What salary range should I expect to be paid as an entry level
(college grad) "Program Manager" at Microsoft?

fetter,

First of all, if I am to read into your message that you've been
offered such a position at Microsoft, congratulations!

Unfortunately, there are no specific figures offered by Microsoft for
this position, but there are some clues we can go by to determine an
estimate.

First, from the Microsoft job listings site:
http://www.microsoft.com/careers/businesstools/jobs.htm

Microsoft states they offer "competitive salary and excellent
benefits."
So they should be offering at least the median value for such a
position.

Next, a search on the Yahoo Salary Wizard site to determine such a
salary for a similar position in Seattle:

http://swz-yahoo.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_compresult.asp?narrowcode=IT03&narrowdesc=IT+--+All&narrowcodecomp=&jobcode=MM18000039&jobcodecomp=MM18000039&jobtitlecomp=Product+Development+Manager&jobtitle=Product+Development+Manager&geo=the+United+States&zipcode=00000&iscompare=1&same=0&compdatatype=0&metrocodecomp=163&geocomp=Washington+--+Seattle

Turns up that the mean salary of $78,644. Normally you would expect
lower than this for being a new graduate, but that is partially
compensated by the fact that Microsoft salaries are generally above
the industry average.

Finally, this article from College Journal site:
http://www.collegejournal.com/salaryinfo/negotiationtips/20000628-vogt.html

States that a new graduate hired as a Program Manager at Microsoft
received "a salary 'a fair bit into the third federal income-tax
bracket'" and "also will be receiving stock options, a signing bonus,
a moving bonus and various other perks and 'special compensations.'"

Looking up current tax brackets from this site:
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/individual/schedule_2002.cfm

The third tax bracket for this year starts at $67,700.  Bump that up
"a fair bit", and it would seem to match with our previous estimate.

Further more, this additional salary survey:
http://www.pcprofessor.com/salary%20survey%20p3.htm

States that for IT professionals, "the average salary for a college
graduate was $67,800."  And as mentioned before, Microsoft should be
paying higher than the average.

Based on all this, I believe that you could expect your salary for
starting at Microsoft to be in the $70,000 to $80,000 range, with
potential bonus and other benefits on top of that.

By the way, here is an interesting page I found on the
responsibilities of being a Microsoft Program Manager:

http://radio.weblogs.com/0105395/stories/2002/03/27/whatIsAMicrosoftProgramManager.html

It's a bit tongue-in-cheek, but does seem to be from the heart.

Google search terms used:
"Microsoft program manager" -office
Microsoft college graduate salary
tax brackets 2002

Thanks a lot for the information.  I never would have found that tax
bracket info, great work!