A LinkedIn job posting for an editor-in-chief role in Gurgaon offering Rs 35,000– Rs 40,000 per month has been doing rounds on social media, drawing sharp reactions from journalists who flagged the gap between senior editorial responsibilities and the salaries offered in the media industry.
The job listing describes an onsite, full-time editor-in-chief position requiring 8–10 years of experience, with monthly pay capped at Rs 40,000. The role is typically considered the highest editorial position in a newsroom.
Journalists call out ‘new low’
The post triggered strong reactions from industry professionals, many describing it as emblematic of a deeper issue in media pay structures.
“Made me check the calendar twice! The fact that this is not a prank is concerning. While titles and paychecks barely ever match each other in the noblest of professions, this is a new low even for us,” said Ayush Khar, assistant editor at Outlook Money.
Others framed the listing as reflecting unrealistic expectations.
“At this point, I’m not sure if they’re hiring an Editor-in-Chief or running a social experiment on how much passion can survive without money,” said Shivam Tyagi, a journalist at The Economic Times.
Some journalists pointed to similar experiences.
“I wish this was not true, but it is. I was recently offered a job as editor of a B2B magazine (sourcing stories, production, marketing and sales coordination, writing the cover story per issue) for the princely sum of Rs 30,000. ” business journalist Vrushali Lad wrote.
Pay gap vs industry benchmarks
The viral listing has also drawn attention to industry compensation benchmarks.
Crowdsourced data from platforms such as AmbitionBox and Glassdoor suggests that editor-in-chief salaries in India typically range from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh or more annually—equivalent to roughly Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh per month.
Such roles often require over 15 years of editorial and leadership experience, commanding a premium in established media organisations, particularly in legacy print, television and large digital platforms.
The job listing and the discussion it triggered also reflects long-standing concerns within the media sector around pay compression, rising workloads, and talent attrition. As real estate reporter Shiladitya Pandit put it: “The same people at glitzy media conferences will think why journalists are leaving the profession at record rates.”