A Guide To IT Salary In India

How Crucial is the IT (Information Technology) Industry for the Indian Economy?

India’s IT sector exports most of its services, making it a major contributor to the total IT export, which is valued at $149 billion in FY21. The significant contribution that the IT industry makes to the GDP of India shows just how important the IT sector is. The statistics notwithstanding, the growth of the digital economy serves as an integral barometer of economic growth and international competitiveness. 

With the growth of the IT sector entire regions have been transformed. Major cities have been transformed into digital hubs. With the rise in job opportunities and inflow of talent, these have flourished into cities at par with global standards. Cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, etc are some of the top IT hubs in the country with a significant amount of technological innovations, service delivery, and IT startup activities taking place. 

The Indian government has been instrumental in this evolution. With reduced trade barriers and no import duties on tech products, liberal policy making has been favourable to the growth of the IT industry in the country. 

They have also taken initiatives to establish software technology parks, export oriented units, special economic zones, and foreign direct investment, building infrastructure and environment conducive to the development of the IT sector. 

Their efforts in boosting cities as IT spots have also achieved positive results, in line with studies showing that investment in the IT industry contributes substantially to economic progress. 

India’s IT Boom and Talent Shortage

The IT sector has seen exponential growth in the last two decades. According to the IT & BPM Industry Report 2022, the IT and BPM market accounts for 9.3% of India’s Gross domestic product (GDP). 

With growth of such epic proportions, the industry has become one of the biggest employment generators. The top three IT companies in India, TCS, Wipro and Infosys, are expected to offer around 1.05 lakh job opportunities in the year 2022. Despite these trends, the demand-talent supply gap continues to widen. According to a recent report, India’s talent demand-supply gap is staring at 28 percent for new-age technology jobs whilst there exists a demand for more than 1.5 lakh jobs in 5G, Artificial Intelligence(AI), Big Data analytics, mobile app development, cloud computing, IoT, and robotic process automation. 

In short, the demand for skilled tech professionals is at an all-time high. If you’re looking to carve your career in a highly demanding, rewarding, and lucrative field, IT has a ton of options for you.  

Skills of an IT Professional

The IT industry has various niches where a skilled professional can flourish. But what are these specific skills? 

IT engineers are one of the most sought-after professionals in the field of IT. However, the roles of an IT engineer and a software engineer are often mixed up. Let's clear that up before we move forward. 

A software engineer is someone who specialises in the design, implementation, and management of software systems and hardware processes. An IT engineer on the other hand is someone who specialises in the installation, development, and implementation of computer systems and applications. 

Let us look at some of the major skills an IT engineer should have.

An IT engineer would be someone who has a broad knowledge of technology. They are required to possess problem-solving skills, and communication skills and need to be updated constantly about the latest industry trends. 

An IT engineer would often be selected based on the following core skills:

• Knowledge of IT systems, security protocols, database systems and network infrastructures. 
• Ability to manage more than one project at a time. 
• Ability to work in teams. 
• Breakdown complex communication into simple language
• Troubleshooting tech issues

While these are general skills, there are more specific and advanced skills that are sought in an IT engineer. Some of them are: 

• Certification in Microsoft, SQL, Oracle and VMWare
• Well-versed in programming languages
• Skilled in Web application development

Other Key IT Roles and Salaries

The IT industry is preferred by many for job opportunities as they have a relatively higher pay scale. Here are some of the most sought-after IT jobs and their salaries. 

1. Data Scientists

Data Scientist is a highly sought job title with some of the best salary packages. A data scientist uses large amounts of data to find patterns and explain phenomena that help organisations make better decisions. 

Fresher/Average  salary: 5-7 LPA 

Senior-level salary: 20-25 LPA

2. Artificial Intelligence Professionals

An AI professional is responsible for the statistical analysis and tests, design and development of machine learning programs and developing deep learning systems. They are in high demand in India. 

Fresher/Average  salary: 8 LPA 

Senior level salary: 26 LPA 

3. Cyber Security Professionals

They are the ones tasked with keeping an organisation’s internal computer network secure from threats. They are essential to every IT company. 

Fresher/Average  salary: 6 LPA 

Senior level salary: 30 LPA 

4.  Machine Learning Professionals

Machine learning engineers develop and improve the software-based system, and create automation tools to improve efficiency. 

Fresher/Average  salary: 5 LPA 

Senior level salary: 22 LPA 

5. Software Engineers

Despite being a staple in the market, the demand for software engineers never seems to slump. The responsibility of a software engineer includes designing and creating computer systems and applications to solve real-world problems. 

Fresher/Average  salary: 4-6 LPA 

Senior-level salary: 25-30 LPA 

6. DevOps Engineer

A DevOps engineer is responsible for introducing processes, tools, and methodologies needed during the software development life cycle. It is a much sought-after job which is more collaborative. 

Fresher/Average  salary: 6 LPA 

Senior-level Salary: 12 LPA 

7. Full Stack Developers

A full-stack developer is responsible for web development and maintenance in a company. They are high in demand as every company requires the services of one. 

Fresher/Average  salary: 6 LPA 

Senior-level Salary: 12 LPA 

8. Cloud Computing Professionals

There is massive adoption of cloud technology. A cloud computing professional manages an organisation’s cloud-based systems and processes. 

Fresher/Average  salary: 6-8 LPA 

Senior-level Salary: 30 LPA 

9. IoT Solutions Architect

An IoT engineer is tasked with the creation and development of sensors, devices, and software that create a seamless network. 

Average salary: 5 LPA 

Senior-level Salary: 16 LPA

10. Blockchain Engineer

A blockchain engineer specialises in blockchain technology and holds responsibilities like performing operations, designing, developing, analysing, implementing and supporting a blockchain network. 

Average salary: 6.8 LPA 

Senior-level salary: 20 LPA 

Why Does the IT Industry Offer the Highest Paying Jobs?

It’s no secret that IT jobs are some of the highest-paying jobs out there. In a very lucrative position, IT personnel can earn highly competitive salaries. One of the reasons the IT industry pays well is because India exports IT services to the US and other developed countries. The payment in conversion thus becomes significantly high. There is also a high-profit margin in the IT industry as raw materials used are elatively low. The need for IT services has been felt in virtually every aspect of business and life. The high demand for IT services increases their value. 

Our Learners Also Asked

1. How much would I earn after taxes? 

The national average of an IT professional is 7.5LPA 

2. How much does an IT engineer earn in India? 

It depends on the post of the IT engineer. It can vary from 5- 35 LPA. 

3. What is the salary of an IT engineer per month? 

An IT engineer earns an average salary of 43,000 per month. 

4. What is the minimum salary in the IT field?

There is no minimum salary, although it can go down to 1.2LPA

5. Which is better: IT or Computer Engineering ?

Both have their own perks and pay according to the skillset.

Summing It Up

The IT industry is forever in need of skilled labour. With graduates churning out by the thousands every year, there is high competition for whatever opportunities are available. It takes a very lucrative set of skills to get the job that you aspire for. 

However, with knowledge accessible just a click away, it would be unwise to stay in the dark and whine. Simplilearn offers internationally acknowledged certificate courses that can steer you in the right direction. 

The ITIL Foundation Course is a program that provides the technical and practical knowledge to clear the ITIL exam.