# Software engineer salary in India 2026: by experience, city, company - Link: https://100xfounder.com/software-engineer-salary-india/ - Published: 2026-10-23T18:12:00+05:30 - Author: Ishaan Vardhan [Careers & Salary](https://100xfounder.com/category/careers-salary/)Ishaan VardhanOct 23, 202610 min read A software engineer in India with one to five years of experience typically earns ₹9.2–10.2 lakh a year, according to [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/software-engineer-salary)‘ s self-reported data, but the spread around that number is enormous. The same title pays around ₹7 lakh at a large IT services firm, ₹20 lakh-plus at a fintech or bank technology team, and ₹35 lakh to well over ₹1 crore at global product companies, once stock is counted. This guide pulls together the published 2026 numbers from AmbitionBox, Levels.fyi, Randstad, Aon, TeamLease Digital and Naukri, and explains why they disagree. All figures are survey or self-reported ranges, not offers, and they are annual cost- to-company (CTC) unless stated. A lakh is ₹100,000 and LPA means lakh per annum; at roughly ₹96 to the US dollar ([Trading Economics](https://tradingeconomics.com/india/currency), 2 October 2026), ₹10 lakh is about $10,400. **Key takeaways** * Median pay for a software engineer title on AmbitionBox is ₹7.5–8.3 lakh at 1– 3 years and ₹9.3–10.3 lakh at 3–6 years (updated 1 October 2026). * On Levels.fyi, which skews towards product companies and includes stock and bonus, the India median total compensation is about ₹30 lakh. * Company type matters more than city: AmbitionBox shows software engineers in financial services earning more than double the IT-services median. * Aon projects an average 9.1% salary increase in India for 2026, but only 6.6% for technology consulting and services firms. * Bengaluru leads on both AmbitionBox and Levels.fyi, though the gap with Hyderabad, Pune and NCR is narrower than many assume. ## Why the salary numbers you see online disagree Search “software engineer salary India” and you will find averages ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹40 lakh. Most of that gap is about who is in the sample, not about anyone being wrong. **AmbitionBox**, owned by Info Edge (which also runs Naukri), shows salaries reported by more than 7.4 lakh current and former employees for the “Software Engineer” title. Because India’s largest employers of engineers are IT services firms, those firms dominate the data. **Levels.fyi** has 23,674 India software engineer submissions and leans heavily towards product companies, global capability centres (GCCs, the in-house tech hubs that multinationals run in India) and startups, and it counts annual stock grants and bonuses as part of total compensation. **Randstad’s** Salary Trends Report 2025–26 is built from job and pay data across more than 100,000 roles in 8 Tier-1 and 24 Tier-2 cities, according to [People Manager](https://peoplemanager.co.in/it-sector-tops-pay-charts-tier-2-cities-catch-up-in-salary-growth-randstad-report/). A useful way to read them: AmbitionBox tells you what the typical Indian engineer earns; Levels.fyi tells you what the top part of the market pays; Randstad and Aon tell you where pay is moving. ## Software engineer salary by experience The table below combines AmbitionBox’s experience bands for three related titles. The ranges are AmbitionBox’s own average bands, each based on thousands of reported salaries. | Experience | Software Engineer | Software Development Engineer | Lead Software Engineer | | 1–3 years | ₹7.5–8.3 lakh | ₹11.6–12.9 lakh | n/a | | 3–6 years | ₹9.3–10.3 lakh | ₹13.6–15 lakh | ₹15.3–16.9 lakh | | 6–9 years | n/a | n/a | ₹24.9–27.6 lakh | | 9–12 years | n/a | n/a | ₹29.9–33 lakh | | 12+ years | n/a | n/a | ₹34.7–38.4 lakh | Source: AmbitionBox profile pages for [Software Engineer](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/software-engineer-salary), [Software Development Engineer](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/software-development-engineer-salary) and [Lead Software Engineer](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/lead-software-engineer-salary), updated 1–4 October 2026. Two things stand out. First, the “SDE” title, which is more common at product companies and startups, pays noticeably more at the same experience than the generic “Software Engineer” title. Second, the big jump comes when engineers move into lead roles after six years. AmbitionBox puts [Engineering Manager](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/engineering-manager-salary) pay at ₹38.4–42.5 lakh for people with 7–20 years of experience. Randstad’s report gives a broader view across the whole IT sector. It found that IT pays the highest average CTC of any sector at every level: ₹6.65 lakh for junior, ₹20.75 lakh for middle and ₹35.66 lakh for senior professionals, according to [MediaBrief](https://mediabrief.com/randstad-salary-trends-report-2025-26/)‘ s summary of the report. Software developer was the best-paid mid-level role on Randstad’s “hot jobs” list at ₹17.27 lakh. ### What freshers can expect Entry-level pay is where the gap between employer types is widest. On Levels.fyi, the entry band at Tata Consultancy Services (C1Y, assistant engineer trainee) shows ₹3.96 lakh in total compensation, while Flipkart’s SDE 1 shows ₹22.4 lakh and Google’s L3 shows ₹35 lakh, all as of 4 October 2026. TeamLease Digital’s Digital Skills and Salary Primer FY2025–26 put starting salaries for freshers in AI and cloud at ₹7–8.5 lakh, according to [TeamLease Digital](https://business.teamleasedigital.com/digital-skills-and-salary-primer-fy2025-26/). ![Person viewed from behind working on code in an editor on a laptop screen](https:// 100xfounder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/person-viewed-from-behind-working-on- code-in-an-editor-on-a-laptop-scr-1024x683.jpg) Entry-level software pay in India varies several-fold depending on the employer.· [Photo: Tirza van Dijk / Wikimedia Commons, CC0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laptop_coding_programs_(Unsplash).jpg) ## Software engineer salary by company type If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it this: the kind of company you work for shapes your pay more than your city or even your first few years of experience. | Company type (AmbitionBox industry) | Average Software Engineer salary | | IT services and consulting | ₹7.2–7.9 lakh | | Management consulting | ₹11.2–12.3 lakh | | Software product | ₹12.5–13.9 lakh | | Internet | ₹13.8–15.3 lakh | | Financial services | ₹18.9–20.9 lakh | Source: [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/software-engineer-salary), updated 1 October 2026. Industry figures cover all experience levels in each industry’s sample. ### Levels.fyi: what the top of the market pays Levels.fyi shows how far pay stretches at global product companies, where restricted stock units (RSUs) make up a large share of the package. The figures below are total compensation per year, including base, annualised stock and bonus, as listed on 4 October 2026. | Company | Entry level | Mid level | Senior | Median | | Tata Consultancy Services | ₹3.96 lakh (C1Y) | ₹10.9 lakh (C2) | ₹18.1 lakh (C3A) | ₹6.98 lakh | | Flipkart | ₹22.4 lakh (SDE 1) | ₹36.2 lakh (SDE 2) | ₹56.6 lakh (SDE 3) | ₹35.7 lakh | | Google | ₹35 lakh (L3) | ₹81.5 lakh (L4) | ₹1.28 crore (L5) | ₹77 lakh | Sources: Levels.fyi pages for [TCS](https://www.levels.fyi/companies/tata-consultancy-services/salaries/software-engineer/locations/india), [Flipkart](https://www.levels.fyi/companies/flipkart/salaries/software-engineer/locations/india) and [Google](https://www.levels.fyi/companies/google/salaries/software-engineer/locations/india)( India). A crore is ₹10 million, or 100 lakh. Across all companies, [Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/locations/india) lists an India median of about ₹30 lakh, with the 25th percentile at ₹16.8 lakh, the 75th at ₹49 lakh and the 90th at ₹70.3 lakh. Its top-paying companies for the role in India were Broadcom, Airbnb and Rippling, each with medians above ₹1 crore. Keep in mind that stock-heavy packages swing with share prices and vesting schedules, so the headline number is not what lands in your bank account each month. Our [in-hand salary calculator](https://100xfounder.com/tools/in-hand-salary-calculator/) converts a CTC into monthly take-home pay after tax and provident fund. ### GCCs and the services squeeze Aon’s Annual Salary Increase and Turnover Survey 2025–26, covering more than 1,400 organisations, projects a 9.1% average increase in India in 2026, up from 8.9% actual in 2025, according to [Aon](https://www.aon.com/apac/in-the-press/asia-newsroom/2026/aon-survey-projects-slight-uptick-in-salaries-in-india-2026). The split by sector matters for engineers: technology platforms and products are projected at 9.4%, GCCs at 9.3% and technology consulting and services at just 6.6%, the lowest of any sector Aon tracked. TeamLease Digital’s FY2026–27 primer found that entry-level AI-core roles in GCCs carry a median of ₹13.2 lakh, against ₹4.8–5.4 lakh for AI-support roles, according to [CIOL](https://www.ciol.com/tech/ai-salary-premiums-india-tech-entry-level-hiring-pressure-teamlease-12590060). In other words, the type of work inside a company is starting to matter as much as the logo. ![Low-rise buildings and landscaped lawns on the Wipro campus in Electronic City, Bengaluru](https://100xfounder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/low-rise-buildings- and-landscaped-lawns-on-the-wipro-campus-in-electro-1024x576.jpg) Wipro's Electronic City campus in Bengaluru. IT services firms employ the largest share of India's engineers. · [Photo: Ramesh NG / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wipro_Electronic_City_Campus_(13945543164).jpg) ## Software engineer salary by city City differences are real but smaller than the company-type gap. AmbitionBox’s averages for the Software Engineer title: | City | AmbitionBox average (all levels) | Levels.fyi median total comp | | Bengaluru | ₹9.5–10.5 lakh | ₹37.4 lakh | | Hyderabad | ₹9.1–10.1 lakh | ₹33.3 lakh | | Pune | ₹9–9.9 lakh | n/a | | Noida / Delhi NCR | ₹9–9.9 lakh (Noida) | ₹30 lakh (Delhi) | | Chennai | ₹8.3–9.1 lakh | n/a | Sources: [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/software-engineer-salary)( 1 October 2026) and [Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/locations/india)( 4 October 2026). Levels.fyi lists only its top three cities. Randstad’s report also found Bengaluru paid the most to junior professionals across sectors at ₹7.16 lakh, while Mumbai led senior pay at ₹40.04 lakh, according to [Storyboard18](https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/tier-2-cities-senior-salaries-climb-to-%E2%82%B928-38-lakh-narrowing-gap-with-metros-report-88296.htm). Senior-level pay in Tier-2 cities averaged ₹28.38 lakh, with Kochi at ₹34.72 lakh, which suggests remote and hybrid roles are narrowing the metro premium. If you are weighing a move to Bengaluru, our listing of [engineering jobs in Bengaluru](https://100xfounder.com/jobs/engineering-jobs-in-bengaluru/) shows current openings from official careers pages. ![The My Home Hub office building in HITEC City, Hyderabad, seen behind trees](https:// 100xfounder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/the-my-home-hub-office-building-in-hitec- city-hyderabad-seen-behind-tr-1024x768.jpg) HITEC City in Hyderabad, the second-highest-paying city for software engineers on both AmbitionBox and Levels.fyi. · [Photo: Syced / Wikimedia Commons, CC0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hitec_City,_Hyderabad_(96390).jpg) ## What is driving software engineer pay in 2026 India’s tech industry is still growing, but slowly in headcount terms. Nasscom’s Annual Strategic Review 2026 estimated industry revenue at $315 billion for FY26, up 6.1%, with net headcount growth of about 2.3%, 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). Revenue growing faster than headcount generally means employers are paying for productivity and specialised skills rather than adding bodies. Hiring data points the same way. The Naukri JobSpeak index for May 2026 showed IT sector hiring down 7% year on year, while AI and machine learning roles grew 22% and GCC hiring grew 8% across major metros, 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/). Info Edge chief executive Hitesh Oberoi said hiring for AI/ML roles paying above ₹30 lakh grew 27% that month. The practical takeaway: generalist software engineering pay at services firms is growing slowly, while engineers who can ship AI features, work on cloud infrastructure or own a product area at a GCC or product company are pulling away. TeamLease Digital estimates only about 16% of IT professionals hold AI skills, per [CIOL](https://www.ciol.com/tech/ai-salary-premiums-india-tech-entry-level-hiring-pressure-teamlease-12590060)‘ s report on the FY2026–27 primer. ![A long aisle of white server racks inside a data centre](https://100xfounder.com/ wp-content/uploads/2026/10/a-long-aisle-of-white-server-racks-inside-a-data-centre- 1024x683.jpg) Server racks at a data centre in Amaravati. Cloud and AI infrastructure skills command a pay premium. · [Photo: PiDatacenters / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Racks_Amravati_Data_Center.jpg) ## How to use these numbers when negotiating * **Compare like with like.** Use AmbitionBox for services firms and Indian mid- size companies; use Levels.fyi for product companies and GCCs that pay in stock. * **Separate fixed from variable.** Ask for the fixed component, the performance bonus target, joining bonus and the RSU vesting schedule separately. A ₹40 lakh CTC with ₹15 lakh in stock behaves very differently from ₹40 lakh fixed. * **Benchmark the hike, not just the number.** With Aon projecting 9.1% average increments, a job switch is often where the larger jump happens. Our [salary hike calculator](https://100xfounder.com/tools/salary-hike-calculator/) shows what a given percentage means in rupees. * **Check take-home pay.** Provident fund, gratuity and tax regime choice change monthly pay significantly. Confirm tax treatment with a qualified tax professional or the Income Tax Department’s official guidance. ## Bottom line “Average software engineer salary in India” is a misleading phrase. The 2026 data shows a ₹7–10 lakh typical band for early-career engineers at services firms, ₹12– 20 lakh at product, internet and fintech employers, and a long tail above ₹50 lakh at global product companies and GCCs. Company type and skill set explain more of the gap than city or degree. If you are early in your career, the highest-return move is usually getting into a product or GCC engineering team, then building depth in an area such as AI, cloud or payments where supply is thin. You can browse current openings from official careers pages on our [jobs board](https://100xfounder.com/jobs/). ## FAQ ### What is the average software engineer salary in India in 2026? AmbitionBox puts the typical range at ₹9.2–10.2 lakh a year for engineers with 1– 5 years of experience. Levels.fyi, which covers more product companies and includes stock, lists an India median of about ₹30 lakh in total compensation. ### What is a fresher software engineer’s salary in India? It depends heavily on the employer. Levels.fyi shows about ₹3.96 lakh at TCS’s trainee level, ₹22.4 lakh for Flipkart SDE 1 and ₹35 lakh for Google L3. TeamLease Digital put AI and cloud fresher salaries at ₹7–8.5 lakh. ### Which city pays software engineers the most in India? Bengaluru leads on both AmbitionBox (₹9.5–10.5 lakh average) and Levels.fyi (₹37.4 lakh median), followed by Hyderabad. Randstad found Mumbai led senior-level pay across sectors. ### How much salary hike can software engineers expect in 2026? Aon projects 9.1% on average across Indian industries in 2026, with 9.4% for technology product companies, 9.3% for GCCs and 6.6% for technology consulting and services firms. ### Is ₹30 LPA a good salary for a software engineer in India? Yes, by most published data. It is roughly the Levels.fyi India median, well above AmbitionBox’s averages for every experience band below the lead level, and close to Randstad’s senior IT average of ₹35.66 lakh. ## Sources 1. AmbitionBox, “Software Engineer salaries in India”, updated 1 October 2026. [Link](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/software-engineer-salary) 2. AmbitionBox, “Software Development Engineer salaries in India”, updated 3 October 2026. [Link](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/software-development-engineer-salary) 3. AmbitionBox, “Lead Software Engineer salaries in India”, updated 4 October 2026. [Link](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/lead-software-engineer-salary) 4. AmbitionBox, “Engineering Manager salaries in India”, updated 1 October 2026. [Link](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/engineering-manager-salary) 5. Levels.fyi, “Software Engineer Salary in India”, accessed 4 October 2026. [Link](https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/locations/india) 6. Levels.fyi, “Google Software Engineer Salary in India”, accessed 4 October 2026. [Link](https://www.levels.fyi/companies/google/salaries/software-engineer/locations/india) 7. Levels.fyi, “Flipkart Software Engineer Salary in India”, accessed 4 October 2026. [Link](https://www.levels.fyi/companies/flipkart/salaries/software-engineer/locations/india) 8. Levels.fyi, “Tata Consultancy Services Software Engineer Salary in India”, accessed 4 October 2026. [Link](https://www.levels.fyi/companies/tata-consultancy-services/salaries/software-engineer/locations/india) 9. Aon, “Aon Survey Projects Slight Uptick in Salaries in India From 8.9 Percent in 2025 to 9.1 Percent in 2026”, 24 February 2026. [Link](https://www.aon.com/apac/in-the-press/asia-newsroom/2026/aon-survey-projects-slight-uptick-in-salaries-in-india-2026) 10. MediaBrief, “Randstad Salary Trends Report 2025-26”, 27 January 2026. [Link](https://mediabrief.com/randstad-salary-trends-report-2025-26/) 11. People Manager, “IT Sector Tops Pay Charts; Tier-2 Cities Catch Up in Salary Growth: Randstad Report”, 16 March 2026. [Link](https://peoplemanager.co.in/it-sector-tops-pay-charts-tier-2-cities-catch-up-in-salary-growth-randstad-report/) 12. Storyboard18, “Tier-2 cities’ senior salaries climb to ₹28.38 lakh, narrowing gap with metros: Randstad”, 27 January 2026. [Link](https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/tier-2-cities-senior-salaries-climb-to-%E2%82%B928-38-lakh-narrowing-gap-with-metros-report-88296.htm) 13. 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) 14. 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/) 15. 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) 16. 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/) 17. Trading Economics, “Indian Rupee”, 2 October 2026. [Link](https://tradingeconomics.com/india/currency) Featured image: Bagmane Tech Park in Bengaluru, one of the city's large technology office campuses. · [Photo: Gpkp / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bagmane_Tech_Park,_Bangalore_(2024)_13.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 [⌊A whiteboard divided into To Do, Doing and Done columns with coloured sticky notes⌉⌊A whiteboard divided into To Do, Doing and Done columns with coloured sticky notes⌉Careers & SalaryProduct manager salary in India 2026 and how to break into productIshaan VardhanOct 23, 202610 min read](https://100xfounder.com/product-manager-salary-india/) [⌊View over office towers in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, on a hazy day⌉⌊View over office towers in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, on a hazy day⌉Careers & SalaryHighest paying jobs in India in 2026, ranked from salary surveysIshaan VardhanOct 22, 202610 min read](https://100xfounder.com/highest-paying-jobs-india/) [⌊Illustration of a glowing AI chip with circuit lines against a dark server-room background⌉⌊Illustration of a glowing AI chip with circuit lines against a dark server-room background⌉Careers & SalaryData scientist and ML engineer salary in India 2026: full breakdownIshaan VardhanOct 21, 20269 min read](https://100xfounder.com/data-scientist-ml-engineer-salary-india/) Share this[](https://wa.me/?text=Software%20engineer%20salary%20in%20India%202026%3A%20by%20experience%2C%20city%2C%20company%20https%3A%2F%2F100xfounder.com%2Fsoftware-engineer-salary-india%2F%3Futm_source%3Dwhatsapp%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Darticle-end) [](https://x.com/intent/post?text=Software%20engineer%20salary%20in%20India%202026%3A%20by%20experience%2C%20city%2C%20company&url=https%3A%2F%2F100xfounder.com%2Fsoftware-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%2Fsoftware-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%2Fsoftware-engineer-salary-india%2F%3Futm_source%3Dtelegram%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Darticle-end&text=Software%20engineer%20salary%20in%20India%202026%3A%20by%20experience%2C%20city%2C%20company) Sources (17) 1. [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/software-engineer-salary) 1 Oct 2026Software Engineer salary bands by experience, industry, city and company 2. [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/software-development-engineer-salary) 3 Oct 2026SDE salary bands by experience 3. [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/lead-software-engineer-salary) 4 Oct 2026Lead Software Engineer salary bands by experience 4. [AmbitionBox](https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/engineering-manager-salary) 1 Oct 2026Engineering Manager typical salary range ₹38.4–42.5 lakh 5. [Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/locations/india) 4 Oct 2026India SWE median ₹30 lakh, percentiles, top companies and cities 6. [Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi/companies/google/salaries/software-engineer/locations/india) 4 Oct 2026Google India SWE total comp by level and median 7. [Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi/companies/flipkart/salaries/software-engineer/locations/india) 4 Oct 2026Flipkart SDE total comp by level and median 8. [Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi/companies/tata-consultancy-services/salaries/software-engineer/locations/india) 4 Oct 2026TCS software engineer total comp by level and median 9. [Aon](https://www.aon.com/apac/in-the-press/asia-newsroom/2026/aon-survey-projects-slight-uptick-in-salaries-in-india-2026) 24 Feb 20269.1% projected 2026 increase, sector projections, survey scope 10. [MediaBrief](https://mediabrief.com/randstad-salary-trends-report-2025-26/) 27 Jan 2026Randstad 2025-26: IT sector CTC by level and top-paying mid-level roles 11. [People Manager](https://peoplemanager.co.in/it-sector-tops-pay-charts-tier-2-cities-catch-up-in-salary-growth-randstad-report/) 16 Mar 2026Randstad report scope: 100,000+ jobs across 8 Tier-1 and 24 Tier-2 cities 12. [Storyboard18](https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/tier-2-cities-senior-salaries-climb-to-%E2%82%B928-38-lakh-narrowing-gap-with-metros-report-88296.htm) 27 Jan 2026Randstad city figures: Bengaluru junior ₹7.16 lakh, Mumbai senior ₹ 40.04 lakh, Tier-2 senior ₹28.38 lakh, Kochi ₹34.72 lakh 13. [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 14. [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 15. [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 16. [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% 17. [Trading Economics](https://tradingeconomics.com/india/currency) 2 Oct 2026USD/ INR around 96