In a significant move that challenges the long-standing stagnation of entry-level salaries in the Indian IT sector, Infosys has announced a massive pay hike for fresh graduates. The software giant is now offering compensation packages as high as ₹21 lakh per annum (LPA) for specialized technology roles, marking a strategic shift toward attracting top-tier digital and AI talent.
Resetting the Entry-Level Standard
For over a decade, the standard "starting salary" for engineering freshers in India’s IT majors remained stuck between ₹3 LPA and ₹4 LPA. However, with the rapid rise of Generative AI and niche digital technologies, Infosys is pivotting its recruitment strategy.
According to recent recruitment drives for the 2025 and 2026 batches, the company has tiered its salary structure based on technical expertise:
- Specialist Programmer L3 (Trainee): ₹21 Lakh per annum.
- Specialist Programmer L2 (Trainee): ₹16 Lakh per annum.
- Specialist Programmer L1 (Trainee): ₹11 Lakh per annum.
- Digital Specialist Engineer (Trainee): ₹7 Lakh per annum.
The "AI-First" Strategy
The salary surge is part of Infosys’s broader AI-first approach. Group CHRO Shaji Mathew stated that the company is looking for "digitally native" professionals who can contribute to advanced AI and cloud projects immediately. This involves not just upskilling the existing workforce but also competing with product-based startups and global tech firms for the brightest young minds.
Who is Eligible?
The high-paying roles are primarily open to graduates with the following degrees:
- BE / B.Tech / ME / M.Tech (Computer Science, IT, and circuit branches like ECE/EEE).
- MCA and Integrated M.Sc in Computer Science or IT.
The selection process is rigorous, often involving advanced coding challenges and deep technical interviews focused on problem-solving, data structures, and algorithms.
Hiring Momentum Continues
Despite global economic uncertainties, Infosys remains on track to meet its annual target of hiring 20,000 freshers this financial year. The company already recruited 12,000 freshers in the first half of the current fiscal, signaling a robust appetite for talent that can drive innovation in the artificial intelligence space.
This pay reset by Infosys is expected to trigger a "war for talent" among other IT majors like TCS, HCLTech, and Wipro, who have also begun introducing "Elite" or "Digital" tracks with higher compensation to retain high-performing graduates.
