Infosys has raised entry-level salaries for specialised technology roles, offering packages of up to ₹21 lakh a year for fresh graduates. This is currently the highest starting pay in the Indian IT sector, significantly above what most rival firms offer for similar roles.
The move comes at a time when fresher salaries across the IT industry have largely stayed flat for several years.
According to recruitment banners and social media posts, Infosys is preparing an off campus hiring drive for 2025 graduates. The company plans to recruit engineering and computer science students for specialised roles with salary packages ranging from ₹7 lakh to ₹21 lakh per annum.
The top-end package stands out sharply in a sector where entry-level compensation has remained largely unchanged despite rising demand for advanced digital skills.
Infosys is hiring for positions such as Specialist Programmer and Digital Specialist Engineer (trainee).
A fresher joining as Specialist Programmer L3 (trainee) will earn ₹21 lakh a year. Those hired at L2 will receive ₹16 lakh, while L1 trainees will be offered ₹11 lakh. The Digital Specialist Engineer (trainee) role comes with a package of ₹7 lakh per year.
These roles are open to graduates with BE, BTech, ME, MTech, MCA and integrated MSc degrees, mainly from computer science, IT, and select circuit branches such as ECE and EEE.
The salary hike is linked to Infosys’ push towards an AI-first strategy.
“Our early-career hiring includes both campus and off-campus drives,” said Shaji Mathew of Infosys. “We have expanded opportunities in the Specialist Programmer track, with packages going up to ₹21 lakh per annum.”
The company has been increasing its focus on advanced digital, data, and AI-led roles as client demand shifts towards higher-value technology services.
For years, low starting salaries have been a major concern for engineering graduates.
Between FY12 and FY22, the median salary of IT CEOs rose 835%, climbing from ₹3.37 crore to ₹31.5 crore. In contrast, the median fresher salary increased just 45%, from ₹2.45 lakh to ₹3.55 lakh during the same period.
The latest pay revision suggests a partial reset, at least for specialised roles.
Despite a global slowdown and widespread tech layoffs, Infosys has continued to add fresh talent.
The company has already hired 12,000 freshers in the first half of FY26 and expects to reach its target of 20,000 fresher hires for the year.
Infosys CFO Jayesh Sanghrajka shared the update during the company’s Q2 earnings call on October 16.
Infosys also posted its fifth consecutive quarter of net headcount growth, adding 8,203 employees in Q2. The company’s total workforce now stands at 3,31,991.
For fresh graduates, the move signals a rare moment when entry-level pay is finally catching up with the skills the industry says it needs.