2025 Salary Guide for IT & Engineering Talent in India

The Indian job market in 2025 is moving faster than ever-and if you are trying to hire IT or engineering talent, you’re already feeling the heat.

The tech industry is buzzing with demand. Cloud, AI, cybersecurity, embedded systems-everything is evolving, and companies are scrambling to find people who can keep up. But here’s the challenge: the talent is there, but not always where (or how) you expect it.

As businesses fight to stay competitive, having the right data in hand-especially around compensation,isn’t just helpful. It’s essential.

That’s why PERSOLKELLY’s 2025 India Salary Guide is more than just a set of numbers. It It is your cheat sheet to understanding the market and adjusting your hiring strategy accordingly.

A Job Market Defined by Speed and Scarcity

In the world of IT and engineering recruitment, the pace is relentless. Candidates with the right skills often have multiple offers within days. And in many cases, salary is just the starting point of the conversation.
Companies that are thriving in this climate are the ones who’ve made peace with one truth: to win the right talent, you can’t just react. You have to be ready.
That means knowing what roles are hot, where the pay scales are moving, and what it takes to stay competitive, especially when the market is this tight.

What Are Top IT and Engineering Professionals Earning in 2025?

Here’s a glimpse into what our latest guide uncovered about key roles in India’s tech and engineering landscape:
• AI/ML Engineers
₹12.5 – ₹20 LPA (0–3 yrs)
₹18 – ₹25 LPA (3–6 yrs)
₹25 – ₹45 LPA (6–10 yrs)

• Data Scientists
₹9 – ₹14 LPA (0–3 yrs)
₹12.5 – ₹20 LPA (3–6 yrs)
₹18 – ₹35 LPA (6–10 yrs)

• Cloud Architects
₹35 – ₹65 LPA (12–18 yrs)

• Java Full Stack Developers
₹12 – ₹25 LPA (5–8 yrs)

• Core Engineers (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical)
₹5 – ₹10 LPA (0–3 yrs)
₹10 – ₹20 LPA (3–6 yrs)
₹15 – ₹32 LPA (6–10 yrs)

These numbers tell a clear story: specialised talent is commanding a premium-and the gap is only widening as demand surges.

The Trends Behind the Talent Crunch

A few key trends are fuelling this spike in demand:
• Cloud-first transformations: As organisations move critical workloads online, infrastructure and DevOps talent is in demand like never before.
• AI and analytics: Businesses across industries are investing in predictive modelling, automation, and real-time insights-creating a surge in demand for data engineers, AI specialists, and machine learning experts.
• Cybersecurity urgency: With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, companies are investing heavily in talent who can safeguard their digital ecosystems.
• Digital inclusion in Tier 2/3 cities: With the help of Digital India and improved broadband access, hiring is no longer restricted to metro hubs.

The result? An increasingly distributed, mobile, and in-demand workforce.

Which Roles Are Hardest to Hire Right Now?
It’s not just about finding candidates-it’s about finding the right ones. According to our recruiters and market data, here are the roles where companies are facing the biggest shortages:
• Data Engineers and Architects
• DevOps and Cloud Engineers
• Cybersecurity Specialists
• Embedded Systems Developers (especially in EV, IoT, and hardware)
These are the roles that are driving business transformation-and companies are willing to pay top dollar for the right fit. But with talent being scarce, it’s also creating a massive retention challenge.

For Employers: How to Stay Ahead in a Fiercely Competitive Market

If you are hiring in IT or engineering today, here are four actionable things you can do right away:

1. Know the benchmark-and stay ahead of it
   Lowballing candidates is one of the fastest ways to lose them. Use real-time salary data to stay informed and competitive.
2. Offer more than just money
   Remote and hybrid work, flexible hours, and opportunities for growth are not “perks” anymore. They’re expectations-especially among top tech talent.
3. Upskill from within
   Can’t find a DevOps engineer? Build one. More companies are investing in internal learning programs to fill niche roles rather than hiring externally.
4. Communicate your purpose
   Today’s workforce wants to know what you stand for. What are you building? Why does it matter? Your EVP (Employee Value Proposition) is your superpower-use it.

Don’t Play Catch-Up. Plan Ahead.
The war for talent isn't slowing down. And the employers that succeed in 2025 will be the ones who have the data, tools, and foresight to build strong, future-ready teams.
Whether you are scaling up, opening a new delivery center, or simply looking to hire your next engineer-you need the right numbers in hand.

Download the 2025 PERSOLKELLY India Salary Guide

Inside, you will find detailed compensation trends across IT, engineering, and more. Use it to plan better, hire faster, and stay competitive in the talent economy.

Need help structuring your tech hiring plans?
Our consultants at PERSOLKELLY India are just a call away. We have helped 1000+ companies build high-performing teams-and we’d love to support yours next.