This is the ladder in the software sub-field, which is the largest. Designations may differ from company to company, but the stages are roughly the same. Salaries can also vary widely, and many companies provide incentives such as stock options, so this is an indicative scale.
"Even though there isn't a standard statistic, a general rule of thumb in the IT industry is that a fresher can expect a starting salary of Rs 2 lakh per annum," said Satish Doshi, managing director of Sampoorna Computer People, which specialises in IT recruitment.
"You can add Rs 1 lakh to each year of experience. Thus, typically a person with about 10 years experience can get about Rs 10 to 12 lakh per annum."
Trainee Engineer
Job: This is a fresher who develops software and programmes. His or her primary area of work is coding.
Salary: Rs 2 lakh a year
Senior Developer
This is someone who has at least two to three years of experience. He or she looks after products developed by trainee engineers and uses his or her expertise to ensure that the product is good.
Salary: Rs 3 to 5 lakh a year
Project Leader
This person usually heads a team of five to 10 people and oversees the development of software and has worked between four and six years.
Salary: Rs 6 to 8 lakh a year
Project Leader
This person usually heads a team of five to 10 people and oversees the development of software and has worked between four and six years.
Salary: Rs 6 to 8 lakh a year
Project Manager
This is someone who works intensively with prospective clients and gets work for the company. He or she usually has about 10 years experience.
Salary: Rs 12 lakh a year
Management position
The designation can vary from general manager to chief executive officer. This person takes major strategic decisions such whether to diversify, how to cut costs, etc, in consultation with a management team. He or she keeps a strong watch on the company's financial performance.
Salary: Upwards of Rs 20 lakh a year