Based on FY 2026-27 market data across all experience levels and employer types in India. In-hand calculated under new tax regime, metro city.
| Experience Level | Typical CTC | Monthly In-Hand (Metro, New Regime) | Annual In-Hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresher / 0-1 yr | Rs. 6.0 LPA | Rs. 45,238 | Rs. 5,42,856 |
| Junior / 1-3 yrs | Rs. 10.0 LPA | Rs. 77,930 | Rs. 9,35,160 |
| Mid-level / 3-6 yrs | Rs. 16.0 LPA | Rs. 1,18,224 | Rs. 14,18,688 |
| Senior / 6-10 yrs | Rs. 25.0 LPA | Rs. 1,75,494 | Rs. 21,05,922 |
| Staff / 10+ yrs | Rs. 40.0 LPA | Rs. 2,60,033 | Rs. 31,20,391 |
| Basic Salary | Rs. 20,000/mo |
| HRA (50% of basic, metro) | Rs. 10,000/mo |
| Special Allowance | Rs. 17,238/mo |
| Gross Monthly Salary | Rs. 47,238/mo |
| Employee PF | -Rs. 1,800/mo |
| Professional Tax | -Rs. 200/mo |
| Income Tax (TDS) | -Rs. 0/mo |
| Monthly In-Hand | Rs. 45,238/mo |
How Software Engineer Salary Grows in India
What Does a Software Engineer Earn in India?
Software engineers in India work across IT services, product companies, startups, and MNCs. Salaries vary sharply by employer type. An IT services fresher at TCS or Infosys starts at Rs. 3.6 to Rs. 4 LPA while a product company fresher at a funded startup or MNC can start at Rs. 12 to Rs. 25 LPA. Experience compounds quickly in this field and senior engineers with 6 to 10 years of strong product experience command Rs. 30 to Rs. 60 LPA at top companies.
What Drives Software Engineer Salary in India?
Three things drive software engineer salary in India more than anything else: employer type (product vs services), tech stack (cloud, AI, and systems engineers earn more), and location (Bangalore and Hyderabad pay 15 to 25 percent more than tier-2 cities for the same role). Switching jobs every 2 to 3 years is the fastest way to grow salary in this field.
Software Engineer Salary by Specialization
Software Engineer Salary Across Employer Types
| Employer Type | Typical CTC Range | Monthly In-Hand |
|---|---|---|
| Google / Microsoft / Amazon | Rs. 20-50 LPA | Rs. 1.1-2.2L/mo |
| Funded Startups (Series B+) | Rs. 15-35 LPA | Rs. 85K-1.6L/mo |
| Mid-size Product Co | Rs. 10-20 LPA | Rs. 65K-1.1L/mo |
| IT Services (TCS/Infosys) | Rs. 3.6-8 LPA | Rs. 24K-55K/mo |
Software Engineer Salary by City in India
| City | Salary vs Base |
|---|---|
| Bangalore | +20% |
| Hyderabad | +15% |
| Pune | +5% |
| Chennai | +5% |
| Delhi NCR | +10% |
| Tier-2 cities | Base |
New Regime vs Old Regime at Software Engineer Entry Level
At Rs. 6.0 LPA CTC, the new tax regime gives Rs. 45,238/mo per month in a metro. The old regime with Rs. 1,50,000 in 80C deductions gives Rs. 45,238/mo. The new regime saves Rs. 0 per year at this CTC.