# Data scientist and ML engineer salary in India 2026: full breakdown - Link: https://100xfounder.com/data-scientist-ml-engineer-salary-india/ - Published: 2026-10-21T14:03:00+05:30 - Author: Ishaan Vardhan [Careers & Salary](https://100xfounder.com/category/careers-salary/)Ishaan VardhanOct 21, 20269 min read A data scientist in India typically earns ₹15.2–16.8 lakh a year and a machine learning engineer ₹12.6–13.9 lakh, according to self-reported data on [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/data-scientist-salary), but both roles climb steeply with experience and employer. On Levels.fyi, which covers more global tech companies and includes stock, the India medians are about ₹30 lakh for data scientists and ₹28 lakh for ML/AI engineers, and senior AI architects reach close to ₹1 crore in TeamLease Digital’s 2026 benchmarks. Here is what the published 2026 data shows by experience, company type and city, plus where the AI pay premium is heading. All figures are survey or self-reported ranges, not offers. A lakh is ₹100,000, a crore is 100 lakh and LPA means lakh per annum; at about ₹96 to the US dollar ([Trading Economics](https://tradingeconomics.com/india/currency), 2 October 2026), ₹15 lakh is roughly $15,600. **Key takeaways** * AmbitionBox shows data scientists at ₹11.3–12.5 lakh with 1–3 years, ₹14.9–16.5 lakh at 3–6 years and ₹20.5–22.6 lakh at 6–9 years. * ML engineers start lower but rise fast; the “AI/ML engineer” title averages ₹ 26.6–29.4 lakh at 6–9 years on AmbitionBox. * Internet and software product companies pay data scientists roughly 45–65% more than IT services firms on average. * TeamLease Digital reports a GenAI developer rising from ₹11.2 lakh to ₹34.5 lakh between 0–2 and 6–8 years, and an ML platform architect with 15+ years at ₹94.8 lakh. * Naukri data shows AI/ML hiring grew 45% in FY26, with the fastest growth in jobs paying ₹50 lakh or more. ## Data scientist salary by experience AmbitionBox’s data scientist figures are based on more than 61,000 reported salaries and were updated on 2 October 2026. | Experience | Data Scientist | Senior Data Scientist | Lead Data Scientist | | 1–3 years | ₹11.3–12.5 lakh | n/a | n/a | | 3–6 years | ₹14.9–16.5 lakh | ₹23.9–26.4 lakh | ₹26.7–29.5 lakh | | 6–9 years | ₹20.5–22.6 lakh | ₹30.4–33.6 lakh | ₹32.9–36.4 lakh | | 9–12 years | n/a | ₹34.7–38.4 lakh | ₹37.4–41.3 lakh | | 12+ years | n/a | n/a | ₹38.6–42.7 lakh | Sources: AmbitionBox profile pages for [Data Scientist](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/data-scientist-salary), [Senior Data Scientist](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/senior-data-scientist-salary) and [Lead Data Scientist](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/lead-data-scientist-salary), updated 2–4 October 2026. For context, AmbitionBox puts [data analysts](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/data-analyst-salary) at ₹6.5–7.2 lakh and [data engineers](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/data-engineer-salary) at ₹11.6–12.8 lakh. Data science sits well above analytics, and the premium widens with seniority. ## ML engineer salary by experience Job titles in machine learning are messy, and AmbitionBox tracks “Machine Learning Engineer” and “AI/ML Engineer” separately. Both are shown below. | Experience | Machine Learning Engineer | AI/ML Engineer | | 1–3 years | ₹9.2–10.2 lakh | ₹11.5–12.7 lakh | | 3–6 years | ₹13.1–14.5 lakh | ₹16.6–18.4 lakh | | 6–9 years | ₹19.6–21.7 lakh (AmbitionBox estimate) | ₹26.6–29.4 lakh | Sources: AmbitionBox profile pages for [Machine Learning Engineer](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/machine-learning-engineer-salary)( 9,800 salaries, updated 3 October 2026) and [AI/ML Engineer](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/ai-ml-engineer-salary)( 10,100 salaries, updated 3 October 2026). TeamLease Digital’s Digital Skills and Salary Primer FY2026–27, which studied about 37,000 tech and digital roles, gives a cleaner progression for AI-specific roles. It reported that a GenAI developer earns ₹11.2 lakh at 0–2 years and ₹34.5 lakh at 6–8 years, and a data engineer moves from ₹9.1 lakh to ₹29.6 lakh over the same span, according to [CXOToday](https://cxotoday.com/ai/teamlease-digital-report-53-60-talent-shortage-hits-genai-cloud-as-ai-skills-lag-at-16/). At 15+ years, an ML platform architect earns ₹94.8 lakh. ![Screenshot of a Jupyter notebook running Python and NumPy code to build a matrix]( https://100xfounder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/screenshot-of-a-jupyter-notebook- running-python-and-numpy-code-to-buil-1024x681.png) A Jupyter notebook running Python, a standard tool for data scientists. · [Photo: Andrey Yakimchik / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jupyter_Notebook.png) ### How the data roles compare Data analyst, data engineer, data scientist and ML engineer are often treated as one career, but the pay curves differ. AmbitionBox’s experience bands, all updated between 1 and 3 October 2026: | Role | 1–3 years | 3–6 years | 6–9 years | | Data analyst | ₹5.2–5.7 lakh | ₹7.2–7.9 lakh | ₹7.7–11.3 lakh | | Data engineer | ₹7.6–8.4 lakh | ₹11.3–12.5 lakh | ₹17.5–19.4 lakh | | Machine learning engineer | ₹9.2–10.2 lakh | ₹13.1–14.5 lakh | ₹19.6–21.7 lakh (estimate) | | Data scientist | ₹11.3–12.5 lakh | ₹14.9–16.5 lakh | ₹20.5–22.6 lakh | | AI/ML engineer | ₹11.5–12.7 lakh | ₹16.6–18.4 lakh | ₹26.6–29.4 lakh | Two things stand out. Data analysts plateau early, with the 6–9 year band only modestly above the 3–6 year one, so analytics is better treated as an entry point than a destination if pay is the goal. And the roles closest to building and shipping AI systems pull ahead after about six years. TeamLease Digital’s figures show the same shape: its AI-core GenAI developer reaches ₹34.5 lakh at 6–8 years, against ₹29.6 lakh for an AI-adjacent data engineer. Data engineering deserves a closer look than it usually gets. It starts lower than data science, but the AmbitionBox sample is large, at about 1.1 lakh reported salaries, and TeamLease’s data shows the role more than tripling in pay between the early and 6–8 year bands. For engineers who prefer infrastructure to modelling, it is a well-paid path into AI work. ## Salary by company type As with software engineering, the employer explains a large part of the spread. | Industry (AmbitionBox) | Data Scientist | ML Engineer | | IT services and consulting | ₹12.9–14.3 lakh | ₹10.6–11.7 lakh | | Analytics and KPO | ₹13.9–15.4 lakh | n/a | | Management consulting | ₹16–17.7 lakh | ₹14.3–15.8 lakh | | Software product | ₹18.6–20.6 lakh | ₹17.9–19.8 lakh | | Internet | ₹21.1–23.3 lakh | ₹18.2–20.8 lakh | At company level, AmbitionBox shows data scientists at TCS averaging ₹10.8–11.9 lakh, against ₹17.5–19.3 lakh at Tiger Analytics and ₹20.1–22.3 lakh at Fractal Analytics. For ML engineers, Google averages ₹25.5–37.9 lakh and Qualcomm ₹22.1– 30.8 lakh, against ₹6.5–7.4 lakh at TCS. ### Levels.fyi: the top of the market Levels.fyi includes stock and bonus and draws more heavily from global tech firms and GCCs (global capability centres, the in-house tech hubs multinationals run in India). * **Data scientist:** India median ₹29.9 lakh from 1,159 submissions; 25th percentile ₹18.2 lakh, 75th ₹44.9 lakh, 90th ₹64.6 lakh. Top-paying companies: Amazon (₹ 74.2 lakh median), Uber (₹58.7 lakh) and Microsoft (₹50.9 lakh). Source: [Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi/t/data-scientist/locations/india). * **ML/AI software engineer:** India median ₹28.4 lakh from 1,459 submissions; 25th percentile ₹14.4 lakh, 75th ₹49.8 lakh, 90th ₹74.3 lakh. Source: [Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/focus/ml-ai/locations/india). Both pages were accessed on 4 October 2026. The ML/AI distribution is wider than the data scientist one: its 90th percentile is higher but its 25th is lower, which fits a field where a small group of experienced engineers at top firms earns far more than the many newer entrants. Michael Page’s 2026 list of India’s highest paying jobs puts the higher range for data science and traditional machine learning specialists at around ₹2 crore a year, according to [Michael Page India](https://www.michaelpage.co.in/advice/career-advice/salary-and-negotiation/highest-paying-jobs-india). That is a ceiling for senior hires, not a typical salary. ![Rows of black server racks in a data centre with a raised white floor](https:// 100xfounder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/rows-of-black-server-racks-in-a-data- centre-with-a-raised-white-floor-1024x683.jpg) Server racks in a data centre. Engineers who can deploy and run models in production earn more. · [Photo: Carl Lender / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Datacenter_Server_Racks_(22370909788).jpg) ## Salary by city | City | Data Scientist (AmbitionBox) | ML Engineer (AmbitionBox) | Data Scientist median (Levels.fyi) | | Bengaluru | ₹15.9–17.5 lakh | ₹13.5–14.9 lakh | ₹29.6 lakh | | Hyderabad | ₹15.3–16.9 lakh | ₹12.5–13.8 lakh | ₹39.6 lakh | | Pune | ₹14.5–16 lakh | ₹10.3–11.4 lakh | ₹33.8 lakh | | Gurugram | ₹16.8–18.6 lakh | n/a | n/a | | Mumbai | ₹15.2–16.8 lakh | ₹11.1–12.2 lakh | n/a | Sources: AmbitionBox data scientist and ML engineer pages (2–3 October 2026) and Levels.fyi data scientist page (4 October 2026), which lists only its top three cities. City gaps are modest on AmbitionBox, within about ₹2–3 lakh for data scientists. Hiring momentum is spreading beyond Bengaluru: Naukri reported Kolkata (56%) and Delhi NCR (44%) led AI/ML hiring growth in March 2026, and Hyderabad led in May with 44%. If you are looking, our [AI and ML jobs](https://100xfounder.com/jobs/ai-ml-jobs/) page lists current roles from official careers pages. ![A curved glass office building at Bagmane Tech Park in Bengaluru](https://100xfounder. com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/a-curved-glass-office-building-at-bagmane-tech-park- in-bengaluru-1024x771.jpg) Bagmane Tech Park in Bengaluru, the city with the most reported data scientist salaries on AmbitionBox. · [Photo: Gpkp / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bagmane_Tech_Park,_Bangalore_(2024)_44.jpg) ## Why AI and ML pay is rising faster The short answer is supply. TeamLease Digital estimates the talent supply gap at about 53% in GenAI and 55–60% in cloud, with only about 16% of Indian IT professionals holding AI skills, according to [CIOL](https://www.ciol.com/tech/ai-salary-premiums-india-tech-entry-level-hiring-pressure-teamlease-12590060). The same report found entry-level AI-core roles in GCCs carry a median of ₹13.2 lakh, against ₹4.8–5.4 lakh for AI-support roles, and projected salary growth of 16–21% for AI-core roles in FY2027–28 against 7–8% for AI-support roles. Demand data matches. Naukri’s JobSpeak index showed AI/ML hiring up 37% year on year in March 2026 and 45% for FY26 overall, with growth steepest in the ₹50 lakh- plus band (55%), according to [Naukri](https://www.naukri.com/blog/naukri-jobspeak-march-26-records-a-9-rise-in-white-collar-hiring-as-fy26-closes-at-8-the-strongest-job-growth-in-three-years/). In May 2026, AI/ML hiring grew 22% while overall IT hiring fell 7%, and hiring for AI/ML roles paying above ₹30 lakh rose 27%, according to [Naukri](https://www.naukri.com/blog/naukri-jobspeak-may-2026-white-collar-hiring-remains-stable-in-may-ai-ml-roles-and-insurance-sector-continue-to-lead/). Senior professionals were most in demand: hiring for the 13–16 years band grew 32%. Supply is growing too. Nasscom’s Annual Strategic Review 2026 said more than 2 million tech professionals had been upskilled in AI, including 200,000–300,000 in advanced AI skills, according to [Nasscom](https://d3r3sr3o54kk15.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/media_pdf/India%E2%80%99s%20tech%20industry%20continues%20to%20redefine%20AI-led%20transformation,%20efficiency%20and%20skilling--%20Nasscom%20Annual%20Strategic%20Review%202026.pdf). That suggests the premium will hold for people with deep, production-level skills, while basic “AI awareness” becomes a baseline expectation. ![Illustration of a brain-shaped circuit pattern around a microchip on a dark background]( https://100xfounder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/illustration-of-a-brain-shaped- circuit-pattern-around-a-microchip-on-a-1024x819.jpg) A common visualisation of a neural network. GenAI and ML platform roles sit at the top of TeamLease Digital's pay tiers. · [Photo: mikemacmarketing / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Artificial_Neural_Network_with_Chip.jpg) ## How to move up the pay curve * **Ship models to production.** The jump from data scientist to ML engineer or GenAI developer pay tends to follow deployment experience: serving, monitoring and maintaining models, not just training them. * **Pick employers with product ownership.** AmbitionBox shows internet and software product companies paying data scientists ₹18.6–23.3 lakh on average against ₹ 12.9–14.3 lakh at IT services firms. * **Specialise where supply is thin.** TeamLease’s AI-core tier, including GenAI and ML platform roles, carries both the highest pay and the fastest projected growth. * **Know your numbers.** Convert offers into take-home pay with our [in-hand salary calculator](https://100xfounder.com/tools/in-hand-salary-calculator/), and compare switch offers with the [salary hike calculator](https://100xfounder.com/tools/salary-hike-calculator/). For tax treatment of stock or bonuses, confirm with a qualified tax professional. ## Bottom line Data science and ML engineering are among India’s better-paid tech careers, but the typical salary is lower than social media suggests: ₹15–17 lakh for data scientists and ₹13–14 lakh for ML engineers on AmbitionBox. The big numbers, ₹30 lakh medians on Levels.fyi and close to ₹1 crore for senior AI architects in TeamLease’s data, go to people with production experience at product companies, GCCs and global tech firms. With AI/ML hiring growing fastest at the top of the pay scale, depth beats breadth. Browse current openings on our [jobs board](https://100xfounder.com/jobs/). ## FAQ ### What is the average data scientist salary in India in 2026? AmbitionBox puts the typical band at ₹15.2–16.8 lakh a year for 1–8 years of experience. Levels.fyi, which includes stock and covers more global tech firms, lists a median of ₹29.9 lakh. ### What is the salary of an ML engineer in India? AmbitionBox shows ₹12.6–13.9 lakh for machine learning engineers with 1–6 years of experience and ₹16.8–18.6 lakh for the AI/ML engineer title. Levels.fyi lists an ML/AI software engineer median of ₹28.4 lakh. ### Who earns more, a data scientist or an ML engineer? On AmbitionBox, data scientists earn more than the “Machine Learning Engineer” title at early levels (₹11.3–12.5 lakh against ₹9.2–10.2 lakh at 1–3 years). At 6–9 years, the AI/ML engineer title (₹26.6–29.4 lakh) moves ahead of data scientists (₹20.5– 22.6 lakh). ### What is a fresher data scientist’s salary in India? AmbitionBox shows ₹11.3–12.5 lakh for 1–3 years of experience. TeamLease Digital’s earlier primer put AI and cloud fresher salaries at ₹7–8.5 lakh. ### Which companies pay data scientists the most in India? On Levels.fyi, Amazon, Uber and Microsoft had the highest India medians for data scientists as of 4 October 2026. ## Sources 1. AmbitionBox, “Data Scientist salaries in India”, updated 2 October 2026. [Link](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/data-scientist-salary) 2. AmbitionBox, “Senior Data Scientist salaries in India”, updated 4 October 2026. [Link](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/senior-data-scientist-salary) 3. AmbitionBox, “Lead Data Scientist salaries in India”, updated 3 October 2026. [Link](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/lead-data-scientist-salary) 4. AmbitionBox, “Machine Learning Engineer salaries in India”, updated 3 October 2026. [Link](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/machine-learning-engineer-salary) 5. AmbitionBox, “AI/ML Engineer salaries in India”, updated 3 October 2026. [Link](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/ai-ml-engineer-salary) 6. AmbitionBox, “Data Analyst salaries in India”, updated 2 October 2026. [Link](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/data-analyst-salary) 7. AmbitionBox, “Data Engineer salaries in India”, updated 1 October 2026. [Link](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/data-engineer-salary) 8. Levels.fyi, “Data Scientist Salary in India”, accessed 4 October 2026. [Link](https://www.levels.fyi/t/data-scientist/locations/india) 9. Levels.fyi, “ML / AI Software Engineer Salary in India”, accessed 4 October 2026. [Link](https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/focus/ml-ai/locations/india) 10. CXOToday, “TeamLease Digital Report: 53–60% Talent Shortage Hits GenAI & Cloud as AI Skills Lag at 16%”, 29 September 2026. [Link](https://cxotoday.com/ai/teamlease-digital-report-53-60-talent-shortage-hits-genai-cloud-as-ai-skills-lag-at-16/) 11. CIOL, “AI Salary Premiums Rise as India’s Tech Industry Faces Entry-Level Hiring Pressure: Report”, 29 September 2026. [Link](https://www.ciol.com/tech/ai-salary-premiums-india-tech-entry-level-hiring-pressure-teamlease-12590060) 12. TeamLease Digital, “Digital Skills and Salary Primer 2025-26”, accessed 4 October 2026. [Link](https://business.teamleasedigital.com/digital-skills-and-salary-primer-fy2025-26/) 13. Michael Page India, “Highest paying jobs in India: Top 10 for 2026”, 7 April 2026. [Link](https://www.michaelpage.co.in/advice/career-advice/salary-and-negotiation/highest-paying-jobs-india) 14. Naukri, “Naukri JobSpeak March ’26 records a 9% rise in white-collar hiring as FY26 closes at 8%”, 7 April 2026. [Link](https://www.naukri.com/blog/naukri-jobspeak-march-26-records-a-9-rise-in-white-collar-hiring-as-fy26-closes-at-8-the-strongest-job-growth-in-three-years/) 15. Naukri, “Naukri JobSpeak: White-collar hiring remains stable in May; AI/ML roles and Insurance sector continue to lead”, 5 June 2026. [Link](https://www.naukri.com/blog/naukri-jobspeak-may-2026-white-collar-hiring-remains-stable-in-may-ai-ml-roles-and-insurance-sector-continue-to-lead/) 16. Nasscom, “Nasscom Annual Strategic Review 2026” press release, 24 February 2026. [Link](https://d3r3sr3o54kk15.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/media_pdf/India%E2%80%99s%20tech%20industry%20continues%20to%20redefine%20AI-led%20transformation,%20efficiency%20and%20skilling--%20Nasscom%20Annual%20Strategic%20Review%202026.pdf) 17. Trading Economics, “Indian Rupee”, 2 October 2026. [Link](https://tradingeconomics.com/india/currency) Featured image: An illustration of artificial intelligence. AI and ML roles carry the fastest-rising pay premium in Indian tech. · [Photo: mikemacmarketing / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Artificial_Intelligence_%26_AI_%26_Machine_Learning.jpg) _How this article was made: researched and drafted with AI assistance by the 100xFounder editorial desk, using only the sources listed in it; every figure links to its source. Read our [editorial policy](https://100xfounder.com/editorial-policy/), or report an error through our [corrections policy](https://100xfounder.com/corrections-policy/)._ ## Related stories [⌊Street signboard for HITEC City Phase II in Madhapur, Hyderabad, listing nearby tech parks, with the elevated metro line beside the road⌉⌊Street signboard for HITEC City Phase II in Madhapur, Hyderabad, listing nearby tech parks, with the elevated metro line beside the road⌉Careers & SalaryHow to Get a Job at Notion in 2026: Process, Rounds and India RolesIshaan VardhanOct 16, 202610 min read](https://100xfounder.com/how-to-get-a-job-at-notion/) [⌊Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong speaking on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2018⌉⌊Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong speaking on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2018⌉Careers & SalaryHow to Get a Job at Coinbase in 2026: Remote Policy, Rounds and PayIshaan VardhanOct 14, 202610 min read](https://100xfounder.com/how-to-get-a-job-at-coinbase/) [⌊Two 18-storey apartment towers in Bengaluru⌉⌊Two 18-storey apartment towers in Bengaluru⌉Careers & SalaryHRA exemption calculation 2026: worked examples, old vs new regimeIshaan VardhanOct 14, 20269 min read](https://100xfounder.com/hra-exemption-calculation/) Share this[](https://wa.me/?text=Data%20scientist%20and%20ML%20engineer%20salary%20in%20India%202026%3A%20full%20breakdown%20https%3A%2F%2F100xfounder.com%2Fdata-scientist-ml-engineer-salary-india%2F%3Futm_source%3Dwhatsapp%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Darticle-end) [](https://x.com/intent/post?text=Data%20scientist%20and%20ML%20engineer%20salary%20in%20India%202026%3A%20full%20breakdown&url=https%3A%2F%2F100xfounder.com%2Fdata-scientist-ml-engineer-salary-india%2F%3Futm_source%3Dx%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Darticle-end) [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2F100xfounder.com%2Fdata-scientist-ml-engineer-salary-india%2F%3Futm_source%3Dlinkedin%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Darticle-end) [](https://t.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2F100xfounder.com%2Fdata-scientist-ml-engineer-salary-india%2F%3Futm_source%3Dtelegram%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Darticle-end&text=Data%20scientist%20and%20ML%20engineer%20salary%20in%20India%202026%3A%20full%20breakdown) Sources (17) 1. [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/data-scientist-salary) 2 Oct 2026Data Scientist salary by experience, industry, city and company 2. [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/senior-data-scientist-salary) 4 Oct 2026Senior Data Scientist experience bands 3. [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/lead-data-scientist-salary) 3 Oct 2026Lead Data Scientist salary range and experience bands 4. [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/machine-learning-engineer-salary) 3 Oct 2026ML Engineer salary by experience, industry, city and company 5. [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/ai-ml-engineer-salary) 3 Oct 2026AI/ML Engineer salary range and experience bands 6. [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/data-analyst-salary) 2 Oct 2026Data Analyst typical salary range 7. [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/data-engineer-salary) 1 Oct 2026Data Engineer typical salary range 8. [Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi/t/data-scientist/locations/india) 4 Oct 2026India data scientist median ₹29.9 lakh, percentiles, top companies and cities 9. [Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/focus/ml-ai/locations/india) 4 Oct 2026India ML/AI software engineer median ₹28.4 lakh and percentiles (1,459 submissions) 10. [CXOToday](https://cxotoday.com/ai/teamlease-digital-report-53-60-talent-shortage-hits-genai-cloud-as-ai-skills-lag-at-16/) 29 Sep 2026TeamLease FY2026-27: 37,000 roles; GenAI developer, data engineer and ML platform architect salaries 11. [CIOL](https://www.ciol.com/tech/ai-salary-premiums-india-tech-entry-level-hiring-pressure-teamlease-12590060) 29 Sep 2026TeamLease FY2026-27: GCC AI-core entry median ₹13.2 lakh, AI skills ~16%, 16-21% projected AI-core growth, supply gaps 12. [TeamLease Digital](https://business.teamleasedigital.com/digital-skills-and-salary-primer-fy2025-26/) 4 Oct 2026FY2025-26 primer landing page (accessed): AI and cloud fresher salaries ₹7-8.5 lakh; chief AI officer ₹2-2.5 crore 13. [Michael Page India](https://www.michaelpage.co.in/advice/career-advice/salary-and-negotiation/highest-paying-jobs-india) 7 Apr 2026Top 10 highest paying jobs in India 2026 (higher range), 8-12% salary growth 14. [Naukri](https://www.naukri.com/blog/naukri-jobspeak-march-26-records-a-9-rise-in-white-collar-hiring-as-fy26-closes-at-8-the-strongest-job-growth-in-three-years/) 7 Apr 2026March 2026: AI/ML +37%, FY26 +45%, 50+ LPA band +55%, unicorn hiring +24%, Kolkata/NCR growth 15. [Naukri](https://www.naukri.com/blog/naukri-jobspeak-may-2026-white-collar-hiring-remains-stable-in-may-ai-ml-roles-and-insurance-sector-continue-to-lead/) 5 Jun 2026May 2026: IT -7%, AI/ML +22%, GCC +8%, AI/ML >₹30 LPA +27%, Hyderabad +44%, 13-16 yrs +32% 16. [Nasscom](https://d3r3sr3o54kk15.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/media_pdf/India%E2%80%99s%20tech%20industry%20continues%20to%20redefine%20AI-led%20transformation,%20efficiency%20and%20skilling--%20Nasscom%20Annual%20Strategic%20Review%202026.pdf) 24 Feb 2026FY26 revenue $315bn (+6.1%), headcount +2.3%, 2M+ upskilled in AI 17. [Trading Economics](https://tradingeconomics.com/india/currency) 2 Oct 2026USD/ INR around 96