Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in India – 2022
Here are the Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in India, 2022
Last updated – September 2022
In today’s times, striving for and achieving financial security is paramount to a high quality of life.
Having a salaried job is a goal for many in the country and with good reason. The stability, income, and quality of life provided by many such jobs is second to none.
The job market in India, today, has undergone a radical change. While popular choices such as becoming an ‘Engineer’, ‘Doctor’, or an ‘Architect’ are still relevant and respected, there are a lot more options that have come up.
But how do you choose the right career for you?

While personal interest is a strong criteria, money is a great motivator as well. If your question is ‘Which job has highest salary in India?’ or want to know the ‘best paying jobs in India’ then we may have some answers.
Knowing which are the top 10 highest paying jobs in India will definitely help you decide your career path with confidence.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 highest paid jobs in India as of 2021.
Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in India – At a Glance
| Career | Average Salary | Base Salary |
| Rs. 23,34,399 | ~ Rs. 9.7 lakh | |
| Rs. 19,95,725 | ~ Rs. 5 lakh | |
| Rs. 17,48,571 | ~ Rs. 15 lakh | |
| Rs. 12,00,385 | ~ Rs. 7 lakh | |
| Rs. 11,75,029 | ~ Rs. 9 lakh | |
| Rs. 8,81,097 | ~ Rs. 5.7 lakh | |
| Rs. 8,67, 354 | ~ Rs. 4.7 lakh | |
| Rs. 8,05,413 | ~ Rs. 7 lakh | |
| Rs. 7,50,000 | ~ Rs. 5 lakh | |
| Rs. 6,95,205 | ~ Rs. 5 lakh |
Note: The Average and Base Salary is based on the Annual Salary provided and can vary depending on the company, location, and work experience.
Key Highlights
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) based careers are still some of the top earners
- While traditional careers such as chartered accountancy, medicine related are still relevant, there are new entrants such as Data Engineers and Investment Analysts which is an indication of the changing job landscape in the country
- The average as well as starting salary will be much higher in Tier-1 cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, etc.
Best Paying Jobs in India
1. Software Architect
The first one is our list of top 10 highest paid jobs is that of a Software Architect.
Pay Scale
The average salary for software architects is Rs. 23,34,399 per annum with entry level salary starting generally at around Rs.9 lakh per annum. As is the case with most other jobs, greater the experience, higher is the salary and can include stock options, bonuses, profit sharing commissions, etc.
Pay Per Experience Level
- Entry Level – 9.7 lpa
- 1-4 years – 12.2 lpa
- 5-9 years – 18.5 lpa
- 10-19 years – 24.3 lpa
Note: Average salary may vary depending on factors such as demographics, market trends, etc. and also includes overtime pay and bonuses, if relevant.
Software technology has completely changed lives across the world. A career in this field is definitely lucrative. Software architects, as the name suggests, provide software solutions and take on tasks such as coding, creating new web services, etc.
These individuals will need to create efficient solutions for software related concerns and are either employed by large companies or can start their own.
Cities Offering the Highest Pay
On an average, solutions architects can earn around 8% more in Bangalore as compared to the national average, followed by Pune and Hyderabad.
Educational Qualification
An undergraduate degree in computer science or a related field may be necessary. A master’s degree in a similar field will also be beneficial. Familiarity or knowledge of operating systems such as HTML, JavaScript, C++, etc. is an added advantage.
2. Solutions Architect
Does planning and building new systems to help run a business smoothly while identifying problems and finding solutions sound exciting? Then becoming a solutions architect is the ideal option.
Pay Scale
The average salary for a solutions architect is Rs. 19,95,725 per annum while the base annual salary for freshers is generally around Rs. 5 lakh per annum. With experience of over 20 years, the annual salary can go as high as Rs. 26 lakh per annum.
Pay Per Experience Level
- Entry Level – 4.9 lpa
- 1-4 years – 7.2 lpa
- 5-9 years – 16.2 lpa
- 10-19 years – 21.9 lpa
Note: Average salary may vary depending on factors such as demographics, market trends, etc. and also includes overtime pay and bonuses, if relevant.
A solutions architect will help to convert business objectives and goals into practical, actionable steps by creating, designing, and implementing various solutions and arrangements within a business.
The scope of this profession is immense as one can work in business development, business management, quality assurance, mentoring, etc.
Cities Offering the Highest Pay
On an average, solutions architects can earn 9% more in Bangalore as compared to the national average, followed by Gurugram and Pune.
Educational Qualification
A bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or information technology is required. Additionally, being creative and having good leadership and problem solving skills is important.
One should also be knowledgeable about the latest software and technology.
3. Commercial Pilot
A dream for many, being a pilot is about traveling to different destinations and enjoying the best the world has to offer in terms of culture and experience.
Pay Scale
The average base salary for a commercial pilot is currently Rs. 17,48,571 per annum. A pilot with less than one year’s experience can earn about Rs. 15 lakh per annum as an entry level salary, including bonuses, overtime pay, etc.
Pay Per Experience Level
- Entry Level – 15.2 lpa
- 1-4 years – 17 lpa
- 5-9 years – 20 lpa
- 10-19 years – 50 lpa
Note: Average salary may vary depending on factors such as demographics, market trends, etc. and also includes overtime pay and bonuses, if relevant.
There are a number of perks that come with being a pilot, especially a commercial one.
In addition to flying the aircraft, a commercial pilot will have to ensure that all flight operations are done safely including pre-flight checks, complying with aviation regulations, operating the airplane safely, etc.
Cities Offering the Highest Pay
While pilots are not restricted to a city per se, those in Mumbai tend to earn around 23% more than the national average, followed by Pune and Delhi.
Educational Qualification
Candidates should have an undergraduate degree in a relevant field, preferably a Science based subject such as Physics or Mathematics. Additionally, individuals must also have a Commercial Pilot License from a recognized institute and other licenses such as Airline Transport Pilot Licenses.
Commercial pilots are also required to be physically fit and must pass all the necessary medical examinations.
4. Management Consultant
Do you wish to improve your company’s performance and solve problems while maximizing growth? Then management consultancy is the right career for you.
Pay Scale
The average salary for management consultants is Rs. 12,00,385 per annum. While freshers can enjoy a yearly pay scale of Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh per annum, those with more experience can earn anywhere between Rs. 11 lakh to Rs. 23 lakh per annum making this one of the highest paying jobs in India.
Pay Per Experience Level
- Entry Level – 6.9 lpa
- 1-4 years – 9.1 lpa
- 5-9 years – 14.4 lpa
- 10-19 years – 20.3 lpa
Note: Average salary may vary depending on factors such as demographics, market trends, etc. and also includes overtime pay and bonuses, if relevant.
These experts help their clients grow and eliminate problems while also dealing with operations of the company and are concerned with management, structure, and strategy.
Cities Offering the Highest Pay
On an average, management consultants earn around 21% more in Delhi as compared to the rest of the country. These professionals can also earn higher salaries in Gurugram and Bangalore.
Educational Qualification
A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in any business discipline is important. While there are specialised courses available for graduates, those specializing in Economics, Finance, or Accounting can also become management consultants.
5. General Surgeon
The fifth one in our list of top 10 highest paying jobs is a general surgeon.
Pay Scale
The average salary for a general surgeon based on existing projections is Rs. 11,75,029 per annum.
General surgeons who are starting out can earn as much as Rs. 9 lakh per annum and with experience, this can go up to Rs. 24 lakh per annum.
Pay Per Experience Level
- Entry Level – 10 lpa
- 1-4 years – 11 lpa
- 5-9 years – 19.8 lpa
- 10-19 years – 24.6 lpa
Note: Average salary may vary depending on factors such as demographics, market trends, etc. and also includes overtime pay and bonuses, if relevant.
One of the most reputed jobs in the world, being a doctor or surgeon is a dream for many. A general surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgeries and related procedures for patients with medical conditions.
Apart from this, additional responsibilities can include diagnosing and advising patients on the need for surgery, review the patient’s medical history, and suggest accurate treatments for the same. While general surgeons cater to a variety of medical conditions, you can specialize in a particular area as well such as cardiology, neurology, etc.
Cities Offering the Highest Pay
General surgeons earn around 53% more in Delhi as compared to the national average followed by Mumbai.
Educational Qualification
While there is no predefined qualification necessary, engineers (BE/BTech) or graduates having a degree or certification in data science will definitely have an added advantage.
Additionally, having rudimentary knowledge of basic programming languages such as Python, SQL is helpful.
6. Data Scientist
Data scientists are analytical experts who use social science and technology to find trends as well as manage data.
Pay Scale
The average salary for a data scientist based on current projections is Rs. 8,81,097 per annum.
Certified data scientists are offered salaries between Rs. 5.71 lakhs to Rs. 12 lakhs per annum as their base even without much experience. Higher the experience, higher is the salary and can range from Rs. 60 lakh to Rs. 70 lakh per annum making this one of the highest paying IT jobs in India.
Pay Per Experience Level
- Entry Level – 5.7 lpa
- 1-4 years – 8.1 lpa
- 5-9 years – 14.5 lpa
- 10-19 years – 19.3 lpa
Note: Average salary may vary depending on factors such as demographics, market trends, etc. and also includes overtime pay and bonuses, if relevant.
Data scientists analyze raw data and find solutions to various business problems.
Data scientists also create customized statistical models as well as algorithms based on the data provided. The data provided by them is used to make business decisions, predict the performance of a product or service, etc.






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