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Microsoft promotes faster than Amazon since Microsoft uses an internal numerical rating score that can potentially improve each review cycle.

Also, the offers I heard about (from a few years ago) from both companies were comparable with respect to base salary, with negligible differences. However, Amazon's stock-based compensation offers blew Microsoft's (laughable) offer out of the water.

You say "stock-based compensation", I hear "golden handcuffs".

You say "golden handcuffs" and I hear "an employee who doesn't plan on sticking around"

The point of golden handcuffs really is just that; you stick around a while and we'll give you a little extra.

(My problem with golden handcuffs is that most deals I've seen as an Engineer were pathetically small. The employer seemed to be unaware that I can buy stock options on the open market.)

I graduated last year and in general Amazon's offers were above Microsoft's by a fair margin (10% or more).

Give larger raises with promotions would be my guess. MS likes to promote (expect more) and then give below inflation raises.