Software Engineer Salary for Freshers in India (2026)

Last updated: 21 September 2026 · By the Asuraa Team

What is the software engineer salary for freshers in India?

The sources we could open disagree, so no single figure is safe to quote. Glassdoor, Payscale and Indeed each show a different number for fresher or entry-level software engineers in India.

This guide sets them side by side with their dates, samples and definitions, and shows how to use them for a real offer. It quotes only figures we read on the pages themselves.

What do Glassdoor, Payscale and Indeed show for fresher software engineers?

Their fresher figures sit in the same broad area but do not match. The table shows each source's fresher-related number for India as a whole.

The gap between the lowest and highest of these three fresher figures is more than Rs 1,30,000 a year. Payscale's entry-level number is Rs 1,12,425 above Glassdoor's median.

Indeed's own junior title is higher than its entry-level title, which shows how labels can split what is one career stage. We could not open AmbitionBox, whose page timed out, and we did not read any Naukri salary page, so neither is quoted.

Why do the fresher figures differ?

Definitions, data and dates all differ. Payscale defines entry level as under one year, Indeed groups by job title, and Glassdoor's fresher page uses its own submission pool.

Dates matter, too. Glassdoor's fresher page references 2026 but showed a most recent submission from January 2025, while Payscale and Indeed show 2026 update dates.

Payscale's sample is a further difference, because its entry-level group has 414 salaries out of 4,950 profiles. We did not read the methodology pages, so these are limits visible on the pages and not a full account of how each source works.

Do employer and city change fresher pay?

They can, but the figures on these pages mostly cover all levels. Glassdoor's software engineer page lists TCS, Accenture, Tech Mahindra, HCLTech and Infosys with median salaries of Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh, depending on the organisation.

Indeed's page lists individual employers with much higher averages, such as udaan at Rs 21,33,333 a year. Those are averages across levels and job types, so they are not fresher offers.

Indeed's city figures follow the same rule. They are software engineer averages for all levels.

Do not read these as fresher pay. For a wider view of how employer type shapes offers, see product vs service companies in India.

How do you compare a fresher offer with these numbers?

Convert the offer, match the level, and check it against several sources. Follow these steps.

1. Get the breakup in writing. Ask for fixed pay, variable pay and monthly in-hand pay, because none of the pages we read says if its figure is CTC or in-hand.
2. Divide by 12. A yearly package shows a monthly figure before deductions, but in-hand pay will be lower.
3. Match the fresher definition. Compare with the under-one-year, entry-level and fresher rows, not with all-level averages.
4. Look for the overlap. The three fresher figures above overlap in the Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5.5 lakh area, but that is only a reading of these pages.
5. Read live postings. Search for fresher roles in your city and note what employers state.
6. Weigh the whole offer. Training, mentoring, the tech stack and the notice period all matter.

Our guide on how to research salary in India explains the method behind these steps.

What does a worked example look like?

This is an illustration with an invented offer, not real data. Meera, a final-year student, receives an offer of Rs 4,80,000 a year as a software engineer trainee.

She divides by 12 and gets Rs 40,000 a month before deductions. She then compares the yearly figure with the three fresher numbers: it is above Glassdoor's median and Indeed's entry level, and below Payscale's.

She also asks how much of the package is fixed, whether the training period changes pay, and what her monthly in-hand amount will be. Her conclusion is that the offer is inside the range the sources suggest, but she still needs the breakup before saying yes.

What do most guides on software engineer salary for freshers get wrong?

Most give one average and a company table. These gaps cause the most confusion.

• They give a fresher number without a definition. Under one year, entry-level title and one to three years are different groups.
• They use all-level averages for freshers. An employer average that covers every level says little about a first offer.
• They skip the date. Glassdoor's fresher page shows how a page can reference the current year while resting on older submissions.
• They confuse CTC with take-home pay. A yearly package is not the amount that arrives each month.

If you are still choosing where to apply, our guide to software developer jobs for freshers in India is a good next read.

FAQ

What is the software engineer salary for freshers in India?

Sources disagree. Glassdoor's fresher page shows a median total pay of Rs 4,25,000, Indeed shows Rs 4,06,290 for entry level (updated 31 August 2026), and Payscale shows Rs 5,37,425 for under one year of experience (updated 12 July 2026). Definitions and methods differ.

How much do IT services companies pay software engineer freshers?

Glassdoor's software engineer page lists TCS, Accenture, Tech Mahindra, HCLTech and Infosys with median salaries of Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh, depending on the organisation. That page is not fresher-only and shows no date in what we read, so check each company's own offers.

Do freshers earn more in Bengaluru than in other cities?

Indeed lists Bengaluru first at Rs 10,35,780 a year for software engineers, but that figure covers all levels, not freshers. The pages we opened give no city split for freshers. Compare fresher postings in each city before assuming a location premium.

Why do fresher software engineer salary figures differ so much?

Each source uses different data and definitions. Indeed uses job postings over 36 months, Payscale uses salary profiles and defines entry level as under one year, and Glassdoor's fresher page uses submissions with a latest entry dated January 2025. Employer type also changes pay.

Is a fresher software engineer salary quoted as CTC or in-hand?

The pages we read do not say clearly. Glassdoor shows base pay and additional pay separately, and Payscale shows bonus and profit sharing ranges. Ask the employer for a written breakup of fixed pay, variable pay and monthly in-hand pay before comparing offers.

Can a fresher negotiate a software engineer salary?

You can ask politely, especially when you hold a competing offer or strong project proof. Bring two or three dated sources for your role and city, and be ready to hear that campus or fixed-band offers are less flexible. Ask about review timelines and learning support if base pay cannot move.

Final thoughts

Fresher software engineer pay is best read as a band from several dated sources, matched to your own city and employer type. A single average hides the disagreement that matters most.

To see how your resume reads against a job description, try the AI resume reviewer on asuraa.in, then browse openings on the jobs page. The figures here were read on 21 September 2026 and will change as the sources update.