AI skills let freshers out- earn experienced IT staff

Freshers hired for specialised artificial intelligence (AI) roles at IT services companies are increasingly commanding salaries well above those of employees with several years of experience, as demand for niche skills is disrupting the sector’s traditional pay hierarchy.

While entry-level salaries for conventional IT services roles remain around Rs 4-5 lakh per annum (LPA), freshers recruited for specialised AI and engineering positions can earn Rs 18-22 LPA. This compares with Rs 5-8 LPA for some employees with around four years of experience in conventional services roles, who joined the industry at lower salary levels.