Specialised roles in AI, ML, and cybersecurity see 12–15 LPA offers

Mumbai, July 31, 2025India’s top IT companies are shifting from mass recruitment of freshers to hiring specialised talent. Skills in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cybersecurity are now in high demand. This trend in specialised fresher hiring in IT is changing compensation norms. Freshers with niche skills now receive salaries between ₹12 lakh and ₹15 lakh per annum.

IT firms are rethinking the high intake of engineering graduates. Sluggish global demand and rising technical needs are driving the shift. However, companies still hire entry-level talent, but they now prioritise quality and technical fit over bulk intake.“Companies now need specialised digital skills in automation, analytics, and cloud,” said Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital.

Adecco, Quess, and NLB Services report a strong shift toward specialised hiring in 2024–25.

These roles offer 36–39% higher pay than standard fresher jobs, which average ₹4–10 lakh per annum.Recruiters expect niche skill mandates to grow 5–12% yearly, showing strong demand through FY26.

“Fresher hiring for specialised roles has grown rapidly over the past two years. AI, ML, and cybersecurity are the most sought-after areas,” said KG Dhas, Vice President at Quess Corp. Staffing experts say demand is outpacing supply, leading firms to invest in upskilling and campus branding.

Niche roles have seen an 18% pay hike, showing the value of highly skilled freshers. Adecco notes that while companies hire fewer candidates, they invest much more in each recruit. As a result, companies now prefer selective hiring over bulk offers.

Median fresher salaries in traditional IT stay at ₹4–10 LPA, but demand is slowing down. Companies increasingly place specialised hires in product roles, platform teams, and digital transformation units. These roles are less vulnerable to cost-cutting pressures and more critical to long-term digital strategy.

As companies realign hiring strategies to balance costs with strategic capabilities, this shift signals a maturing IT sector in India. “Cloud, AI, and automation are no longer future skills – they are the present. Our clients want engineers who can contribute from day one,” Sharma added.

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