Raymond Chen3 min readintro
Why do Microsoft job levels start in the high 50’s instead of starting at a sane number like 1?
Summary
Microsoft renumbered its job levels to start at 40‑70 to add granularity and avoid confusion with the old 1‑14 system; entry engineers now begin at level 59, while lower numbers cover interns and non‑engineering roles.
- The original 10‑14 level scheme created large skill gaps and slow promotions.
- Each old level was split into 2‑3 new levels, giving finer promotion steps.
- New levels start at 40 to prevent overlap with historic level numbers.
- Levels sharing a title form a "band"; in‑band promotions are easier than cross‑band promotions.
Engineers at Microsoft or anyone designing corporate leveling systems need to understand why the high‑numbered levels exist and how they affect career progression.
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