The global IT services industry in 2026 is witnessing a structural shift where compensation is increasingly tied to digital and AI capabilities rather than tenure. According to the EY Future of Pay 2026 Report, average salary increments stand at 9.1 percent, but professionals with Generative AI expertise are securing a 30 percent to 40 percent premium over traditional roles.
Accenture leads with an average salary of 30.5 lakhs in its global process operations. Entry-level tech professionals earn between 3 lakhs and 4.5 lakhs, while experienced consultants with over nine years average 30 lakhs. Over the past 12 months, senior consultants and AI architects saw salary growth of 18 percent, compared to 7 percent for entry-level roles, driven by demand for enterprise reinvention projects.
Tata Consultancy Services reports an average salary of 24.3 lakhs across delivery divisions. Mid-level managers earn between 10.7 lakhs and 20 lakhs, while senior executives reach up to 50 lakhs. Compensation for senior leadership grew 12 percent over the last year, while entry-level hires saw a 6 percent increase, reflecting high-volume hiring strategies.
Cognizant is focusing on precision compensation, with project managers earning 19.7 lakhs and senior L6 managers reaching 44 lakhs. Freshers in premium hiring tracks earn between 6 lakhs and 10 lakhs. Over 12 months, senior managers received a 15 percent hike, while entry-level roles grew 5 percent and premium fresher packages rose 9 percent.
Teleperformance shows average salaries of around 25 lakhs for service roles, with specialized positions such as Directors of Internal Audit earning 36 lakhs. Bilingual and technical support roles saw salary increases of 10 percent, while entry-level positions rose 5.5 percent, aligned with cost-of-living adjustments.
Genpact offers Vice President salaries averaging 27.9 lakhs, with top executives earning up to 40 lakhs. Over the past year, senior leadership compensation increased by 14 percent, while entry-level analyst roles saw 6.5 percent growth as demand for AI-ready talent increased.
Across the sector, Global Capability Centers are outperforming traditional outsourcing vendors, with projected salary increments of 10.4 percent in 2026, according to Aon. At the same time, gender pay parity is improving, with women in management roles at firms like Accenture and TCS increasingly earning at par with male counterparts.
Overall, the BPO compensation landscape in 2026 is defined by the “AI premium,” where digital fluency, automation expertise, and domain specialization are driving salary growth beyond the industry average of 9.1 percent.
FASNA SHABEER
