Christmas bargain! Infosys hikes salary to Rs 21 lakh for specialized technology roles

Infosys is redefining the salary bar for fresh engineering graduates, rolling out entry-level pay of up to Rs 21 lakh per annum, as the company ramps up its push for AI-driven delivery and digital talent.

The move puts Infosys at the top of the entry-level pay scale among Indian IT companies, especially for niche technology roles. Social media posts and recruitment banners reviewed and verified by Moneycontrol indicate that the company is preparing an off-campus recruitment drive targeting 2,025 engineering and IT graduates, with salaries ranging from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 21 lakh per annum.

Recruitment will focus on specialist technology roles, including specialist multi-level programmer and specialist digital engineer (intern) roles. Eligible candidates include BE, BTech, ME, MTech, MCA and MSc graduates integrated in Computer Science, Computer Science and some circuit branches like Electronics and Electrical Engineering.

Under the pay structure outlined in the reviewed document, L3 Specialist Programmer (Intern) roles are pegged at Rs 21 lakh per annum, L2 roles at Rs 16 lakh, L1 roles at Rs 11 lakh, while Digital Specialist Engineer (Intern) positions offer Rs 7 lakh per annum.

Explaining the strategy, Infosys Group CHRO Shaji Mathew said the company is reshaping its workforce around advanced digital skills.

“Our early career hiring combines on-campus and off-campus campaigns, and we have expanded opportunities in the specialist programmer pathway, with packages up to Rs 21 lakh per annum,” he told Moneycontrol, adding that the AI-First approach requires both reskilling existing staff and hiring digitally native professionals with deep expertise.

For years, low starting salaries have been a pain point for engineering graduates entering the Indian IT sector. According to reports, while the median compensation of CEOs of top IT companies increased by 835% between FY12 and FY22, the median compensation of newer CEOs increased by only 45% over the same period. However, this gap has started to narrow for graduates with specialized skills.

Peers have also adjusted their recruiting models. Tata Consultancy Services offers Digital and Prime tracks which offer the new Rs 7 lakh and Rs 11 lakh per annum respectively. HCLTech has reworked its newer offering to offer up to four times the standard package for an “elite cadre” of recruits, reflecting growing demand driven by artificial intelligence. Wipro, on the other hand, offers specialized programs such as Turbo and WILP, where top performers can earn up to Rs 6.5 lakh per year.

The increase in salaries is accompanied by a constant hiring dynamic at Infosys. The company has already recruited 12,000 new joiners in the first half of FY26 and remains on track to meet its annual target of 20,000, Chief Financial Officer Jayesh Sanghrajka said during the company’s second quarter earnings call on October 16.