Infosys has announced that 130 employees based in India earned annual salaries exceeding Rs 1 crore during the financial year 2026, marking a rise of approximately 16 per cent from the previous year. This figure, revealed in the company’s latest annual report, signifies the highest count of crore-plus earners the firm has reported to date. The increase in high-value salaries is particularly notable amid ongoing discussions about the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the technology sector.

The growth in earnings is attributed mainly to stock-based rewards granted in earlier years and exercised during FY26. In addition to these stock rewards, salary revisions throughout the year also played a significant role in bolstering the number of employees reaching the crore-plus salary bracket. Furthermore, the company reportedly succeeded in retaining a larger proportion of its highest-paid workers, with only 22 individuals from this income category departing during FY26.

This retention rate is significantly lower than the collective exits observed over the previous two financial years, indicating a successful strategy in maintaining its pool of top earners. The company’s upward trajectory in high compensation has been consistent, with 112 crore-earners reported in FY25 and 103 in FY24. Notably, prior to FY22, this number did not surpass 100, underscoring the growth in high-end compensation in recent years.

Criteria for Reporting Compensation Figures

It is important to note that the reported counts do not necessarily reflect every employee who might have surpassed the Rs 1 crore threshold within the fiscal year. Infosys clarified that the figures include only those India-based employees who remained with the company for the entirety of the financial year. This means that those who joined or left during FY26 are excluded from this calculation.

Additively, compensation details for the ten highest-paid employees are published separately and are not factored into the aforementioned number of crore-earners. This distinction is significant as it highlights the specific criteria employed by Infosys in their reporting methodologies.

Contrasting Experiences at TCS

The developments at Infosys present a stark contrast to the situation at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), where numerous employees have voiced concerns regarding recent salary revisions. TCS announced average salary hikes of approximately 5 per cent, yet several employees alleged that their revised salaries appeared stagnant or had decreased.

After the company implemented these salary changes in May, some employees reported discrepancies in their compensation. One individual claimed their monthly salary dropped by Rs 3,000 despite receiving an appraisal letter, while others noted reductions in their overall annual compensation, ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000. Many employees suspect these changes are linked to recent restructuring associated with India’s updated labour codes.

Amidst these concerns, TCS stated that the newly revised salary structure was created to align with current labour regulations and streamline compensation across its workforce in India. The company asserted that employee take-home pay would remain protected under this framework, suggesting that these adjustments would offer enhanced flexibility for tax planning purposes. Overall, the contrasting experiences between Infosys and TCS reflect varying strategies within the IT sector regarding employee compensation and retention in a competitive market.

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