Mumbai, Oct 8: According to Aon’s Annual Salary Increase and Turnover Survey for 2025–26, salaries in India are projected to increase by 9% in 2026, slightly up from the 8.9% growth observed in 2025. The survey, based on inputs from 1,060 organizations across 45 industries, indicates that this wage growth is supported by resilient domestic consumption, investments, and policy measures, despite global economic uncertainties.
The survey highlights that salary increases will vary across sectors. Real estate and infrastructure industries are expected to see the highest increases, with salaries projected to rise by 10.9%. Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are anticipated to offer a 10% increase, while other sectors such as automotive, engineering design services, retail, and life sciences are expected to see salary hikes ranging from 9.6% to 9.8%.
In contrast, the technology consulting and services sector is projected to experience the lowest salary growth, with an expected increase of 6.8%. This reflects ongoing transformations driven by rapid AI adoption, changing client demands, and a need for cost optimization. Despite these sector-specific variations, the overall wage growth indicates a positive outlook for India’s labor market in 2026.