The New Salary Divide
The message from the latest TeamLease Digital “Digital Skills & Salary Primer FY2026–27” is unambiguous: if you want to command the highest salary in India's Global Capability Centers (GCCs), you need to work in artificial intelligence. The report highlights
a significant pay gap, with 'AI-Core' roles—those directly involved in building and deploying intelligent systems—earning substantially more than their peers. For instance, the median entry-level salary for an AI-Core job in a GCC is estimated at ₹13.2 lakh per annum. In stark contrast, AI-Support positions, which involve monitoring and validation, start at around ₹4.8 to ₹5.4 lakh. This pay premium isn't just for newcomers. The disparity widens dramatically with experience. A Generative AI Developer with six to eight years of experience can command a salary of around ₹34.5 lakh, while a Technical Support Engineer at the same level might earn ₹14.6 lakh. Other reports corroborate this trend, noting that senior AI and ML engineers command a 40-60% salary premium over equivalent backend engineering roles.
Decoding the 'AI-Core' Role
So, what exactly are these high-value 'AI-Core' jobs? TeamLease defines them as roles responsible for building, running, and governing AI systems in a production environment. This category includes titles like Machine Learning (ML) Engineer, Generative AI Developer, Data Scientist, and ML Platform Architect. These are not the people simply using AI tools; they are the architects and engineers creating the systems themselves. Their work involves designing complex algorithms, fine-tuning large language models (LLMs), and ensuring that AI systems are secure and efficient. The demand for these skills is intense. According to the TeamLease report, India is facing a talent gap of 53-60% for Generative AI and Cloud skills, with only about 16% of the country's IT professionals currently possessing AI skills. This massive gap between demand and supply is a primary driver of the premium salaries.
The Evolution of India's GCCs
To understand the salary boom, one must understand the transformation of GCCs. Once seen primarily as low-cost back-office centers for multinational corporations, India's GCCs have evolved into critical innovation hubs. There are now over 2,100 GCCs in India, employing more than 2.3 million professionals and generating nearly $100 billion in revenue. According to TeamLease Digital, a significant portion—44%—of these centers have already matured from being cost centers to owning global products and platforms. As they take on more complex, high-value work, their hiring priorities have shifted. The focus is no longer on routine support and maintenance roles, which are increasingly being automated. Instead, GCCs are fiercely competing for talent in AI, data, cloud, and cybersecurity—the skills needed to build the next generation of products and services.
Why the Pay Packets Are Swelling
The premium on AI talent is fueled by a classic supply-and-demand crunch. While around 20 lakh professionals have been upskilled in new technologies, only about 3 lakh possess the advanced AI skills that companies are desperate for. This scarcity means companies are willing to pay top dollar. According to one report, experienced ML Platform Architects with over 15 years of experience can earn upwards of ₹94.8 lakh per annum. The competition is not just from other GCCs. These innovation hubs are now vying for the same talent pool as Big Tech firms, product-led startups, and high-end consulting firms, further driving up compensation. This has led to differentiated compensation structures becoming the norm, with some firms offering salary increases of over 20% for AI/ML roles, compared to an average of 9.8% across all functions.
What This Means for the Future
The trend has clear implications for both employees and employers. For the Indian tech professional, the message is to upskill or risk being left behind. As Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital, stated, simply using AI tools is becoming the baseline; the real market rewards go to those who can build and govern AI. The demand for GenAI talent alone is projected to exceed 10 lakh roles by 2026. For companies, the landscape is equally challenging. The war for talent means rethinking hiring and retention strategies. With high-performer attrition remaining a concern, it's no longer enough to offer a competitive salary. Companies must also provide opportunities for meaningful work, global exposure, and clear career progression to attract and retain the highly skilled professionals who are now driving innovation from India to the world.
