India’s gender pay gap has narrowed sharply, now ranking among the lowest worldwide, according to a report from global payroll and compliance platform Deel.
The report stated that median salaries for men and women in India are nearly equal, ranging between $13,000 and $23,000, reflecting “growing pay equity and the adoption of data-driven compensation models.”
Deel analysed internal platform data from over one million contracts and 35,000+ customers across 150 countries to identify global pay trends.
Interestingly, the report also revealed a 40 per cent year-on-year drop in median compensation for engineering and data professionals in India — from $36,000 in 2024 to $22,000 in 2025.
Despite this, India’s hybrid workforce model continues to thrive, with 60–70% full-time employees and 30–40% contract workers, showcasing steady reliance on flexible employment.“It’s encouraging to see India emerge as one of the few countries where the gender pay gap has narrowed significantly. This reflects a broader shift toward fairness, transparency, and data-driven compensation models that reward merit over bias,”
— Mark Samlal, General Manager, APAC at Deel.
Globally, countries such as the US, UK, and Canada continue to lead in overall compensation, while AI, cybersecurity, and digital marketing roles command 20–25% pay premiums due to talent scarcity.
The report also noted rising trends in equity-based compensation in emerging markets like India and Brazil, signalling a shift toward long-term value models. The US leads in equity package size, followed by Canada and France.
Gender gaps, though narrowing, remain pronounced in tech and product roles, with the widest disparities seen in Canada, France, and the US, the report added.
