Artificial intelligence (AI) upskilling in India is resulting in significant career advancements, with professionals experiencing an average salary surge of nearly 150%. A recent report by Scaler revealed that almost half of AI-driven career opportunities now exist beyond traditional engineering roles, showcasing the broadening impact of AI across industries.
The study emphasized the transformation of AI from a specialized technical skill to a widespread workforce capability in various sectors. AI upskilling is driving salary growth for professionals at all experience levels, with early-career individuals witnessing an average salary escalation of 155%.
The report highlighted the trend of AI becoming a catalyst for career progression among both young and seasoned professionals. Notably, almost 50% of AI-related career outcomes now transcend conventional engineering positions, encompassing leadership, consulting, operations, human resources, marketing, finance, academia, and other business functions.
Furthermore, the report indicated a shift in the demographics of AI learners, with nearly a quarter originating from non-technical backgrounds. This shift underscores the expanding relevance of AI beyond software and engineering domains, with an increasing participation of women in India’s AI landscape.
Abhimanyu Saxena, Co-founder of Scaler, commented on the findings, stating that AI is paving new paths for career growth, enhancing compensation outcomes, and creating opportunities for professionals. The report also highlighted that AI is seen as a source of opportunities rather than a job threat for individuals willing to acquire relevant skills.
Specifically, women transitioning into AI-enabled careers reported a remarkable average salary increase of 145%, with female quality assurance (QA) engineers leading the gains at 574%, as per the report. Bengaluru remains at the forefront of India’s AI talent pool, with 19% of learners hailing from the city, followed by Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Chennai.
Additionally, there is a notable rise in AI learners from Tier-II cities like Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Indore, Coimbatore, and Nagpur, reflecting the democratization of AI education. Software engineer emerged as the most common AI-enabled role, constituting 34.77% of career outcomes, followed by engineering leadership at 17.51%.
The report also highlighted the emergence of new opportunities in consulting, with consulting-related outcomes nearly doubling from 3.1% at the entry level to 5.65% of overall professional outcomes. Post-upskilling, VPs, CXOs, and engineering leaders reported the highest salaries, averaging Rs 33 lakh per annum.
