7 High-Paying IT Jobs

Some of the highest-paying IT jobs require the most education, credentials, or experience, such as vice president of technology or IT manager. However, you can find more than one pathway to success. While the average salary for an IT job is ₹6,45,000 lakhs in India, time and experience can lead to significant increases. The average salary for someone with more than 15 years of experience in the field is as high as ₹10,75,000 lakhs per year [1].

Explore the highest-paying IT jobs and their requirements to help you choose a suitable role that matches your background, skills, and aspirations.

Highest-paying IT jobs in India

As of fiscal year 2024, the IT and business process management industry accounted for roughly 7 percent of India’s GDP [2]. Whether you are looking for a job right now or just starting to map out your career path, you’ll find many options for high-paying jobs in the IT sector. Credentials and experience are the two most significant factors influencing salary, but location, company, and industry also play a role in determining how much money you’re offered.

Where you sit in the organisational chart matters as well. Vice presidents and C-suite executives typically make more than an entry-level developer, and an IT architect usually makes more than a consultant. Due to the salary fluctuating based on job title and responsibilities, the highest-paying IT jobs listed below are organised by category. You’ll find the average salary for job titles in each category and basic education requirements.

*All annual base salary data is sourced from Ambition Box as of January 2025 and does not include additional pay, such as commission and benefits.

Industries in India have seen a 37 per cent increase in jobs related to artificial intelligence and machine learning between 2023 and 2024 [3]. Learn to apply AI in your field productively and responsibly by enrolling in Google's IT Support Professional Certificate, recently updated to include practical AI training.

1. IT vice presidents and C-suite executives

Vice presidents and chief officers are the highest-paid IT jobs in India. Usually, these positions represent the top corporate ladder for IT professionals. Vice presidents of technology and chief technology officers are responsible for overseeing the organisation's technology. This could include overseeing a department, designing and implementing procedures, monitoring performance, and coordinating with other departments in the company.

Average base salaries 

• Vice president of technology: ₹52.3 Lakhs

• Vice president of information technology services: ₹35 Lakhs

• Chief technology officer: ₹49 Lakhs

Average education requirements

To become the vice president of technology or chief technology officer, you’ll likelyneed a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree, as well as certifications like Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Project Management Professional (PMP). To reach this position, you’ll also likely need several years of professional experience.

2. IT architects

IT architects design and develop systems to solve problems. Specialisations of an IT architect can include the Internet of Things (IoT), data, networks, software, applications, and more. For example, a network architect is responsible for creating and maintaining computer networks, whilst an applications architect creates and deploys applications.

Average base salaries

• IoT solution architect: ₹20.1 Lakhs

• Data architect: ₹29.2 Lakhs

• Network architect: ₹24.1 Lakhs

• Software architect: ₹33.1 Lakhs 

• Applications architect: ₹32.7 Lakhs

Average education requirements

Many IT architect roles require a bachelor’s degree. Additional requirements could include a master’s degree or some level of professional experience. Depending on the field the architect works in, some employers may prefer candidates with additional certifications.

3. IT managers and directors

IT managers and directors oversee a business or organisation's information technology programme, including running an IT department and designing, implementing, and coordinating technology efforts. They can be more generalised or specialise in areas like information security systems, databases, or specific IT programs.

Average base salaries

• IT director: ₹51.4 Lakhs

• IT program manager: ₹23.1 Lakhs

• Innovation manager: ₹21.1 Lakhs

• Database manager: ₹18.2 Lakhs

Average education requirements

While you don’t always need a formal education to become an IT manager, many companies will require a bachelor’s degree, and you may find opportunities that require a master’s degree. Professional experience is also highly valued for these roles.

4. IT engineers

“IT engineer” is a catch-all term used to describe the many professionals who design, manage, or implement computer systems. Many different kinds of IT engineers exist, including blockchain engineers, software engineers, AI engineers, DevOps engineers, site reliability engineers, and more. As an engineer, you can take on a lot of different specialisations, which affects your salary potential.

Average base salaries

• Blockchain engineer: ₹9.6 Lakhs

• Software engineer: ₹8.2 Lakhs

• Artificial intelligence (AI) engineer: ₹12.4 Lakhs

• DevOps engineer: ₹8.3 Lakhs

• Site reliability engineer: ₹14 Lakhs

Average education requirements

The specific education requirements to become an IT engineer will vary depending on the type of engineer you plan to become, although a bachelor’s degree is often the minimum requirement. In some cases, you need a degree in computer science. In others, work experience or alternative credentials such as certificates can help you secure an entry-level role.

5. IT consultants

The general definition of an IT consultant is a professional who advises a business or organisation about technology. What a consultant does in any business depends greatly on the role the company is trying to fill. Business technology consultants work with corporations to determine the best way to implement technology in business systems.

Average base salaries

• Technical consultant: ₹11.6 Lakhs

• Business technology consultant: ₹20 Lakhs

Average education requirements

Getting a job as a tech consultant without a formal education is possible, provided you have the skills and experience required to do the job. However, most employers, whether you work as a contractor or employee, will expect you to have a bachelor’s degree. With experience, you may find opportunities to lead a staff and become a senior consultant.

6. IT analysts

IT analysts look at systems and data on behalf of companies and organisations to identify risks and opportunities and recommend changes. You may pursue various job titles as an IT analyst, including a data security analyst, a specialised type of analyst who looks for ways to reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Average base salaries

• Computer systems analyst: ₹10.7 Lakhs

• Information security (InfoSec) analyst: ₹7 Lakhs

• Security analyst: ₹6 Lakhs

Average education requirements

Computer science analysts usually require a bachelor’s degree. Senior analyst positions sometimes require a master’s degree but may only require a certain level of experience or additional certification. A senior-level position can sometimes lead to earning more money.

7. IT developers

IT developers build, deploy, maintain, update, and test various types of software, applications, and websites. In this role, your title may reflect the products you work on, such as software developers or mobile applications developers.

Other titles, like senior developer or full-stack developer, indicate your level of skill or experience. A senior developer would be a professional with experience leading a team, while a full-stack developer is a professional with skills to create a website's front-end and back-end.

Average base salaries

• Software developers: ₹7.9 Lakhs

• Mobile applications developer: ₹6.8 Lakhs

• Senior web developer: ₹8.9 Lakhs 

• Full-stack developer: ₹8.9 Lakhs

Average education requirements

Developers typically need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent hands-on experience for entry-level positions. You can also explore certifications in postgraduate courses. Additional experience can help you find opportunities to become a senior developer, sometimes earning a higher salary.

Advance your IT career with Coursera

You can explore many high-paying IT jobs to decide which career is right for you. To get started, consider taking an online course to help you prepare for the job market. You can build in-demand, job-ready IT skills with an industry leader in technology through the Google IT Support Professional Certificate programme. You'll study the foundations of networking and operating systems, end-to-end customer support, and problem-solving through code at your own pace, 100 percent online. Also consider IBM’s Information Technology (IT) and Cloud Fundamentals Specialisation or the University of Maryland’s Cybersecurity for Everyone course, all available on Coursera.