Women in AI Roles See 145% Salary Increase, Scaler Report Reveals

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the professional landscape in India, with women emerging as significant beneficiaries of this transformation. According to the India AI Workforce Report 2026, released by learning platform Scaler, women moving into AI-enabled careers have seen an average salary hike of 145%, highlighting how AI is opening up new career opportunities beyond traditional tech roles.

The report, which gathered insights from 11,444 professionals across India, reveals that AI is no longer confined to the domain of software engineers. Women are increasingly contributing to AI-driven roles in diverse fields such as human resources, academia, marketing, and other business functions. Among women professionals, QA engineers experienced the most dramatic salary increases post-AI upskilling, with compensation surging by 574%.

This trend reflects a broader shift in India’s workforce, as AI adoption extends across industries. Nearly 25% of AI learners now come from non-technical backgrounds, showcasing growing interest in AI among professionals outside the engineering and technology sectors. The report also noted that approximately 50% of AI-enabled career outcomes now lie outside traditional engineering roles, spanning leadership, consulting, HR, marketing, finance, and academia.

Scaler Co-founder Abhimanyu Saxena emphasized that AI is creating new opportunities, accelerating career growth, and enabling professionals to secure better compensation. "At a time when much of the conversation around AI focuses on job displacement, the findings tell a different story," Saxena remarked.

The report also highlights the geographical diversification of India’s AI talent pool. Nearly 20% of AI learners now come from Tier-II cities like Lucknow, Patna, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Indore, and Nagpur, reflecting the growing accessibility of AI education and career opportunities. However, major metropolitan areas such as Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Chennai continue to dominate the AI talent landscape, with Bengaluru alone accounting for 19% of AI learners.

On average, professionals reported a 147% salary increase after AI upskilling, with early-career professionals seeing the highest percentage growth. AI is proving to be a career multiplier not only for young professionals but also for experienced workers seeking higher-value roles. Software engineering remains the most common AI career outcome, followed by engineering leadership positions.

Senior professionals, including VPs, CXOs, and engineering leaders, reported the highest post-upskilling salaries, averaging Rs 33 lakh per annum. The findings underscore AI's potential to drive career advancement and economic growth across a broad spectrum of industries and roles.