In 2026, the role of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) remains one of the highest-paid positions in the Indian corporate landscape. CEO compensation varies drastically based on company size, sector (IT, manufacturing, banking, etc.), ownership (MNC vs Indian firm), and performance incentives.
Average CEO Salary in India (2026)
According to industry surveys, the average compensation for CEOs in India’s listed companies had reached around ₹7.2 crore per year by FY24, growing at about 9% annually over the past decade. Converting this to monthly earnings in 2026, the average CEO can expect roughly:
- ₹60 lakh per month (₹7.2 crore ÷ 12) on average
- Wider executive pay data also suggests CEO median compensation heading closer to ₹10 crore annually, which would be about ₹83 lakh per month in many cases.
These figures take into account fixed salary, performance bonuses, long-term incentives (stock/RSUs), and allowances — all typical features of executive compensation packages.
High-Earning CEOs: The Top Tier
Among the highest-paid executives in India, annual compensation packages frequently exceed these averages. For example:
- HCLTech’s CEO C. Vijayakumar earned approximately ₹94.6 crore in FY25, which translates to about ₹7.88 crore per month.
- Infosys CEO Salil Parekh’s salary in FY25 was reported at about ₹80.6 crore annually (≈ ₹6.72 crore per month).
- TCS CEO K. Krithivasan’s total package was roughly ₹26.52 crore in FY25 — around ₹2.21 crore per month — with base salary and benefits supplemented by large performance-linked commissions.
These examples illustrate that top CEOs can command multiple crores of rupees per month, especially in large multinational or high-growth technology firms.
Smaller Firms & Mid-Level CEOs
Not all CEOs in India earn at the top tier. Compensation varies significantly by company scale:
- For smaller companies, startups, or mid-sized firms, CEO packages can be more modest — sometimes between ₹15 lakhs to ₹1 crore per year, which equates to approximately ₹1.25 lakhs to ₹8.3 lakhs per month.
- Sector and location also matter: CEOs in manufacturing, healthcare, or regional businesses may earn differently than those in tech or financial services.
Thus, while average executive pay at large corporations reaches crores per year, many smaller company leaders receive pay closer to standard corporate leadership ranges.
Example: AirAsia CEO Salary (Context)
For contrast, the AirAsia CEO Salary (Tony Fernandes) has a global compensation package historically estimated at around RM 14,947,213 (≈ ₹27.08 crore per year) including allowances.
- This works out to roughly ₹2.25 crore per month at the reported exchange rates.
- Note: This figure refers to the global AirAsia Group head, not exclusively an India-based role, and reflects executive pay norms in a multinational airline.
While Indipost reports this total CEO income annually, detailed monthly disclosure in official filings isn’t regularly published for all executives.
