Data scientists, cloud engineers get highest salaries in IT companies

Data scientists are essential in analysing and extracting insights from vast datasets, enabling companies to gain a competitive edge.

Data scientists and cloud engineers are in high demand among IT and ITeS companies in India and are the highest paid among techies, according to data compiled for Moneycontrol by AmbitionBox.

Data scientists currently receive the highest average salary of about Rs 11 lakh per annum, with the maximum package reaching Rs 25 lakh. Cloud engineers are next, with annual salaries of Rs 10.51 lakh.

Data scientists with eight years of experience are the highest paid roles, followed by cloud engineers and development operation engineers (average salary of Rs 7.4 lakh), according to AmbitionBox, a platform for job seekers.
The data covers only IT and ITeS companies and does not include software and product-based companies.

Among non-core IT job roles, programme managers are the highest paid, with a salary package of Rs 26 lakh. Programme managers earn high salaries in IT companies because they have more managerial duties than project managers.

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Data scientists and cloud engineers are in demand in India as the digitisation of businesses and the explosion of data have created a need for data-driven decision-making. Data scientists are essential in analysing and extracting insights from vast datasets, enabling companies to gain a competitive edge.

With the increasing adoption of cloud computing, organisations need cloud engineers to design, deploy, and manage cloud infrastructure. Cloud solutions offer scalability, cost-efficiency, and flexibility, making them an attractive choice for businesses.

“We are seeing more and more companies adopting new technologies in the digital economy and this trend is likely to continue as data-driven decision-making becomes even more integral to companies' success,” Mayur Mundada, founder of AmbitionBox told Moneycontrol.

In addition, India's outsourcing companies and its growing tech startup ecosystem have led to a surge in demand for these professionals, making them indispensable assets for organisations looking to harness the power of data and cloud technology to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Last but not least

At the other end of the spectrum are data analysts, quality assurance engineers, and cyber security engineers who receive the lowest starting salaries. Among freshers, a data analyst receives Rs 1.7 lakh a year compared with a data scientist (Rs 3.6 lakh) and a cloud engineer (Rs 3 lakh).

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Data analysts, quality assurance engineers, and cyber security engineers in India often get lower minimum and maximum salaries than other IT professionals due to the presence of a vast talent pool in these roles, leading to competition.

Educational institutions churn out a high number of graduates in these fields, contributing to a supply-demand imbalance. However, as data security becomes increasingly critical and cybersecurity threats grow, there is potential for higher salaries in the future, especially for experienced professionals with specialised skills.

According to AmbitionBox, there are some roles that are not in high demand at this stage but will soon become hot in the IT and ITeS market. Among them are AI generative prompt engineers, blockchain engineers, IoT (Internet of Things) specialists, AR/VR developers, ethical hackers/penetration testers, and unity 3D developers.

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As of now, there aren't enough skilled people for these roles but that is changing due to the increasing focus on these technologies in educational institutions and the rise of online courses, Mundada noted.