In Blind’s 2026 survey, 91% of Microsoft respondents in India reported pay increases of 5% or less, a contrast with Microsoft’s revenue growth as it announced a voluntary exit offer.
The share was 45% in Blind’s separate 2025 survey. This year, 5% of Microsoft respondents reported an increase above 10%, compared with 27% last year, and 86% said they were dissatisfied with their increase. The figures compare responses from two surveys, rather than pay records for the same employees.
Blind surveyed 2,178 professionals based in India from Oct. 15-26. It published company-level findings only for questions with at least 30 responses but did not give a Microsoft-specific count. The results describe the people who answered, not pay changes across Microsoft’s entire India workforce.
Across all respondents, 30% reported no increase and 5% reported a pay cut. When asked what most affected their pay outcome, 41% chose company finances or cost-cutting and 18% chose changes in team priorities related to AI and automation. Those answers reflect respondents’ views, not an explanation from Microsoft for its pay decisions.
Microsoft announced its voluntary exit offer on Oct. 26. It covers eligible employees at level 70 or below in participating teams in India, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. The package includes financial assistance and help with career planning.
Microsoft Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer Amy Coleman described the offer as a staffing option for participating organizations. She said it follows an earlier voluntary retirement program. Microsoft’s announcement gave no country-level eligibility figures.
The company reported $92.3 billion in revenue for the quarter ended Sept. 30, up 19% from a year earlier. GAAP net income rose 32% to $36.6 billion. Those company-wide results do not establish how Microsoft set the raises reported by survey respondents.
For its fiscal 2027 second quarter, Microsoft forecast revenue of $96 billion to $97.1 billion and capital spending above $50 billion. Its cost guidance includes an estimate for the exit offer.
