The compensation landscape within India’s Global Capability Centres is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the accelerating adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). New-age positions such as Generative AI Engineering and Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) are establishing unprecedented salary standards, with senior professionals commanding annual packages of ₹58–60 lakh and experiencing growth rates surpassing 18 per cent, according to a report released on Thursday.
"This surge reflects the shift toward AI-native operating models, where LLM integration, autonomous decision-making, and IP-led innovation are becoming standard. Demand is especially strong for specialised AI skills such as Prompt Engineering, LLM Safety and Tuning, AI Orchestration, Agent Design, Simulation Governance, and AI Compliance & Risk Ops - particularly across BFSI, healthcare, and manufacturing," TeamLease Digital, a specialised staffing solutions provider, said in its report.
Cybersecurity and Data Engineering continue to be vital within GCCs, with average salaries projected to rise to ₹33.5 lakh (20 per cent growth) and ₹27 lakh (17 per cent growth) per annum, respectively, by FY27. At the senior level, Cybersecurity specialists may earn up to ₹55 lakh, while seasoned Data Engineers can draw as much as ₹42 lakh, underscoring the premium on safeguarding compliant and scalable data ecosystems.
Cloud Computing roles are also on an upward trajectory, with GCC salaries forecast to climb from ₹24 lakh to ₹28 lakh (17 per cent growth) by FY27. Senior Cloud Architects could earn as much as ₹45 lakh annually.
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In the broader IT Products and Services sector, a comparable momentum is visible, albeit with distinct patterns. Product Management has emerged as the fastest-growing capability, with senior professionals likely to command ₹42 lakh by FY27, reflecting a 29 per cent increase. Meanwhile, Cloud Computing salaries in the IT sector are set to expand from ₹31.5 lakh to ₹37.5 lakh (19 per cent growth), as organisations pivot decisively towards Cloud-native product strategies and AI-enabled platforms.
India’s AI sector is entering a phase of hyper-expansion, projected to touch $28.8 billion by 2025 at a compound annual growth rate of 45 per cent, with AI positioned at the very heart of enterprise value creation. This rapid adoption is expected to reshape labour markets globally, with as many as 40 per cent of roles likely to be impacted, particularly in IT services, customer experience, BFSI, and healthcare.
The report further highlighted that GCCs are poised to generate between 22 and 25 per cent of net new white-collar technology jobs in 2025, fuelled primarily by AI and Cloud Computing. Of the 4.7 million new technology roles anticipated by 2027, GCCs alone will account for more than 1.2 million, especially in Generative AI and engineering research and development.
Recruitment patterns are also shifting geographically, with GCCs increasingly extending their hiring footprint beyond metropolitan hubs. Between 1,30,000 and 1,40,000 fresh graduates are expected to be hired in FY25, largely from Tier-2 and Tier-3 engineering campuses, marking a significant decentralisation of talent acquisition.
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