Data Scientist Salary in India 2026 — From Analyst to AI Engineer
Data science salaries in India are among the highest in the IT sector. With AI/ML skills increasingly required, the salary premium for data professionals has grown significantly in 2026.
Data Scientist Salary by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Data Analyst (fresher) | ₹4–6 LPA |
| Data Scientist (1–3 yr) | ₹7–14 LPA |
| Senior Data Scientist (3–5 yr) | ₹14–22 LPA |
| ML Lead / Principal DS (5+ yr) | ₹22–40 LPA |
Data Scientist Salary by City — India 2026
Bangalore
₹5–45 LPA
AI startup premium
Hyderabad
₹4.5–38 LPA
MNC AI centres
Mumbai
₹4.5–35 LPA
Finance AI roles
Pune
₹4–30 LPA
Growing rapidly
India needs 300,000+ data science professionals by 2028. The convergence of data science and generative AI has created a new premium tier: AI Data Scientists earning ₹20–50 LPA.
Top Companies Hiring Data Scientists in India
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary of a data scientist in India?
The average data scientist salary in India is ₹9–12 LPA across all experience levels. Freshers earn ₹4–6 LPA as analysts; experienced data scientists with AI/ML specialisation earn ₹15–30 LPA.
Is data science still in demand in India in 2026?
Exceptionally so. AI adoption across banking, e-commerce, logistics, and healthcare is creating massive demand for professionals who can work with data and AI models.
Ready to become a Data Scientist?
Join Felix ITs — hands-on training, live projects, and 100% placement support.