The Instahyre Product-Tech PayCheck 2025 report reveals a significant shift in India’s tech salary landscape, where skill specialization now trumps broad experience. While backend engineering and DevOps roles command premium pay, early-career frontend and mobile developers face stagnant or declining salaries due to oversupply and lower demand.
Backend and DevOps Roles Lead Salary Growth in India’s Evolving Tech Landscape
Backend roles dominate the salary ladder. Freshers with Python skills can earn up to ₹11.5 LPA, and experienced backend engineers (10+ years) may reach ₹49.4 LPA, especially those skilled in system architecture and infrastructure. Java and Node.js also maintain steady growth due to strong backend demand. In contrast, entry-level React.js and JavaScript developers have seen salary drops of up to ₹1.5 LPA. Mobile developers, particularly Android-focused, face a ₹3 LPA pay cut, though iOS and React Native are gaining ground.
DevOps and cloud roles continue to offer top pay. Kubernetes engineers start at ₹6.2 LPA, while AWS-focused leads earn up to ₹35.9 LPA. These roles reflect the increased reliance on secure, scalable cloud solutions. The report also highlights the importance of cost-efficient infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines.
Tier-2 Cities Rise as Tech Talent Hubs Amid Shift Toward Specialized, High-Impact Roles
Geographically, Tier-2 cities like Indore, Jaipur, and Chandigarh are becoming prominent talent hubs. Nearly 40% of backend and 37% of frontend/mobile developers now reside outside the top metros. Bengaluru remains dominant, particularly in backend, DevOps, and data science hiring, followed by Hyderabad and Pune.
Generalist early-career roles show flat growth, but niche skills like AI/ML, cybersecurity, and full-stack development drive salary hikes. Companies prioritize impact over volume, rewarding engineers who build scalable features. Gender disparity remains a concern. Backend, DevOps, and cybersecurity roles are still male-dominated (85:15), though testing, data science, and some frontend functions show better inclusion (70:30).
Top Tech Skills for 2025: Deep Tech, Upskilling, and Agile Hiring Drive the Future
Top tech skills for 2025 include Java, Python, Node.js, AWS, and Android. Monitoring, CI/CD, and cost-optimization are high priorities, while mobile stacks continue to diversify.
As Instahyre’s co-founder Sarbojit Mallick stated, future hiring depends on early identification of deep tech talent, continuous upskilling, and agile planning—traits crucial for staying ahead in India’s evolving tech landscape.
Summary:
The Instahyre PayCheck 2025 report shows tech salaries in India now favour specialized skills like backend, DevOps, and cloud. Early-career frontend and mobile roles face stagnation. Tier-2 cities are rising as key talent hubs. Companies value deep expertise, with Java, Python, AWS, and Android among the top in-demand skills.
