Your hike percentage is easy. Whether it's actually good is the real question — so this compares it against what people in your situation get in India in 2026.
Every hike calculator can divide two numbers. What they don't tell you is whether your number is good — a 25% hike is excellent for a senior switch and mediocre for a fresher, and an 18% hike that feels generous is still double what staying would pay you. Put your numbers in and see where the offer actually lands:
₹
₹10L per year
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₹14L per year
Your hike
+40%
typical for mid-career (2–10 yrs): 30–60% · switching — the widest band, depends on skill scarcity
0%typical band 30–60%100%
Within the typical 30–60% band for mid-career (2–10 yrs).
In hand, per month — after income tax, PF & professional tax
₹73,133 → ₹98,913
+₹25,780/month
On the offer: income tax ₹3,553/mo (new regime) · PF ₹7,000/mo
Directional market averages — compare fixed CTC to fixed CTC; a big variable component can make the same headline number worth meaningfully less. In-hand assumes the new tax regime (FY 2026-27), basic pay at 50% of CTC, PF at 12% of basic, and ₹200/month professional tax — an estimate, not a payslip.
How to read the result
The typical bands come from published 2026 India hiring data — the same numbers behind our full breakdown of switching hikes by experience and move type. In short: annual increments average ~9%, ordinary switches land at 20–35%, mid-career moves with scarce skills stretch to 60%, and IT services → product company jumps can run 40–100%. A "below typical" result doesn't mean reject the offer — it means the market suggests there's negotiating room, and you should know that beforeyou sign, not after. The in-hand line converts both CTCs to approximate monthly take-home (new regime, standard assumptions) — because a "40% hike" is an abstraction, and what lands in your account on the 1st isn't.
Three mistakes that flatter a bad offer
Comparing CTC to CTC without reading the structure. A big variable bonus, delayed joining bonus, or four-year vesting can make a 40% headline behave like 25% in your bank account. Compare fixed to fixed first. Anchoring on your current salary.If you're currently underpaid, a hike percentage measured from an underpaid base flatters the offer — the real question is where the offer sits against the market for your role, not against your own history. Ignoring the cost of the alternative.The honest comparison isn't offer vs current salary — it's offer vs what staying actually costs you, compounded.
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PATHWISE
The hike is one number. Your market gap is the one that matters.
These bands are directional market averages, not a promise for your specific case — skill scarcity, city, company tier, and negotiation all move the outcome. Treat the verdict as a starting benchmark for the conversation, not a floor or a ceiling.
Common questions
What is a good salary hike when switching jobs in India?
Ordinary switches land at 20 to 35%. Mid-career moves with scarce skills stretch to around 60%, and IT services to product company jumps can run 40 to 100%. The number worth measuring any of them against is the roughly 9% an average annual increment pays you for staying put.
How do I calculate my hike percentage?
New CTC minus current CTC, divided by current CTC, multiplied by 100. The harder question is whether that percentage is good, which depends on your experience level and the type of move — 25% is excellent for a senior switch and mediocre for a fresher.
Is CTC the same as take-home salary?
No, and the gap is wide. CTC includes employer PF, gratuity provision and benefits that never reach your account monthly. This calculator converts both figures to approximate monthly take-home under the new tax regime, because a 40% hike is an abstraction and what lands on the 1st is not.
Should I reject an offer that comes in below the typical band?
Not automatically. A below-typical result means the market suggests there is negotiating room — and the point of knowing that is to know it before you sign, not after.
Figures on this page are directional estimates based on published market data and Pathwise's own model — not financial, legal, or career advice. Individual outcomes vary.