AI jobs outpace legacy tech in pay growth

New Delhi: Salaries for artificial intelligence (AI)-related jobs in India have compounded 23 per cent between 2024 and 2026, while pay in some legacy technology roles has declined, widening the compensation divide in the job market, a report by jobs platform foundit said on Wednesday.

AI recorded 12 per cent year-on-year salary growth last year, the highest among tracked categories, followed by computer and network security and semiconductors at 9 per cent each. Computer hardware and e-commerce saw salary declines, while IT services stagnated over the period.

Entry-level AI professionals with 0-3 years of experience earn Rs 8.87-15.41 lakh per annum (LPA), with salaries rising to Rs 70.99-89.24 LPA for professionals with more than 15 years of experience. Bengaluru remains India’s highest-paying AI market, supported by its concentration of product companies, AI startups and global capability centres. Senior AI professionals there earn Rs 61.70-91.25 LPA, around 10-15 per cent more than their counterparts in NCR or Mumbai and up to 40 per cent more than those in Chennai. Hyderabad is emerging as the closest challenger, backed by expanding GCC and product-engineering investments. Cybersecurity recorded the highest salary ceiling at Rs 97.81 lakh.

By comparison, IT and IT services salaries range from Rs 2.68-5.08 LPA at entry level to Rs 57.55-72.13 LPA for professionals with over 15 years’ experience. Both recorded a 1 per cent salary decline last year.

“Experience on its own no longer commands the strongest raises — what matters is whether a skill fills a capability gap the business needs,” said Tarun Sinha, CEO, foundit. Outside technology, semiconductor salaries compounded 17 per cent over two years and industrial automation 13 per cent.