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Top Highest Paying Jobs in India: Top Careers, Salaries, and Qualifications

By Nitin Gurmukhani

Updated on Aug 26, 2025 | 8 min read | 2.26M+ views

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Did You Know? A recent article from the Economic Times reported that top IT professionals are earning up to Rs 1 crore or more with just 4-5 years of experience.

The recent buzz around techies earning over ₹1 crore within just a few years has sparked curiosity across the job market. It has led to wonder: what is the highest-paying job in India? And more importantly, what kind of skills does one need to land such a role? If you, too, are asking questions like what are the top-paying professions today, you are at the right place.  

In this blog, we will find out which are the highest paying jobs in India and give you an easy overview of the skills, qualifications and roles that these jobs involve. Keep reading to find quick insights you need to secure the top-paying job of your dreams!  

But before getting started, have a look at upGrad’s top range of courses in Management, Software Engineering, Data Science, and Digital Marketing, and learn industry-relevant skills in 2025.

What Are the Highest Paying Jobs in India in 2025?  

The job market in 2025 demands specialized skills, which makes certain professions highly competitive and desirable, not just for potential job seekers but also the companies looking to appoint them.  

Take a look at some of our top-rated courses that can help you upskill and stand out in the job market:  

Now, let’s dive deeper into the highest paying jobs in India and how much can one earn in them: 

What are the top 10 highest paying jobs in India?  

Amidst growing competition and tech evolution, there are certain job roles that pay more due to their exclusive skill demand, as well as the demand of certain roles in this market. 

Here is a table with the top 10 highest paying jobs in India and their approximate annual salary: 

Highest Paying Job 

Approx. Annual Salary (INR) 

AI Engineer 

₹6L-₹15 L 

Specialist Physician/Surgeon 

₹6 L -₹30 L+ 

Machine Learning Engineer 

₹7 L -₹20 L 

Chartered Accountant (CA) 

₹8 L -₹13 L 

Investment Banker 

₹5 L -₹19 L 

Data Scientist 

₹10 L -₹20 L 

Product Manager 

₹15 L -₹31 L 

Management Consultant 

₹20 L -₹30 L 

Commercial Pilot 

₹24 L -₹48 L 

CEO (Chief Executive Officer) 

₹10 L -₹50 L+ 

Source: Glassdoor 

Which job has the highest salary in India per month?  

Jobs like Chief Executive Officer (CEO), top medical professionals, and investment bankers usually pay the highest monthly salaries in India. Senior CEOs often earn ₹3–5 lakh a month, and experienced doctors or bankers can reach similar figures. 

Which job salary is 1 crore in India?  

Salaries of ₹1 crore annually are usually seen in CXO roles like CEO, CFO, or CTO, especially in large corporations. Some investment bankers, private equity professionals, and top-tier management consultants also cross the 1 cr mark after years of experience and proven expertise. 

Which Industry Has the Best High-Paying Jobs in India?  

We listed some of the highest paying jobs above. Let us look into which industries are known for offering some of the best high paying jobs in India and which are these roles exactly. 

What are the highest paying jobs in the IT sector in India?  

The IT sector in India is known for offering some of the most rewarding careers. Many roles here come with impressive salaries, career growth, and global opportunities, making them a top choice for professionals aiming for long-term success. 

Highest Paying IT Job 

Approx. Annual Salary (INR) 

 

Full Stack Developer  ₹4L - ₹12L 
DevOps Engineer  ₹5L - ₹11L 
Software Architect  ₹25.9L - ₹43.3L 
Big Data Engineer  ₹5L - ₹15L 
Cloud Architect  ₹8L - ₹28.0L 

Source: Glassdoor 

Which finance jobs offer the best salaries in India?  

There are a number of options among jobs in finance you can pursue if you want to specialize in finance or make a finance career in financial professional jobs.  

Check out this  Professional Certificate Program in Financial Modelling and Analysis from upGrad! 

Here are some finance jobs that offer the best salaries in India: 

Finance Role 

Approx. Annual Salary (INR) 

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)  ₹22L to 1Crore 
Investment Banking Analyst  ₹8L- ₹22L 
Actuary  ₹6.4L - ₹22.6L 
Private Equity Associate  ₹5L - ₹13.5L 
Portfolio Manager  ₹3.4 L - ₹38 L 
Hedge Fund Manager  ₹5 L - ₹87 L 

Source: Glassdoor, Ambition Box 

And if you want to explore more, read Top 15 Highest Paying Jobs in Finance in India in 2025! 

What are the highest paying jobs in healthcare in India?  

Healthcare in India is one of the most rewarding fields, both financially and professionally. With growing medical needs and rapid advancements in technology, there’s a constant demand for skilled experts across different areas. 

High-paying roles include specialized doctors, surgeons, and healthcare administrators. These careers not only offer great salaries but also provide the satisfaction of improving and saving lives every single day. 

Here are some of the highest paying jobs in healthcare in India: 

Highest Paying Healthcare Job 

 

Approx. Annual Salary (INR) 

 

Gynecologist   ₹24.5L-₹48.8L 
Orthopedic Surgeon   ₹11.7L-₹36L 
Radiologist  ₹7.5L-₹24L 
Anesthesiologist   ₹8.64L-₹25L 
Surgeon  ₹12L-₹35L 

Know more here: Top 16 Healthcare Jobs in India: Key Insights and Salary Strategies for 2025 

What Are the Salaries of Top-Paid Roles in India? 

Top-paid roles in India can offer some attractive salary packages in India. These numbers also depend on the specific field, how many years of experience you have and what skill set you bring to your role. Let’s now take a look at the salaries of some of the top-paid roles in India: 

What is the salary of a CEO in India?  

The salary of a CEO in India varies based on the size and type of company. On average, CEOs of large corporations can earn anywhere from ₹22 lakh and cross 1 crore annually, while those in startups may have lower fixed pay but higher equity benefits. The CEO salary depends upon the company size, industry, as well as company location. 

What is the salary of a Chartered Accountant (CA) in India?  

A Chartered Accountant in India can earn between ₹7 lakh and ₹15 lakh per year in mid-sized firms, while top CAs in leading companies or specialized roles can make ₹25 lakh or more annually, especially with experience and niche expertise. High salary prospects make CA one of the most desirable job roles in India. 

What is the salary of an IAS officer in India?  

In India, an IAS gets a basic pay of approximately ₹56,100 per month, which excludes additional allowances like dearness allowances, HRA, transport allowances, etc. This salary range is for an entry-level IAS position and is the pay level 10 of the Indian government. With experience, promotions, this can go up to ₹2.5 lakh per month for senior roles. 

What is the average salary of a Data Scientist in India?  

The average salary of a Data Scientist in India ranges from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh annually. With advanced skills in machine learning and big data, experienced professionals in top tech firms can earn upwards of ₹20 lakh per year. 

Which Qualifications and Courses Lead to High Salary Jobs?  

There are certain qualifications and courses which lead to roles that include specialized skills and expertise and often a high demand in the market. Let’s expand on these. 

Which degree and courses lead to the highest paying jobs in India?  

Due to high demand in the Indian economy, certain degrees and courses stand out with their high pay. 

Here are some degrees or courses that lead to some of the highest-paying jobs in India: 

Degree  What High-Paying Roles They Lead To? 
MBBS  Specialist Physicians, Surgeons 
Computer Science & Engineering  AI Engineer, Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer 
Business & Finance  Investment Banker, Chartered Accountant, Management Consultant 
Law (LLB)  Corporate Lawyer, Legal Advisor 
Commercial Pilot License (CPL)  Commercial Pilot 
Other Engineering Specializations  Software Architect, Cloud Architect, Big Data Engineer 

You may also explore these 24 Trending Courses Online in 2025. Find out why these courses are beneficial and how you can pick the right course!  

Do MBA graduates get the highest paying jobs in India?  

Many MBA graduates do land high-paying positions in sectors like consulting, finance, and corporate leadership. However, it is influenced by factors like the B-school’s reputation, specialization, and individual performance play a huge role in salary levels. 

Can engineers get the top-paying jobs in India?  

Yes, in fact, engineers are highly sought after in areas like AI, cloud technology, and data science. These domains offer some of the most lucrative opportunities, and with strong technical skills, engineers often climb into top-paying roles quickly.

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How can upGrad Help you? 

If you are looking to find the roadmap to secure a high-paying job in India, you can benefit from upGrad learning. At upGrad, we help you achieve your goals of skill advancement with our flexible and industry-relevant courses. 

Whether you want to be a data scientist, AI engineer, or cybersecurity expert, our courses allow you to learn what is needed in the real world. 

We offer recorded lectures, live sessions, and hands-on projects designed with industry experts to build skills. Our career services connect you with top companies and provide coaching to help you land your dream job. 

Here are our top courses to help you prepare for India’s highest-paying jobs: 

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References: 
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/many-techies-are-earning-rs-1-crore-or-more-in-4-5-years-but-here-is-the-catch-as-it-professionals-debate/articleshow/120917854 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/ai-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,11.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/ceo-salary-SRCH_KO0,3.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/investment-banker-salary-SRCH_KO0,17.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/commercial-pilot-salary-SRCH_KO0,16.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/data-scientist-salary-SRCH_KO0,14.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/management-consultant-salary-SRCH_KO0,21.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/product-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,15.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/machine-learning-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,25.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/chartered-accountant-salary-SRCH_KO0,20.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/surgeon-salary-SRCH_KO0,7.htm 
https://paytm.com/blog/tax/average-salary-in-india/  
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/software-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,17.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/india-full-stack-developer-salary-SRCH_IL.0%2C5_IN115_KO6%2C26.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/india-devops-engineer-salary-SRCH_IL.0%2C5_IN115_KO6%2C21.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/india-software-architect-salary-SRCH_IL.0%2C5_IN115_KO6%2C24.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/big-data-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0%2C17.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/india-cloud-solution-architect-salary-SRCH_IL.0%2C5_IN115_KO6%2C30.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/chief-financial-officer-cfo-salary-SRCH_KO0%2C27.htm  
https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/cfo-salary  
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/india-investment-banking-analyst-salary-SRCH_IL.0%2C5_IN115_KO6%2C32.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.sg/Salaries/india-actuary-salary-SRCH_IL.0%2C5_IN115_KO6%2C13.htm 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/private-equity-associate-salary-SRCH_KO0%2C24.htm  
https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/portfolio-manager-salary 
https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/hedge-fund-manager-salary https://www.erieri.com/salary/job/gynecologist/india 
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/radiologist-salary-SRCH_KO0%2C11.htm  
https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/orthopedic-surgeon-salary  
https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/anesthesiologist-salary https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/surgeon-salary-SRCH_KO0,7.htm 
https://www.ambitionbox.com/profile/ceo-salary 
https://vajiramandravi.com/upsc-exam/ias-salary/

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the #1 best job in India?

2. What is the #1 happiest job in India?

3. Which job is very peaceful in India?

4. Are high-paying jobs stressful in India?

5. Which high-paying jobs in India offer good work-life balance?

6. What is a good salary for a comfortable life in India?

7. Which jobs in India allow remote work and high pay?

8. Which sectors in India offer both high pay and flexibility?

9. Are high-paying jobs in India recession-proof?

10. What are the most respected high-paying jobs in India?

11. Do government jobs in India provide job satisfaction compared to private jobs?

12. Which jobs are the most stressful in India despite high salary?

13. Which cities in India offer the highest-paying jobs?

14. Which jobs in India combine creativity with high pay?

15. What are the highest paying jobs in India in the next 5 years?

16. Which emerging jobs in India will pay the most?

17. Do AI and automation create high salary roles in India?

18. Do high-paying jobs in India impact mental health?

19. Which entry-level jobs pay the most in India?

20. How many years of experience are required to reach a high salary job?

Nitin Gurmukhani

64 articles published

Nitin Gurmukhani is a seasoned professional specializing in Digital Marketing Professional with experience in Performance Marketing (Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Linkedin Ads, Youtube Ads), SEO (Search E...

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