AI upskilling increases salaries by 150 pc on average in India: Report
New Delhi, June 18
Artificial intelligence upskilling is delivering significant career gains in India, with professionals reporting an average salary increase of nearly 150 per cent, while nearly half of AI-enabled career outcomes now lie outside traditional engineering roles, according to a report released on Thursday.
The report by Scaler highlighted how AI is evolving from a specialised technical skill into a workforce-wide capability across industries.
AI upskilling is driving salary growth across experience levels, with early-career professionals reporting average salary growth of 155 per cent, it added.
The findings suggest that AI is increasingly becoming a career accelerator for both young professionals and experienced workers.
Nearly 50 per cent of AI-enabled career outcomes now extend beyond conventional engineering roles into leadership, consulting, operations, human resources, marketing, finance, academia and other business functions.
The report further noted that nearly 25 per cent of learners now coming from non-technical backgrounds, signalling AI's expanding relevance beyond software and engineering careers. In addition, women are playing a growing role in India's AI ecosystem.
Commenting on this, Abhimanyu Saxena, Co-founder, Scaler said AI is creating new pathways to opportunity, accelerating career growth and helping professionals achieve stronger compensation outcomes.
He said the findings suggest that AI is emerging as a creator of opportunities rather than a threat to jobs for those willing to develop relevant skills.
Women reported an average salary jump of 145 per cent after transitioning into AI-enabled careers, while female quality assurance (QA) engineers recorded the highest gains at 574 per cent, according to the report.
City-wise, Bengaluru continues to lead India's AI talent landscape, accounting for 19 per cent of learners, followed by Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai.
At the same time, nearly one in five AI learners now coming from Tier-II cities such as Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Indore, Coimbatore and Nagpur.
Among career outcomes, software engineer emerged as the most common AI-enabled role, accounting for 34.77 per cent, followed by engineering leadership at 17.51 per cent.
The report showed that AI is opening up new opportunities in consulting, with consulting-related outcomes nearly doubling from 3.1 per cent of learners at entry level to 5.65 per cent of overall professional outcomes.
Moreover, VPs, CXOs and engineering leaders reported the highest post-upskilling salaries, averaging Rs 33 lakh per annum.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone from a non-tech background working in HR, I find this very encouraging. The fact that AI careers are opening up beyond engineering is exactly what India needs. My cousin moved from marketing to an AI-related role and her growth has been amazing. The future is bright for those willing to learn!
Impressive numbers but I remain skeptical about the "average" claim. 150% sounds like a PR number from Scaler themselves. What about the distribution? I bet the top 10% are pulling the average up significantly. Also, Rs 33 lakh per annum for CXOs seems low for leadership roles—something doesn't add up.
Good to see Bengaluru leading, but even better that Tier-II cities like Lucknow and Patna are catching up. In UP we have so much talent but limited opportunities locally. If AI upskilling can help people work remotely for better pay, it's a game-changer for our region. Hope the government also focuses on digital infrastructure in these cities.
The 574% salary jump for women QA engineers is incredible! As a woman in tech, this gives me hope. But we must ensure these opportunities are accessible to all—not just those who can afford expensive courses. Need more affordable and free resources for women from smaller towns. Still, very positive trend overall.
Interesting report. The consulting angle is noteworthy—AI is clearly becoming a cross-functional skill. But I worry about the ethical implications. As Indians upskill in AI, we must also focus on responsible AI development. The salary gains are great, but let's not lose sight of building AI that benefits everyone, not just corporate
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