India’s digital economy is on course to contribute nearly one-fifth of the nation’s GDP, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a key driver of enterprise value creation. But the rapid expansion of this sector is being shadowed by a growing talent shortfall, according to TeamLease Digital’s Digital Skills & Salary Primer Report for FY2025-26.
The report highlights a widening skills gap in emerging technologies. For every 10 open roles in generative AI, only one qualified engineer is available. By 2026, the AI talent deficit is projected to reach 53%, while demand for cloud computing professionals is expected to outstrip supply by 55–60%.
India’s AI market is projected to touch $28.8 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 45%. The adoption of AI is also expected to boost white-collar employment. Global Capability Centers (GCCs) are likely to account for 22–25% of new tech jobs in 2025. Of the 4.7 million fresh tech jobs anticipated by 2027, around 1.2 million are expected to be generated by GCCs, particularly in generative AI and engineering R&D.
Salaries Surge In AI, Cloud And Cybersecurity
The report notes that next-generation roles are resetting pay scales. Senior professionals in Generative AI Engineering and MLOps can earn as high as Rs 58–60 lakh per annum, with annual growth rates above 18%. Demand is soaring for niche skills such as prompt engineering, LLM safety and tuning, AI orchestration, agent design, simulation governance, and AI compliance—especially in BFSI, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Cybersecurity and Data Engineering continue to be core skills. Average salaries in cybersecurity are expected to climb from Rs 28 LPA to Rs 33.5 LPA by FY27, while senior experts can command up to Rs 55 LPA. Data Engineering salaries are set to rise from Rs 23 LPA to Rs 27 LPA, with top professionals earning Rs 42 LPA.
Cloud Computing roles are also gaining traction, with salaries projected to rise from Rs 24 LPA to Rs 28 LPA by FY27 within GCCs. Senior Cloud Architects could make up to Rs 45 LPA.
GCCs Drive Hiring Momentum
The GCC sector is witnessing a geographic shift, with Bengaluru retaining the lead, Hyderabad expanding rapidly, and tier-2 cities seeing a 21% surge due to the hub-and-spoke expansion model.
In the IT products and services sector, product management has emerged as the fastest-growing skill, with senior-level salaries projected to rise 29% to Rs 42 LPA by FY27. Cloud roles are also seeing strong demand, with average salaries expected to grow nearly 19% to Rs 37.5 LPA. Generative AI-focused positions are recording steady growth too, with senior salaries projected to rise from Rs 28 LPA to Rs 33.5 LPA over FY2025–27.
Shifts In Non-Tech Digital Roles
Digital adoption beyond the tech sector is reshaping pay scales. In non-tech enterprises, digital transformation roles are projected to grow from Rs 16 LPA to Rs 19.5 LPA by FY27. Data analytics salaries are also expected to see a steady increase, from Rs 11 LPA to Rs 13.5 LPA. Senior professionals in cloud and cybersecurity within non-tech firms can earn up to Rs 30 LPA and Rs 28 LPA, respectively.
However, legacy roles are stagnating. Salaries for system maintenance are forecast to remain flat at Rs 12 LPA, while IT support is expected to grow only marginally from Rs 10.5 LPA to Rs 11 LPA by FY27.
The report also points to a rise in startup hiring, with firms such as Nykaa and Swiggy driving a 15% increase in campus recruitment, underscoring the demand for young digital talent.