Key Facts: India Wages
- Country
- India (IND)
- Continent
- Asia
- Currency
- Indian Rupee (INR)
- Minimum Wage
- ₹4,628 /mo ($48.59 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- ₹31,900 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- ₹382,800 /year
- Median Individual Income
- ₹150,000 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 48 hours
- Data Source
- India Chief Labour Commissioner / Ministry of Labour & Employment (National Floor Level Minimum Wage), verified 2026-06-08
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-08
India — Average Salary & Wages
Indian Rupee (INR) Data verified Jan 2026 Sources
The average salary in India is
₹382,800 a year
But half of all workers earn less than ₹150,000 .
The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.
The minimum wage in India is ₹4,628/mo ($48.59 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is ₹31,900 ($334.91 USD). The median monthly income is ₹12,500 ($131.23 USD).
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Send money to India with Wise →Estimates vary significantly. Large informal economy makes precise measurement difficult.
Average monthly earnings for regular wage/salaried employees. Enormous variation between urban and rural, formal and informal sectors.
Minimum Wage Trend
Since 2015, the minimum wage has grown +10% in nominal terms.
• PPP ADJUSTED
In India, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $226.64/mo in the United States, adjusted for local cost of living using the World Bank PPP conversion factor.
In Context
At minimum wage, a full-time worker in India earns ₹4,628/mo. That is 15% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- ₹4,628 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 15% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $48.59/mo monthly
- Nominal growth
- +10% since 2015
Wage Breakdown
- Daily
- ₹178
- Monthly
- ₹4,628Based on 26 working days/month
- Annual
- ₹55,536Based on 12 months
India has one of the world's most complex minimum wage systems with 1,200+ rates varying by state, zone, industry, and skill level. The figure shown is the National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMW) of approximately INR 178/day. The NFLMW is ADVISORY and non-statutory; it is a benchmark that states are encouraged but not legally required to meet, and it has been frozen since 2017. The Code on Wages 2019 provides for a statutory national floor wage, but that Code has NOT been notified into force, so no binding national floor exists. Most Indian workers are covered by STATE-SET minimum wages, set independently by each state government, which are the binding rates for the vast majority of workers. A separate, narrow Central Sphere layer of binding rates applies only to centrally-regulated employments such as construction, sweeping/cleaning, and watch & ward. Delhi has among the highest state-level minimum wages.
Work Week
- Standard
- 48 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 48 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 2x pay
Factories Act sets 48 hours/week, 9 hours/day. Overtime paid at double the ordinary rate. New Labour Codes (when implemented) may standardize at 48 hours across 4-6 day weeks.
States · 12 regions
How India Compares
| Metric | India | Asia Avg. | Asia Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $334.91/mo | $1,185.31/mo | $4,472.55/mo (Singapore) |
• NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
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Bahrain Cost of Living
Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for India on our sister site.
Cost of living in India on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in India?
The minimum wage in India is ₹4,628/mo (approximately $48.59 USD), effective since 2017-07-01. India has one of the world's most complex minimum wage systems with 1,200+ rates varying by state, zone, industry, and skill level. The figure shown is the National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMW) of approximately INR 178/day. The NFLMW is ADVISORY and non-statutory; it is a benchmark that states are encouraged but not legally required to meet, and it has been frozen since 2017. The Code on Wages 2019 provides for a statutory national floor wage, but that Code has NOT been notified into force, so no binding national floor exists. Most Indian workers are covered by STATE-SET minimum wages, set independently by each state government, which are the binding rates for the vast majority of workers. A separate, narrow Central Sphere layer of binding rates applies only to centrally-regulated employments such as construction, sweeping/cleaning, and watch & ward. Delhi has among the highest state-level minimum wages.
What is the average salary in India?
The average gross monthly salary in India is ₹31,900 (approximately $334.91 USD). Average monthly earnings for regular wage/salaried employees. Enormous variation between urban and rural, formal and informal sectors. Source: Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Ministry of Statistics (2024).
How many hours is the standard work week in India?
The standard work week in India is 48 hours, with a legal maximum of 48 hours. Overtime is paid at 2x the normal rate. Factories Act sets 48 hours/week, 9 hours/day. Overtime paid at double the ordinary rate. New Labour Codes (when implemented) may standardize at 48 hours across 4-6 day weeks.
How has the minimum wage in India changed over time?
The minimum wage in India has changed as follows: ₹160 in 2015, ₹176 in 2017. This represents 2 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in India in USD?
The minimum wage in India converts to approximately $48.59/mo in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
What is the average salary in India in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in India is approximately $334.91 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
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