Tech Freshers Still Getting Paid Like It's the 1990s. What Went Wrong?
In 2000, a fresher with a BTech degree could get a job in one of the four or five top IT companies in India for about Rs 20,000-25,000 per month. Some got more, some got less, but their salary was mostly in that range.
Twenty-five years later, they are still being paid more or less the same, by the same IT giants.
If you adjust for inflation, Rs 20,000 in 2000 is the same as about Rs 90,000 to 1 lakh today. That means, real income of an IT fresher has dropped by a whopping 70 percent.
Why is this so significant?
It is because India’s IT sector has been one of our biggest white-collar employers. For nearly three decades now, it has been the gateway to prosperity for the upwardly mobile middle class in this country. Today, that door to affluence is being shut, right on their faces.
Watch the second episode of 'Caught in the Middle' by senior business journalist Aunindyo Chakravarty as he breaks down the sharp drop in real income for freshers in IT firms and what that means for a young person today.
From exposing misinformation to delivering impactful human rights reporting, our newsroom has relentlessly pursued stories that drive change. We remain committed to asking the tough questions — and we'd love for you to be a part of our journey. Support us — Become a Quint Member today*!
Also Read:
*Already a member of The Quint? What a star! Your support empowers us to question everything.
Want us to cover a story? Write to us at editor@thequint.com or reply to this email.