year or so when I get to L65. (dreaming ?) I wasn’t looking but found myself getting an offer from AWS L6 PM-T. TC is $285k. What do y’all think ? Should I take it ? My gut says don’t accept anything below $300k but I also feel a bit bored in my current role. I have pushed for $300k+ but they said even $290k wouldn’t be possible. Is this true ? I heard about an exception route but not sure if the hiring manager wants to take that route for me.
285 is already at top of the band... understand that next year you are pretty much getting 0 stock or increment
I don’t know exact numbers but I’m pretty sure that is either max for the band or very close to it. If they’re willing to lay down an offer this strong, you probably have a shot at pushing them to level up the offer for L7 Principal PMT. L6 to L7 promo is very difficult and so it would be a huge accomplishment even if they didnt budge on TC.
What’s PMT? Is this Lab 126?
Senior product manager, technical
Best to get 65 at Azure and then come to AWS as L7. L6 PMT especially in AWS is ultra competitive and takes 3-5 years to move to L7 if you are doing very well. New MBAs with 0-2 yoe come in as L6 PMT. 11 yoe does not fit well with L6 PMT. One of my PMT friends with 5yoe was burned by sharing a band with younger folks just out of college who were doing 80-100hr weeks. It is easier to get to 65 than to L7. There are lots of Azure 64s that have come in as L7 PMT. You may have been down leveled after interview. Another thing is that at Microsoft engineering and Pm is in the same salary range. At Amazon PMT is paid 15-25% lower than engineer and SDM bands. Anything above 250k for PMT is very rare (excluding existing ppl who have benefited from stock appreciation) but with exception I have heard of 350k+ in many cases. Definitely not worth the change unless you get 30-40% TC boost or get to start a fully new initiative in a hot area that excites you. If you decide on L6 dont budge on comp and hardball the recruiter and manager.
Thanks folks for responding. I discussed L7 and it sounded like it is impossible. The role they had in mind is L6 and I was told L7 is very rare across the company as an IC. The role is quite interesting but not sure if it is worth losing all the benefits I have at msft.
They also said L7 at Amazon maps to L66 at msft which is what I see at levels.fyi. If I pushed I could get to l65 next year though.
True for SDE and SDM. Maybe not for PM since Amazon PMs are paid lower than SDE and SDM (don’t know by how much). I’ve never seen 65 principal PM come in as L6
Not in PM but I moved from Microsoft few months back. I experienced big reductions in 401k match, now need to pay monthly for health insurance that I didn’t need to, fewer vacation days, no year-end cash bonus, lower quality of computers, lower quality of seat and table which they said was cut from a door, paid parking far away, no fitness reimbursement, less comfortable business travel, poor wlb, and so on. 401k match was the biggest difference. Keep these in mind when you negotiate your pay. In my case the value of unvested Microsoft stock has grown faster than my Amazon stock so far
Wtf then why did u move
You folks helped me make my mind. Thanks! I am now inclined to stay with msft. What do you think of me talking to my manager and sharing that I have an offer on the table ? Will they accelerate my time to L65 ? Would they match the TC ?
Doesn’t hurt to ask. If they value you, you’ll know. If they don’t value you you’ll find out as well. Don’t know about msft,but generally if they like you they will try hard to keep you. Not advisable if you are on H1B visa!!!
What was the offer details?
Will share once I decline or accept