For lakhs of engineering graduates, securing a job at one of India’s leading IT companies remains a major career milestone. However, a comparison of entry-level salaries over the past 15 years has triggered a fresh debate on social media. While India’s technology sector has expanded rapidly and IT firms have become global giants, many fresh graduates continue to begin their careers with salary packages that appear to have changed very little.The discussion gained momentum after entrepreneur Swapna Kumar Panda shared a comparison of entry-level salaries, CEO compensation and global technology salaries on X (formerly Twitter). According to the comparison, while compensation for top executives has risen sharply and global technology firms have significantly increased graduate pay, entry-level salaries at several Indian IT companies have remained largely stagnant. The post has sparked conversations around wage growth, employability and the future of India’s technology workforce.
Indian IT salaries : A tale of two pay scales
The comparison highlights a striking contrast between entry-level salaries and CEO compensation at several leading Indian IT companies.Indian IT companies – Entry-level salaries vs CEO compensation (2010–2026)
LTI refers to L&T Infotech, which later merged with Mindtree to form LTIMindtree.The figures suggest that while CEO remuneration has grown several-fold over the past decade and a half, entry-level salaries have seen only marginal increases in many organisations. This disparity has become the focal point of the ongoing debate.
Global tech tells a different story
The comparison also points to a very different trend among global technology companies, where starting salaries have increased substantially over the same period.Global technology companies – Entry-level salaries (2010–2026)
The comparison has prompted many users to question whether salary growth for fresh engineering graduates in India has kept pace with inflation, productivity and the rapid expansion of the country’s IT industry.
Why haven’t fresher salaries grown faster?
Industry observers say there are several reasons behind the trend. India’s IT services companies hire in large numbers and compete globally on cost, making standardised entry-level salaries a key part of their business model. At the same time, India produces a vast pool of engineering graduates every year, giving employers access to a steady supply of entry-level talent.Companies are also placing greater emphasis on specialised skills. Graduates with expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, cybersecurity and semiconductor technologies often receive significantly higher offers than standard campus recruits.
What does this mean for students?
For students entering the job market, the message is becoming increasingly clear. A degree alone may not be enough to secure a higher starting salary.Recruiters are placing greater emphasis on internships, coding skills, real-world projects, certifications and practical problem-solving abilities. Students who continuously upgrade their skills are more likely to access premium roles in product companies, Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and AI-focused organisations than those relying solely on traditional mass-recruitment drives.Whether Indian IT companies revise their fresher salaries in the coming years remains to be seen. However, the viral comparison has once again brought the conversation around graduate pay, executive compensation and the future of India’s technology workforce into sharp focus.Disclaimer: The salary figures presented in the tables are based on data shared by Swapna Kumar Panda on X and have not been independently verified by The Times of India. The article is intended to highlight the ongoing public discussion around salary trends in the technology sector and should not be construed as an official comparison of company compensation data.
