How GenAI, LLMs, and CV Are Driving Salaries
- Vidya Patil
- Dec 23, 2025
- 4 min read
This fourth blog explores one of the most influential forces shaping the AI job market in India.
Unlike generalized machine learning roles, specialized domains such as Generative AI, Large Language Models, Computer Vision, Deep Learning, and Natural Language Processing now command the highest compensation packages in the industry.*
These skill categories are not only difficult to hire for but also essential for enterprises undergoing digital and AI-led transformation. The salary premiums reflect both scarcity and immediate business impact.
India’s AI salary inflation is no longer role-driven. It is skill-driven.
Why Niche Skills Drive the Highest Compensation
The inflation in AI salaries is concentrated within deep-tech roles that require advanced mathematical knowledge, system-level thinking, experience with large datasets, and the capability to deploy and scale AI models in real-world environments.
Organizations across sectors including finance, healthcare, retail, mobility, and e-commerce are aggressively implementing AI-first strategies. As a result, they are willing to pay substantial premiums for highly specialized engineers who can translate complex models into operational value.
This trend builds directly on the market dynamics outlined in Blog 1
Generative AI and Large Language Model Engineers
Generative AI has created the most severe talent deficit in 2025. Engineers with LLM expertise represent the top percentile of AI talent in India.
Salary Benchmarks
• General Generative AI salary range between ₹12 to ₹50 lakh per annum
• Average compensation for GenAI specialists in Bengaluru are ₹34.2 lakh per annum
• Top 10 percent of GenAI salaries in leading tech hubs are more than ₹59 lakh per annum
The premium is driven by the complexity of tasks such as:
• Fine-tuning large language models
• Building domain-specific LLMs
• Designing retrieval augmented generation systems
• Optimizing inference performance and latency
• Deploying GenAI at enterprise scale
With 83% of GCCs already investing in GenAI adoption, demand will continue to outpace supply well into 2026.
LLM expertise is no longer optional. It is the new ceiling-setter for AI compensation.
Deep Learning Engineers
Deep learning specialists work on high-complexity problems, ranging from speech recognition and image processing to advanced recommendation systems.
Salary Range
₹15 to ₹45 lakh per annum
Deep learning expertise commands a premium due to the need for strong proficiency in:
• Neural network design
• GPU optimization
• Distributed training
• Advanced mathematical modelling
Computer Vision Engineers
Computer Vision roles are among the most sought after in industries such as autonomous mobility, augmented reality, surveillance systems, manufacturing automation, medical imaging, and robotics.
Key Benchmarks
• Salary range: ₹12 to ₹40 lakh per annum
• Average Computer Vision Engineer salary in India: ₹30.9 lakh per annum • Top 10 percent salaries for CV engineers: more than ₹51 lakh per annum
The rise of AR and VR, combined with automation in retail, logistics, and manufacturing, has driven sustained demand for CV engineers with deployment experience.
Natural Language Processing Engineers
NLP specialists play a critical role in developing conversational interfaces, language understanding systems, speech-to-text engines, and enterprise-scale chatbots.
Salary Benchmarks
₹10 to ₹35 lakh per annum
With the rapid adoption of conversational AI across BFSI, e-commerce, healthcare, and customer support, NLP roles now attract salary premiums of 15 to 20% over general AI engineering roles.
Why Deployment Skills Amplify Compensation
A consistent trend across all niche AI domains is the high premium for engineers who can deploy and scale models in production environments.
Organizations increasingly prioritize:
• Model deployment
• Inference optimization
• Continuous monitoring
• Performance benchmarking
• Real-world reliability engineering
The ability to operationalize AI solutions is now more valuable than the ability to build models in isolation.
Execution beats experimentation when AI moves to production.
Global Benchmark Convergence and the Value of Academic Credentials
India’s AI salary landscape is increasingly influenced by global compensation benchmarks due to remote-first roles and cross-border hiring.
Key Trends
• Senior AI engineers working remotely for international firms earn ₹60 to ₹80 lakh per annum or more
• Graduates from IITs and IIMs receive initial offers 25 to 30% higher than peers
• Advanced degrees such as MTech, MS, and PhD accelerate career progression
• The India's AI FutureSkills initiative is strengthening research-driven talent pipelines
These factors collectively push Indian AI salary benchmarks upward, particularly in domains where global demand significantly exceeds supply.
The Real Drivers of India’s AI Salary Inflation
Generative AI, LLM engineering, Computer Vision, Deep Learning, and NLP represent the highest-paying and fastest-scaling AI skill categories in India.
These domains demand deep specialization, advanced research capability, and strong engineering fundamentals. They also deliver the highest business impact, making them the primary drivers of India’s AI salary inflation.
In the next blog, we examine geographic salary variations across India’s major AI hubs, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and emerging Tier 2 locations.
*Disclaimer: The compensation data and insights shared in this article are based on internal research, market observations, and industry references. Detailed references can be shared upon request.
Comments