91% of Microsoft Respondents in India Report 5% or Less Salary Hikes

A Blind survey has found that 91% of Microsoft respondents in India received salary increases of 5% or less in the 2026 appraisal cycle. The findings also indicate growing dissatisfaction with salary revisions, with 86% of Microsoft respondents saying they were unhappy with their increases.

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The survey covered 2,178 professionals based in India across companies. The number of Microsoft respondents was not separately disclosed, so the findings should not be interpreted as representing the company’s entire India workforce.

The share of Microsoft respondents reporting salary hikes of 5% or less increased from 45% in 2025 to 91% in 2026. Meanwhile, only 5% reported increases of more than 10%, compared with 27% in the previous appraisal cycle.

Salary Growth Concerns Across India’s Technology Workforce

The survey also points to wider concerns about salary growth among technology professionals in India. Across all respondents, 35% said they received no salary increase or experienced a pay cut in 2026, while 59% reported hikes of 5% or less.

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Also Read: India’s IT Job Market Is Changing: What Q2 Results Mean for Employees and Freshers

When asked about factors affecting their appraisal outcomes, 41% cited company financial performance or cost-cutting. Another 18% pointed to changing business priorities linked to AI and automation, while 22% identified individual performance ratings.

The findings suggest that employees are facing pressure on salary growth amid changing business priorities, cost controls and the adoption of AI.

Microsoft’s Voluntary Exit Offer

The survey findings come amid Microsoft’s Voluntary Exit Offer (VEO), announced by Chief People Officer Amy Coleman. The programme covers eligible employees in participating teams across India, the US, the UK and Canada.

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The offer is available to qualifying employees at Level 70 and below. Eligibility is subject to the programme’s conditions and participating teams; it does not apply automatically to the entire workforce.

Strong Financial Performance

Microsoft reported revenue of $92.3 billion for the July-September 2026 quarter, an increase of 19% year-on-year. Net income rose 32% to $36.6 billion.

Microsoft Cloud revenue increased 30% to $63.9 billion, while Azure revenue grew 48%.

However, the company’s financial performance alone does not explain individual salary decisions. The Blind survey captures employee responses and perceptions; it does not establish Microsoft’s official reasons for the reported salary increases.

The findings nevertheless point to a growing concern among technology professionals: strong business performance does not necessarily translate into higher salary increases for employees.