Amazon Web Services (AWS) vs Microsoft: AI Jobs, Salaries & Roles

Head-to-head comparison of AI career opportunities at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft.

Side-by-Side Comparison

AI company intelligence showing hiring activity and compensation

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Open AI Roles 96
Salary Range Not disclosed
Top Roles AI/ML Engineer, AI Product Manager, Research Scientist, AI Architect
Top Skills
AwsBedrockRagSagemaker
% Remote 0.0%
Experience Mix Mid 31%, Senior 69%
Company Stage Unknown

Microsoft

Open AI Roles 62
Salary Range $64K - $331K
Top Roles AI/ML Engineer, AI Software Engineer, AI Product Manager, Research Scientist
Top Skills
AzurePythonJavascriptPrompt EngineeringOpenai
% Remote 0.0%
Experience Mix Mid 52%, Senior 48%
Company Stage Unknown

Who Wins?

Best for Salary
Microsoft
Median ceiling ~$261K
Best for Remote
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
0.0% remote positions
Most Roles Available
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
96 open AI positions

Quick Verdict

Both companies are actively hiring with a similar number of open AI roles (96 at Amazon Web Services (AWS) vs 62 at Microsoft).

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Amazon Web Services (AWS) if you prioritize:

  • more open positions (96 active AI roles)
  • working with Bedrock, Sagemaker

Choose Microsoft if you want:

  • broader role variety across 6 different AI job categories
  • working with Python, Dynamics 365, Power Bi

Career Considerations

Beyond headline salary numbers, consider what each company offers for long-term career growth. Since both companies lean toward onsite work, consider how each company's office locations align with your living situation and career network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Microsoft currently shows higher median salary ceilings for AI positions. Amazon Web Services (AWS) ranges around Not disclosed while Microsoft ranges around $64K - $331K. Keep in mind that posted salary ranges reflect base compensation and often exclude equity, signing bonuses, and annual performance bonuses that can add 10-30% to total compensation. Actual offers also depend on specific role, seniority level, location, and negotiation. Check individual job listings for the most current figures.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers more remote opportunities at 0.0% of their AI roles. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is at 0.0% remote while Microsoft is at 0.0% remote. Remote availability can shift quickly as companies adjust return-to-office policies. Some roles listed as hybrid may allow mostly remote work in practice. If remote work is a priority, filter by the remote tag on individual company pages and pay attention to whether the listing specifies a geographic requirement.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) focuses on AI/ML Engineer, AI Product Manager roles, while Microsoft emphasizes AI/ML Engineer, AI Software Engineer. Skill requirements also differ: Amazon Web Services (AWS) prioritizes Aws, Bedrock, Rag, while Microsoft looks for Azure, Python, Javascript. These differences often reflect each company's core AI products and business model. The tech stack you work with early in your career shapes your trajectory, so consider which skill set aligns with your long-term goals.
Career growth depends on company stage, team size, and role scope. Amazon Web Services (AWS) (Unknown) has 96 open AI roles, while Microsoft (Unknown) has 62. Companies with more open roles often provide faster internal mobility and broader project exposure. Look at the experience mix breakdown above to gauge whether each company is primarily hiring senior talent or building entry-level pipelines, as this signals different mentorship and advancement cultures.
Data Source: Analysis based on 158 AI job postings collected and verified by AI Pulse. Data reflects active job listings as of October 2026. Salary figures represent posted compensation ranges and may not include equity, bonuses, or other benefits.

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