India, Aug. 25 -- How much do Microsoft engineers actually earn in the United States? New leaks are turning the Big Tech salary dream on its head, where pay often falls short of the promised figures. Aspiring engineers, especially those eyeing a global career, might find these fresh numbers more sobering than expected.

For new engineers joining Microsoft at Level 57, the starting base salary is $83,000 ( Rs.69 lakh). It's a respectable sum by any standard, but much lower than what many tech hopefuls expect after years of "learn to code" campaigns and tales of instant fortune. Stock awards sweeten the deal with an extra $5,000-13,000 ( Rs.4-11 lakh), and sign-on bonuses are far from guaranteed spanning a range from $0 to $9,000 ( Rs.0-7.5...