Last updated 12 September 2026
Data Scientist Salary in India 2026
Data scientist, ML engineer, and AI engineer are used interchangeably on many Indian JDs. Insights quotes a Bengaluru AI-engineer median near ₹21 LPA with a wide spread — that is not the same as a research-scientist seat.
Direct salary summary
If the work is dashboards, price it closer to analytics. If it is models in production, use the AI engineer page.
Salary by experience
| Segment | Planning range |
|---|---|
| Insights / editorial AI engineer median (Bengaluru) | about ₹21 LPA — wide spread around it |
| Applied ML / GCC mid-level (from the AI engineer article) | ₹28–45 LPA planning band |
Career progression
Progression in Indian tech is usually a change of buyer (services → GCC or product) or a change of scarce skill — not a 6% letter compounding forever. After you have a planning range, estimate monthly cash with the salary calculator and read how SalaryScope builds a report.
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Estimate in-hand from a CTC
Planning bands are annual CTC context. Monthly cash still depends on PF, professional tax, bonus-inside-CTC, and the FY 2026–27 tax regime.
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