Want to know the average salary in India or wanna know what is the minimum cost of living in the country, we have got you covered.The average salary in India depends on different factors. The major ones are educational qualifications and work experience. Other factors that play a major role in determining the average salary of employees are gender, age, city, and last drawn salary, etc.
In this blog, we will answer your queries such as “ what is the average salary in India”, what are employee benefits in India, the median salary in India, and multiple other similar ones.
So, let’s begin the exploration.
Average Salary in India
The average salary in India in 2024 is 32,000 (Indian Rupee) per month i.e. 3,84,000 INR per annum.
The average salary is a range between a country’s average lowest and average highest salaries. In India, the average monthly salaries of people also include transportation, housing, and other essential benefits. However, the average salary of individuals can vary depending on their educational levels, the cities they live in, and the work experience they have.
Minimum Wages in India
The minimum wage is the minimum salary that an Indian employer has to pay their employees per day. Contrary to some other countries, India has different rules and regulations that bind employers with minimum wage restrictions.
The Minimum Wages Act 1948 subject to the provisions of the Code on Wages Act 2019, notified in August 2019 governs minimum wages in India. Unlike other countries, India does not have a single minimum wage for the entire nation. As India is a federal nation the minimum wages differ from state to state.
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Comparing the Median Salary in India with the Average Salary in India
Computing the average salary shows India in a state of inequality. As per the report, “ State of Inequality in India” 90% of Indians do not earn even INR 30,000 per month and that is less than the average salary in India.
So, now what to use to understand this disparity. Let us understand the concept of the median salary. In simple terms, the median salary refers to the middle salary value of the highest and the lowest salaries.
The median salary in India is 29,400 INR. This means that 50% of the Indian population earns less than this amount and the other half earns more than this figure.
Now let us understand the similarities and differences between the average and median salaries.
Both average and median salaries indicate the central tendency of a salary set but with different approaches. The average salary is the amount that is standard for any employee whereas the median salary is the middle value of any salary series arranged in descending order. It represents a particular point of distribution that cannot be pulled below or above.
Employee Benefits in India
Employees in India get some statutory and discretionary allowances, compensations, and perks along with their basic salaries. The common employee benefits in India are gratuity, health insurance, life insurance, traveling allowance, etc. Also, multiple startups offer their employees investment and partnership opportunities as well.
Employee benefits in India are categorized into two different categories:
1. Statutory Benefits for Employees
Statutory employee benefits are those benefits that employers must provide to their employees. There are different acts and regulations governing statutory benefits for employers in India, such as:
- Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952
- The Maternity Benefits Act, 1961
- The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948
Some of the statutory employee benefits in India are:
- Gratuity
- Insurance
- Provident Fund
- Bonus
- Maternity Benefits
2. Discretionary Benefits for Employers
There is no obligation on employers to provide discretionary employee benefits. It is totally on their will whether to provide employees with these benefits or not. The prominent discretionary employee benefits in India are:
- Health and Life Insurance
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Mental Health Benefits
- Gym Facilities
Profession Wise Average Salaries in India
As we have already mentioned, an individual’s profession and the industry they work in are among the factors that determine their average salaries in India. Let us see profession wise average salaries in India in the table below:
| Occupation/ Profession | Average Salary in India |
| Chartered Accountant | 806 USD |
| Data Analyst | 606 USD |
| Legal Advisor | 431 USD |
| Mechanical Engineer | 253 USD |
| Data Entry Operator | 185 USD |
| Software Engineer | 606 USD |
| Java Developer | 505 USD |
| Journalist | 381 USD |
| Java Developer | 505 USD |
| Accountant | 243 USD |
Comparing Average Salary in India with Developed, and Evolving Economies
The average salary in India is lower than most developed countries, however, the cost of living in India is also lower than in these countries. For instance, if you want to buy a burger in India, it will cost you around 50 INR whereas when you go to buy the same quality burger in the USA, you will have to pay around $6.19 which is equal to 515.12 INR.
Comparing India’s Average Salaries with Developed Countries
Let us compare the average salary in India with the average salaries in different developed countries:
| Country | Average Salary |
| USA | $7,900 |
| UK | $8,092 |
| Norway | $5,696 |
| Germany | $4,493 |
| India | $387 |
Comparing India’s Average Salary with Evolving Economies
Having compared the average salary in India with the average salaries of different developed countries, let us now compare the same with the average salaries of different developing countries using the table below:
| Country | Average Salary |
| Vietnam | $748 |
| Egypt | $587 |
| Pakistan | $508 |
| Thailand | $2,949 |
| India | $387 |
Wrap Up
Throughout the text, we explored different aspects of the average salary in India. We found that although the average per-month salaries in India are lower than in many developed and developing countries, the cost of living here is also lower than in these countries.
We also discovered that the average salary of an individual differs from one state to another in India and is dependent on different factors such as experience, education, and more. Other than average salaries or minimum wages governed by regulations, employees in India also have mandatory and discretionary employee benefits to better their lives.
