Infosys is set to offer fresher compensation of up to ₹21 lakh per annum for specialised technology roles as part of its campus recruitment drive for the Class of 2026, reflecting its push towards an AI-first strategy.
The company is hiring for roles including Specialist Programmer and Digital Specialist Engineer (trainee). Packages vary by role level:
- Specialist Programmer L3 (trainee): ₹21 lakh per year
- Specialist Programmer L2: ₹16 lakh per year
- Specialist Programmer L1: ₹11 lakh per year
- Digital Specialist Engineer (trainee): ₹7 lakh per year
These roles are open to graduates with BE, BTech, ME, MTech, MCA, and integrated MSc degrees, mainly in computer science, IT, and select circuit branches like ECE and EEE.
For many years, starting salaries in IT have lagged behind the rapid rise in executive pay. Between FY12 and FY22, median IT CEO salaries rose 835 percent, while median fresher pay increased only 45 percent, highlighting a significant gap.
Despite mass tech layoffs across the industry, Infosys has continued robust hiring. The company recruited 12,000 freshers in the first half of FY26 and aims to hire 20,000 this year. Infosys also added 8,203 employees in Q2, bringing total headcount to 3,31,991.
The revised tiered compensation framework links pay to skill depth and role complexity. Specialist Programmer trainees receive packages ranging from ₹10–21 lakh depending on level, while Digital Specialist Engineer trainees earn ₹6.25 lakh with a joining bonus. This approach underscores Infosys’ focus on attracting premium technical talent in AI and other specialised technology areas.
