AI / ML Engineer Take-Home Pay in India FY 2026-27
An AI / ML Engineer earning the median salary of ₹14.7L in India takes home approximately ₹13,78,868/year (₹1,14,906/month) after Income Tax (New Regime) and 4% health & education cess, using FY 2026-27 rates.
2026 median salary for each level in India, and what it leaves after Income Tax (New Regime) and 4% health & education cess. New Regime, no EPF/gratuity/professional tax modeled. FY 2026-27 rates.
Level
Gross / year
Take-home / year
Per month
Effective rate
Junior
₹8,16,000
₹8,16,000₹68,000/mo
₹68,000
0.0%
Mid-level
₹16,00,000
₹14,86,900₹1,23,908/mo
₹1,23,908
7.1%
Senior
₹30,00,000
₹25,24,200₹2,10,350/mo
₹2,10,350
15.9%
Lead / Principal
₹48,95,000
₹38,27,960₹3,18,997/mo
₹3,18,997
21.8%
The biggest pay step is Senior to Lead / Principal: ₹18,95,000 more a year before tax, of which ₹13,03,760 reaches take-home. 31% of that raise goes to Income Tax (New Regime) and 4% health & education cess, against an average 16% on the Senior salary, because the extra pay is taxed at the top of your bands rather than spread across all of them.
Around the headline median, the middle half of AI / ML Engineer salaries in India run from ₹14,24,000 to ₹15,36,000 a year, which is ₹13,38,356 to ₹14,32,884 after Income Tax (New Regime) and 4% health & education cess.
Adjust for your actual salary
The table above uses the AI / ML Engineer median. Enter your own gross salary below for a precise figure.
National income tax only. India has no state income tax on salaries. EPF and professional tax are separate payslip deductions this calculator doesn't model. See the CTC vs in-hand guide linked below.
₹
₹14,72,000 a year, or ₹14.7L per year.
Tax regime
Common salaries:
Annual take-home pay (New Regime)
₹13,78,868
Per month
₹1,14,906
Per week
₹26,517
Effective tax rate
6.3%
New Regime vs Old Regime on ₹14,72,000
New Regime
₹13,78,868
Effective rate: 6.3%
Old Regime (Rs 0 deductions)
₹12,23,336
Effective rate: 16.9%
The New Regime is worth ₹1,55,532/year more take-home on this salary, at these deduction levels.
How your ₹14,72,000 is split
Take-home
₹13,78,868
93.7%
Income Tax
₹89,550
6.1%
Surcharge
₹0
0.0%
Cess (4%)
₹3,582
0.2%
Gross salary
₹14,72,000
Standard deduction
-₹75,000
Taxable income
₹13,97,000
Income Tax (after Section 87A rebate)
-₹89,550
Surcharge
₹-0
Health & Education Cess (4%)
-₹3,582
Total deductions
-₹93,132
Net take-home (annual)
₹13,78,868
Calculations use FY 2026-27 Income Tax Department slabs, standard deduction, Section 87A rebate (with statutory marginal relief), surcharge, and 4% Health & Education Cess. National income tax only. India has no state income tax on salaries. Old Regime deductions default to Rs 0; enter your real Section 80C/80D/HRA exemption claims to compare accurately. Excludes EPF, professional tax, and other payslip deductions that reduce in-hand pay but aren't income tax (see the CTC vs in-hand guide). Assumes a taxpayer under 60. Senior and super-senior citizen slabs differ and aren't modeled. For precise figures, consult the Income Tax Department or a chartered accountant.
Permanent salary or contract?
Permanent median
₹14,72,000
₹13,78,868 take-home
Contract median
₹11,060/day
≈ ₹24,33,200 gross a year
At a median ₹11,060/day, contract work grosses about ₹24,33,200 a year over 220 billable days, 65% more than the ₹14,72,000 permanent median. That premium has to pay for what an employer would otherwise cover: paid holiday and sick days, pension contributions, and the gaps between contracts.
How much does an AI / ML Engineer take home in India?
An AI / ML Engineer earning the median salary of ₹14.7L in India takes home approximately ₹13,78,868 per year (₹1,14,906 per month) after Income Tax (New Regime) and 4% health & education cess, using FY 2026-27 rates.
2
What is the effective tax rate for an AI / ML Engineer in India?
On a median AI / ML Engineer salary of ₹14.7L, the effective deduction rate (Income Tax (New Regime) and 4% health & education cess) is 6.3%, leaving ₹13,78,868 as take-home pay.
3
What does a senior AI / ML Engineer take home in India?
A senior AI / ML Engineer in India earns a median ₹30,00,000 a year and takes home approximately ₹25,24,200 (₹2,10,350 per month) after Income Tax (New Regime) and 4% health & education cess, an effective rate of 15.9%.
4
What does a junior AI / ML Engineer take home in India?
A junior AI / ML Engineer in India earns a median ₹8,16,000 a year and takes home approximately ₹8,16,000 (₹68,000 per month) after Income Tax (New Regime) and 4% health & education cess, an effective rate of 0.0%.
5
How much of a promotion does an AI / ML Engineer keep after tax in India?
The biggest pay step is Senior to Lead / Principal: ₹18,95,000 more a year before tax, of which ₹13,03,760 reaches take-home. 31% of that raise goes to Income Tax (New Regime) and 4% health & education cess, against an average 16% on the Senior salary, because the extra pay is taxed at the top of your bands rather than spread across all of them.
6
Do contract AI / ML Engineer roles pay more than permanent ones in India?
At a median ₹11,060/day, contract work grosses about ₹24,33,200 a year over 220 billable days, 65% more than the ₹14,72,000 permanent median. That premium has to pay for what an employer would otherwise cover: paid holiday and sick days, pension contributions, and the gaps between contracts. Contract and permanent benchmarks come from separate samples, so treat the gap as a guide.