Data Scientist Salary in India 2026
Complete salary guide with in-hand calculations, career growth, and negotiation tips
Last Updated: December 2026 | FY 2025-26
Salary Overview
Entry Level
₹6 LPA
0-1 years
Mid Level
₹18 LPA
3-5 years
Senior Level
₹90 LPA
12+ years
Overview
Data Scientists are among the most in-demand professionals in India, with organizations across industries leveraging data for strategic decisions. The role combines statistics, programming, and domain expertise to extract insights from complex datasets.
With the explosion of AI and machine learning adoption, Data Scientists with expertise in GenAI, LLMs, and advanced analytics are commanding premium salaries. India's data science talent pool has grown significantly, yet demand continues to outpace supply, keeping salaries competitive.
Data Scientist Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Salary Range | Average CTC | Monthly In-Hand* | Typical Roles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fresher 0-1 years | ₹4 LPA - ₹10 LPA | ₹6 LPA | ₹41,841 | Junior Data Scientist, Data Analyst |
Junior 1-3 years | ₹7 LPA - ₹15 LPA | ₹10 LPA | ₹68,174 | Data Scientist, ML Engineer |
Mid-Level 3-5 years | ₹12 LPA - ₹25 LPA | ₹18 LPA | ₹1,15,443 | Senior Data Scientist, Lead ML Engineer |
Senior 5-8 years | ₹22 LPA - ₹45 LPA | ₹32 LPA | ₹1,81,963 | Lead Data Scientist, Staff ML Engineer |
Lead/Principal 8-12 years | ₹40 LPA - ₹75 LPA | ₹55 LPA | ₹2,91,246 | Principal Scientist, Director of Data Science |
Director/VP 12+ years | ₹60 LPA - ₹150 LPA | ₹90 LPA | ₹4,57,547 | VP Data Science, Chief Data Scientist |
*Monthly in-hand calculated using New Tax Regime (FY 2025-26) with standard assumptions.Use our calculator for personalized calculations.
Quick In-Hand Salary Reference
See exact take-home salary for common Data Scientist CTC packages:
Top Companies Hiring Data Scientists
Key Skills Required
- ✓Python/R Programming
- ✓Machine Learning
- ✓Deep Learning
- ✓Statistics & Mathematics
- ✓SQL & Databases
- ✓Data Visualization (Tableau/PowerBI)
- ✓Big Data (Spark, Hadoop)
- ✓Cloud ML Platforms
- ✓NLP/Computer Vision
- ✓GenAI & LLMs
Valuable Certifications
- 📜Google Professional ML Engineer
- 📜AWS ML Specialty
- 📜TensorFlow Developer
- 📜Azure AI Engineer
- 📜IBM Data Science Professional
Career Progression
📈 Industry Trends 2025
GenAI and LLM expertise is the hottest skill in 2026, with 50-100% salary premiums. MLOps and production ML skills are increasingly valued. Domain specialization in Finance, Healthcare, or E-commerce adds significant value.
Factors Affecting Data Scientist Salary
💡 Salary Negotiation Tips
- •Quantify your impact - models deployed, revenue generated, costs saved
- •Highlight rare skills like GenAI, reinforcement learning, or domain expertise
- •Research company-specific compensation on Levels.fyi and Blind
- •Consider total compensation including stock options for startups
- •Ask for learning budget, conference sponsorships as part of package
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting salary for a Data Scientist in India?
Entry-level Data Scientists in India earn ₹4-10 LPA. Top institutes like IITs can command ₹15-25 LPA from leading companies. The average fresher salary is around ₹6 LPA.
Is Data Science higher paying than Software Engineering?
Generally yes, Data Scientists earn 10-20% more than equivalent Software Engineers in India. However, top SWE roles at FAANG can match or exceed Data Science salaries.
What is the salary of a Data Scientist with 5 years experience?
A Data Scientist with 5 years experience typically earns ₹22-45 LPA at good companies. At top tech companies or in specialized AI roles, this can go up to ₹60-80 LPA.
Which skills boost Data Scientist salary the most?
GenAI/LLM skills, MLOps, Production ML systems, and domain expertise (Finance, Healthcare) command the highest premiums in 2026.
Is a Masters degree required for Data Science?
While not mandatory, a Masters in CS, Statistics, or related field significantly improves job prospects and starting salary. Many Data Scientists also have PhDs for research roles.
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