Entry-level tech salaries stagnant for 15 years in India

A viral comparison by entrepreneur Swapna Kumar Panda on X shows entry-level salaries at Indian IT firms like TCS, Infosys, HCL, and Wipro have barely increased from around Rs 3–3.3 LPA in 2010 to Rs 3.5–4 LPA in 2026.

CEO compensation at these same companies grew sharply: Infosys CEO salary rose from Rs 1.01 crore to Rs 82.5 crore (82×), and HCL CEO salary from Rs 4 crore to Rs 154 crore (38×).

Industry experts attribute stagnant fresher pay to mass hiring models, cost competitiveness, and a large available talent pool.

The discussion emphasizes that specialized skills, internships, and practical experience are increasingly critical for graduates to secure higher-paying tech roles.