Archive · 5 Dec 2025
AI Startups Offer High Salaries in IIT Placements
During the 2025 placement season at IITs, AI startups are offering much higher salaries than traditional firms for AI-related roles.
These startups, like Javis and Giga, are paying between ₹39-60 lakh annually, with some US-based positions reaching over ₹2.66 crore.
They also offer bonuses and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs).
However, they hire fewer people compared to traditional firms.
Traditional companies like BlackRock and IndiGo are offering lower salaries, around ₹16-35 lakh, and are hiring more people.
Startups value fresh talent for their ability to quickly learn and implement AI solutions.
The high salaries and benefits from startups reflect the growing demand for skilled AI engineers.
AI startups are offering higher salaries (₹39-60 lakh) compared to traditional firms (₹16-35 lakh) for AI roles at IITs.
Startups hire fewer people (1-2 students per role) while traditional firms recruit at scale.
Some US-based roles offer over ₹2.66 crore annually, including bonuses and ESOPs.
Startups value fresh talent for their ability to quickly learn and implement AI solutions.
Traditional firms like BlackRock and IndiGo are offering lower salaries and hiring more people.
- Who
- AI startups (domestic and Silicon Valley-based) and traditional firms
- What
- Hiring for AI roles at IITs with varying compensation packages
- When
- During the 2025 placement season
- Where
- At Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and for some US-based roles
- Why
- To attract top talent for high-skill AI roles, with startups offering higher salaries but in smaller numbers
- Salary Range (Startups)
- ₹39-60 lakh
- Salary Range (Traditional Firms)
- ₹16-35 lakh
- Hiring Volume (Startups)
- 1-2 students per role
- Hiring Volume (Traditional Firms)
- Large scale
- Key Roles
- Voice AI, Multimodal Engineering, ML Development
- ESOPs
- Offered by some startups
- Retention Bonus
- Up to ₹10 lakh after 3 years