You’re not Indian if your parents didn’t wish for you to be an engineer or doctor, are you?
The role of an engineer is an up-and-coming desire for many Indians. This is especially so when we become more software-dependent, and the tech industry dynamics for both employers and employees are changing. While other industries plummeted during COVID-19, software engineering demand only grew.
For instance, according to Statista, the global software developer population will increase by 28.7 million people by 2024.
So if you’re a tech recruiter, you have to consider several factors when hiring a software engineer for your firm. And one of the prime considerations is making the correct salary quote for the talent. The quote can make or break the deal.
So this brings us to the question: what is the ideal salary level for senior Software engineers in India? The answer lies in more than one factor.
The Deciding Factors for Senior Software Engineer Salary in India
The average salary for a senior software engineer in India is ₹1,252,116 per annum, but it ultimately depends on a number of factors.
The fast-growing tech landscape has created a vast gap between the number of potential tech talents available and the number of positions vacant.
Hence, as a tech recruiter, it is worth having a clear idea regarding what must be considered before quoting a senior software engineer in this complicated market.
1. Skillset
Senior software engineers may come with a set of superior skills. They usually have all the requisite knowledge and tools to solve any technical/coding problem at hand. Senior engineers also tend to be proficient in more than one language, such as – Java, Python, and C++. Java and JavaScript tend to have a higher salary range compared to the others.
As a thumb rule, the more languages the software engineer is fluent in, the higher their quote should be. And, of course, they have to be great at mathematics. You’d also want to hire someone with a dynamic skill set rather than someone who’s only proficient in one language.
2. Job Profile
A software engineer does many things for a firm. They develop apps, create and maintain websites, polish operating systems, and generate networking systems. This means digitalisation is entirely dependent on these powerhouses.
The salary of a software engineer, therefore, would depend on the role he’s fulfilling. Job profiles include full-stack developers, system software developers, and application software developers, among others. However, senior-level full-stack developers, database developers, and app developers are quoted as having the highest starting salary/ annual salary of all.
3. Specialisation
The longer a senior software engineer does their job, the better they get. And thanks to a plethora of opportunities, they tend to have unique domains in which they excel. Senior engineers are likely to have a dynamic set of expertise under their belts, but their specialised domain probably hits the jackpot. Of course, here as well, the more experienced an engineer is in a certain field or discipline, the higher their salary should be for a specific role.
4. Practicality
Senior engineers are highly experienced, which means they know how to tackle the most complicated of solutions in a simple manner. They prefer sticking to practical methods to get the job done rather than taking risks, as they know that coding can be as complex as it is, and they wouldn’t want to complicate it further.
5. Fluidity
Not only do senior engineers code, but some of them also handle the back end of projects. This means making sure the operations run smoothly. A software engineer might need to jump on roles that weren’t mentioned in the job profile.
A workplace is always dynamic, and it is impossible to predict every scenario that may arise. Since coding is a technically complex process, the software engineer must be willing to be fluid enough to ensure there are no bumps in the road at any time to avoid malfunctions.
6. Location
The salary of a senior software engineer employee can vary depending on what locality they’re from. For instance, software engineers from Indian tech hubs like Pune, Bangalore, and Gurgaon should be quoted a higher salary as these regions have a higher standard of living.
Of course, the higher the cost and bar of living in a particular location, the higher the salary. This goes for any job. But when it comes specifically to senior engineers, Pune and Bangalore tend to have reputed IT universities and IT sectors, making the engineer much more valuable. Gurgaon has an average salary of 21% more than the national average, while Bangalore has 15% more.
7. Communication Skills
Software engineers often work in a team, so they need good communication skills and the ability to cooperate with others. Software development is all about teamwork.
Good communication skills in the workplace are an absolute must to avoid compromising the job in case of miscommunication. When it comes to software engineering, a team of engineers works on projects together, and if they do not communicate the project details well enough, then there might be errors that will be hard to eradicate later on. Coding can be very complex, and you’d want to keep it as simple as possible. Working in a team can bear fruit as long as engineers communicate effectively.
8. Recruiter
Highly reputed tech firms naturally provide a higher quote as these firms come with a fulfilling promise of high standards and accomplished work. Cisco Systems Inc., — an American multinational tech firm, for instance, can offer up to 1 million rupees to the software engineer per annum.
By now, you should have a general idea of how to decide a senior engineer’s salary in India. But the question remains: What quote should you provide them with?
Ideal Senior Software Developers Salary in India
Since they’re senior level, of course, more experienced and efficient than a junior level engineer, you’ll need to quote them a higher salary.
Here’s a list of the average salary of a senior software engineer by job title:
- Full-Stack Developer – ₹12,50,000 per annum
- Application Software Developer – ₹1,397,624 per annum
- System Software Developer – ₹1,990,000 per annum
- QA Engineer – ₹1,047,619 per annum
- Security Engineer – ₹2,099,998 per annum
For every other job profile, you have to consider the above factors and tally them with the market trend before quoting the correct salary. An excellent salary for a senior engineer in India will vary on many changing factors that you’ll need to consider being a tech recruiter.
However, the factors mentioned above are a sure-shot way of having the best as part of your team. You can also hire a senior engineer through CodeQuotient; all you have to do is get in touch with us.
