Average salary for a IT Fresher?

Hi,

Can anyone tell me what is the average salary range for a fresher in Mumbai? I'm good in academics and also good in programming. I never understand what to say when HR people ask me my expected salary.

So anyone who's working in IT industry in Mumbai, can you please tell

1) what is an average range for a fresher (entry level) applicant like me?
2) for something like a Junior Java Programmer or something of that sort?
3) and also, if a company is new, like 3 years old, how much salary do they provide there?

Sites like pay scale gave me a figure like Rs.25,000 based on the info I provided, and I don't think this new company would be paying freshers that much. And I don't really wanna end up working for peanuts. So please give me some ideas on this? I'll really appreciate it!

Thanks in advance.

It may vary according to which company you are aiming for .Also ,It depends upon the nature of work that you will do .An avearge you can expect a good salary from product based company than service provider company . But again there might be exceptions

hi,

campus placements went on, the last semseter in my college and in most of the companies, the pay scale was 2.7-3.5 lakhs per anum...

Hi, thanks to everyone who took their time to reply. Well any ideas what's the minimum salary range for IT freshers? So I'd know that I shouldn't agree to an offer below a certain range? Anyone can give any figures? That'd be really helpful!

I think it depends on your knowledge and project you have done.
I see some of freshers was offered 5.5 lacs to 10.5 lacs in my territory ,one of them was my cousin(he was offered 5.5 lacs).

For love of god please Don't ask me what I was offered because I am currently jobless ,trying to land at government job

best regards,
omi
[ October 26, 2008: Message edited by: omi sharma ]

Actually I was looking for a "minimum" range that an IT fresher should agree to and not agree to anything below that.

What Vishwanath told you is average salary , I am sure of it.

best regards,
omi

Originally posted by Roshni Singhania:
Actually I was looking for a "minimum" range that an IT fresher should agree to and not agree to anything below that.

The "minimum" range again depends on your personal and your caliber to get a job as a fresher. I know many freshers are working with a low salary i.e less than Rs 5000 and even some freshers are ready to work without salary to gain experience. So, I suggest you that as a fresher don't look for minimum salary as the job market is not good shape at this time.

Can anyone tell me what is the average salary range for a fresher in Mumbai? I'm good in academics and also good in programming. I never understand what to say when HR people ask me my expected salary.

If you are fresher you can give a diplomatic answer for this question say According to industry standards.

Regards
Sudhakar

Originally posted by Karnati Sudhakar:

If you are fresher you can give a diplomatic answer for this question say According to industry standards.

Regards
Sudhakar

That is what all companies claim to pay

Roshni,

Consider yourself very very Lucky if you even get a job offer in this disastrous economic environment.

Originally posted by Roshni Singhania:
Actually I was looking for a "minimum" range that an IT fresher should agree to and not agree to anything below that.

The focus here is misplaced. As a fresher, one should primarily look at learning opportunities. Salary is secondary, and more so during such tough times. So the 'minimum' would be nice pocket money + some savings. So if the salary offered covers your lodging,boarding,pocket money and some savings requirement, I guess it's enough. Anything above that is cherry on the cake.

Also my experience with juniors in college was that they put too much emphasis on salary and the one who gets the highest CTC is the coolest one. In the long run, the one who gets learning opportunities is the winner.

Thanks all you guys for replying. Yes I totally agree.. getting a job right now is more important. I was just wondering about the salary issue since some batch mates were talking about not going below our worth and all. So I wanted to know how much is "below one's worth". But I agree with you guys.. I'd be lucky just to get a job in these tough times! Recently started going for walk-ins and interviews. Dunno how many more interviews I've to give before I get a job. I really do need a lot of luck!

Originally posted by KJ Reddy:
and even some freshers are ready to work without salary to gain experience

This is something I disagree with on principle. In the US, some industries do the whole "unpaid college student intern" thing. For programmers, some companies paid and some didn't. Needless to say, I went with ones that did pay. Even if an employer pays minimum wage, it's a philosophical way of looking at things. If an intern is producing something of use the company, why shouldn't they be compensated. I feel the same way about entry level/freshers.

Yes the company has to invest in training you to do the job. However, they can have you sign that you will reimburse them for that if you leave within X months.

For interns, some people argue that it costs more to train them than what they produce. Maybe this is true some places, but it hasn't been on my project. We've had a few years of summer interns. Last year someone asked me if it was worth it. My answer was of course and that we wouldn't do so if it wasn't.

My point in all this, is don't let someone convince you they are doing you a favor by hiring you as a fresher and giving you the opportunity for experience. Your time would be better spent learning more about Java, doing practice projects and looking for a real job.

I agree with the posters that anything that covers your cost of living is acceptable. Remember that you aren't locked into your first job. What matters is where you are in 3-5 years, not right away. And for that experience and YOU are much more important than the first job.