A complete, sourced guide to salaries, taxes, and cost of living in India — built for job seekers, professionals, students, expats, employers, and researchers comparing pay across 500+ professions and 15 industries.
Figures above are illustrative national averages — see Methodology for how they're calculated.
India is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing major economies, with a globally significant technology and IT services sector centred on Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune, alongside major finance and business hubs in Mumbai and Delhi NCR. National average figures mask enormous variation between metro-city professional salaries and typical wages in smaller towns and rural areas.
India's technology sector in particular has driven strong salary growth for skilled professionals over the past two decades, with many multinational companies operating large engineering and services centres in the country.
All figures on this page are shown in USD for cross-country comparison and represent national average estimates, which are notably lower than in many other economies on this site due to currency and broader economic factors — actual pay for skilled professionals, especially in technology, can be considerably higher than the national average.
| Profession | Industry | Avg. Monthly | Avg. Annual | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | Technology | $1,200 | $14,400 | $10,400 – $22,300 |
| Data Scientist | Technology | $1,250 | $15,000 | $10,800 – $23,200 |
| Product Manager | Technology | $1,350 | $16,200 | $11,700 – $25,100 |
| Web Developer | Technology | $910 | $10,900 | $7,850 – $16,900 |
| IT Support Specialist | Technology | $590 | $7,100 | $5,100 – $11,000 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $840 | $10,100 | $7,250 – $15,700 |
| Physician (General) | Healthcare | $2,350 | $28,200 | $20,300 – $43,700 |
| Dentist | Healthcare | $1,900 | $22,800 | $16,400 – $35,300 |
| Pharmacist | Healthcare | $1,400 | $16,800 | $12,100 – $26,000 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $1,000 | $12,000 | $8,650 – $18,600 |
| Civil Engineer | Engineering | $970 | $11,600 | $8,350 – $18,000 |
| Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $1,000 | $12,000 | $8,650 – $18,600 |
| Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $1,050 | $12,600 | $9,050 – $19,500 |
| Electrician | Construction | $700 | $8,400 | $6,050 – $13,000 |
| Plumber | Construction | $670 | $8,050 | $5,800 – $12,500 |
| Construction Worker | Construction | $490 | $5,900 | $4,250 – $9,150 |
| Architect | Construction | $930 | $11,200 | $8,050 – $17,400 |
| Teacher (K-12) | Education | $620 | $7,450 | $5,350 – $11,500 |
| University Professor | Education | $970 | $11,600 | $8,350 – $18,000 |
| School Administrator | Education | $880 | $10,600 | $7,650 – $16,400 |
| Retail Sales Associate | Retail | $360 | $4,300 | $3,100 – $6,650 |
| Retail Store Manager | Retail | $590 | $7,100 | $5,100 – $11,000 |
| Chef | Hospitality | $570 | $6,850 | $4,950 – $10,600 |
| Waiter / Waitress | Hospitality | $340 | $4,100 | $2,950 – $6,350 |
| Hotel Manager | Hospitality | $700 | $8,400 | $6,050 – $13,000 |
| Factory Worker | Manufacturing | $440 | $5,300 | $3,800 – $8,200 |
| Production Manager | Manufacturing | $920 | $11,000 | $7,900 – $17,000 |
| Government Administrator | Government | $710 | $8,500 | $6,100 – $13,200 |
| Police Officer | Government | $690 | $8,300 | $6,000 – $12,900 |
| Truck Driver | Transportation | $560 | $6,700 | $4,800 – $10,400 |
| Logistics Manager | Transportation | $890 | $10,700 | $7,700 – $16,600 |
| Marketing Manager | Marketing | $1,050 | $12,600 | $9,050 – $19,500 |
| Digital Marketing Specialist | Marketing | $700 | $8,400 | $6,050 – $13,000 |
| Corporate Lawyer | Legal | $1,650 | $19,800 | $14,300 – $30,700 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $620 | $7,450 | $5,350 – $11,500 |
| Sales Representative | Sales | $650 | $7,800 | $5,600 – $12,100 |
| Account Executive | Sales | $890 | $10,700 | $7,700 – $16,600 |
| Customer Service Representative | Customer Service | $430 | $5,150 | $3,700 – $8,000 |
| Call Center Manager | Customer Service | $740 | $8,900 | $6,400 – $13,800 |
| Accountant | Finance | $800 | $9,600 | $6,900 – $14,900 |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $940 | $11,300 | $8,150 – $17,500 |
| Investment Banker | Finance | $1,850 | $22,200 | $16,000 – $34,400 |
| HR Manager | Various | $1,050 | $12,600 | $9,050 – $19,500 |
| Graphic Designer | Various | $610 | $7,300 | $5,250 – $11,300 |
Figures are illustrative national average estimates rounded for readability, not exact statistical values. See Methodology for how these are calculated.
India's comparatively low cost of living relative to skilled-professional salaries — particularly in technology and IT services — supports strong savings potential in USD terms, though housing costs in Mumbai and Bengaluru's premium areas absorb a considerably larger share of income than in most other Indian cities.
National average asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment is roughly $150–$250/month, but can exceed $600/month in premium Mumbai or Bengaluru neighbourhoods and drop well below $100/month in smaller cities.
Property prices vary enormously — from relatively affordable options in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to some of the highest per-square-foot prices in Asia in prime South Mumbai. Most first-time buyers rely on home loans with tenures of up to 20-30 years.
Cities such as Pune, Ahmedabad, and Coimbatore generally offer significantly lower housing costs than Mumbai or Bengaluru while still providing strong job markets, particularly in technology and manufacturing.
India has a mixed healthcare system: a public system providing free or low-cost care through government hospitals, alongside an extensive and widely used private healthcare sector, particularly for salaried professionals.
Public hospitals serve a large share of the population, especially outside major metros. Many employed professionals rely on employer-provided group health insurance or purchase individual private health insurance for faster access and private hospital care.
Private healthcare costs are considerably lower in absolute terms than in Western countries, though still meaningful relative to local incomes. Many formal-sector employers provide group health insurance as a standard benefit.
Public school education is available at low or no cost, though quality varies significantly. Private schools — ranging from affordable to premium international curricula — are widely used by families who can afford them, particularly in urban areas.
Public university and top institute (e.g. IIT, IIM) tuition is heavily subsidized and low by global standards, though admission is highly competitive. Private university and professional program costs vary widely, and international education abroad remains a significant aspiration and expense for many families.
Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and several other major cities have expanding metro rail networks alongside extensive bus systems. Auto-rickshaws and ride-hailing apps are widely used for shorter trips across most cities.
Two-wheelers (motorcycles/scooters) are extremely common for personal transport due to lower cost and better traffic maneuverability than cars. Fuel prices are moderate, and traffic congestion is a significant factor in most major cities.
Working hours commonly run 48 hours/week across many sectors, though IT and multinational companies often operate closer to 40–45 hours. Paid leave entitlements vary by state and company policy, typically ranging from 15 to 21 days per year for formal-sector employees, plus public holidays.
Remote and hybrid work grew substantially in India's IT and services sector after 2020 and remains common, particularly for roles serving international clients. Typical formal-sector benefits include EPF contributions, group health insurance, and paid leave.
Foreign nationals generally require an Employment Visa, sponsored by an Indian entity, to work in India, with eligibility criteria including a minimum salary threshold for most categories of skilled employment.
This is general information, not legal advice. For current, authoritative requirements, consult the Indian Government e-Visa portal or the Ministry of Home Affairs, or a licensed immigration adviser.
Based on the figures shown on this page, the average salary in India is approximately $750 per month, or around $9,000 per year, though skilled professionals — especially in technology — can earn considerably more, and this varies enormously by city and sector.
This reflects currency exchange rates, a lower overall cost of living, and India's large population with wide variation between metro-city professional salaries and typical wages elsewhere in the country.
This varies enormously by city and sector — a salary well above the national average is common for skilled IT, finance, and engineering professionals in Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Hyderabad.
There is no single national minimum wage — rates are set at the state level and vary considerably depending on the state, sector, and skill classification.
India's income tax is progressive, from 0% to 30%, under either an old tax regime (with more deductions) or a simplified new regime (lower rates, fewer deductions) — see the Tax System section above.
Bengaluru and Mumbai generally report the highest average salaries, driven by technology and finance respectively, though both also carry a higher cost of living than most other Indian cities.
Public healthcare is available at low or no cost through government hospitals, though many employed professionals also use private healthcare, often through employer-provided group health insurance.
Paid leave entitlements vary by state and company, typically ranging from 15 to 21 days per year for formal-sector employees, plus public holidays.
Technology roles on this page range from around $7,100/year for entry-level IT support roles to over $16,000/year for experienced product managers — considerably lower in USD terms than in developed economies, though senior and specialized tech roles can be significantly higher.
Yes — foreign nationals generally require a sponsored Employment Visa. See our Visa & Employment section for where to find official guidance.
Gross (CTC, or Cost to Company) salary includes items like employer EPF contributions and other benefits. Take-home pay is what remains after income tax and employee EPF contributions — see our Take-Home Pay Examples section above.
No — the figures on this page represent base salary estimates. Variable pay and annual bonuses, common in many Indian companies especially in IT and finance, are not included.
Data on this page is reviewed and updated manually on a regular cycle rather than pulled from a live feed. See the "Last Updated" note near the top of this page.
Figures are informed by categories of public sources such as government labour statistics, tax authority publications, and independent compensation surveys. See our Data Sources section below.
Yes — use the Compare tool on the Global Salary Atlas homepage to compare salary, tax, and cost of living between India and any other country in our database.
Figures on this page are informed by categories of public sources, including government labour statistics, national tax authority publications, public statistical agencies, and — where relevant for broader economic context — international organizations. These are named here as examples of the type of source we draw on, not as a claim of live or automated data access.
This page is manually reviewed and updated rather than fed by a real-time data feed. See the "Last Updated" note near the top of this page, and our full Data Sources and Methodology pages for more detail on how figures across Global Salary Atlas are sourced and verified.
Spotted a figure that looks outdated? Let us know — corrections are reviewed and applied on our regular update cycle.