Archive · 3 Sep 2026
AI Salaries Surge as Legacy Technology Pay Declines in India
AI workers in India are earning more money than they did two years ago.
Most of the reports say AI salaries grew 23%, although one version says the increase was 22%.
AI pay rose 12% in the most recent year, more than the other job categories measured.
Beginners in AI can earn between Rs 8.87 lakh and Rs 15.41 lakh each year.
Very experienced AI workers can earn as much as Rs 89.24 lakh.
Bengaluru pays the most for AI jobs, and Hyderabad is catching up.
Cybersecurity has an even higher reported salary ceiling of Rs 97.81 lakh.
Traditional IT and IT services pay fell 1% last year.
The report says companies are paying the biggest premiums for skills that solve important business needs.
Foundit reported that AI salaries compounded 23% between 2024 and 2026, while another version of the report cited 22%.
AI pay grew 12% year-on-year, ahead of computer and network security and semiconductors at 9% each.
AI professionals earn Rs 8.87-15.41 lakh at entry level and Rs 70.99-89.24 lakh with more than 15 years of experience.
Bengaluru remains the highest-paying AI market, while Hyderabad is emerging as a major challenger.
IT and IT services pay declined 1% last year, while semiconductor and industrial-automation salaries rose 17% and 13% over two years.
- Who
- AI professionals, IT and IT services workers, and other technology specialists in India; the findings were reported by foundit.
- What
- A foundit salary report found that AI pay is rising rapidly while compensation in some traditional technology roles is flat or declining.
- When
- The report covers salary changes between 2024 and 2026 and includes year-on-year results for the latest year; it was reported on Wednesday.
- Where
- India, with Bengaluru identified as the highest-paying AI market and Hyderabad as an emerging challenger.
- Why
- Demand for specialist skills, AI startups, product companies, global capability centres, and product-engineering investments is supporting higher pay.
- Reported AI salary growth
- 23% compounded between 2024 and 2026 in most versions; one report version cited 22%.
- Latest annual AI growth
- 12% year-on-year.
- Entry-level AI pay
- Rs 8.87-15.41 lakh per annum for professionals with 0-3 years of experience.
- Senior AI pay
- Rs 70.99-89.24 lakh per annum for professionals with more than 15 years of experience.
- Bengaluru senior AI pay
- Rs 61.70-91.25 lakh annually, around 10-15% above NCR or Mumbai and up to 40% above Chennai.
- Cybersecurity salary ceiling
- Rs 97.81 lakh, the highest ceiling among the categories tracked.
- Legacy IT trend
- IT and IT services salaries declined 1% last year.
- Non-technology growth
- Semiconductor salaries rose 17% and industrial-automation salaries rose 13% over two years.
