6 in 10 Professionals Flag Compensation Gap
Key Highlights
- Nearly 6 in 10 Indian professionals say their job title does not reflect their compensation.
- Almost 80 per cent believe inflated job titles have become common across industries.
- Nearly one-third of employees receiving a title change got either no salary hike or an increment below 5 per cent.
- About 52 per cent would prefer a higher salary over a better designation when switching jobs.
- Around 70 per cent believe designations influence future career opportunities.
- Nearly 73 per cent say stronger titles improve how potential employers perceive them.
- About 57 per cent say their designation significantly affects overall job satisfaction.
- Around 57 per cent of employers use enhanced or senior-sounding titles to attract or retain talent.
A growing number of professionals in India see a disconnect between their job titles and salaries, with nearly six in 10 employees saying their designation does not adequately reflect their compensation, according to a new workplace survey.
Indeed’s quarterly hiring tracker found that inflated job titles have also become increasingly common across industries, with nearly 80 per cent of employees surveyed saying they have noticed colleagues receiving more senior-sounding designations without corresponding increases in pay.
The findings are based on inputs from 1,211 employers and 2,533 employees across India. The survey was conducted by Valuvox on behalf of Indeed during May and June 2026.
Title changes don’t always bring higher pay
The disconnect becomes more evident among employees who have received new designations in recent years.
Nearly one in three employees who received a title change during the past two years said the change came either without any salary increase or with an increment of less than 5 per cent.
The findings suggest that some organisations are increasingly using designations as a way to recognise employees or signal career advancement when substantial salary increases may not be available.
Indeed India Managing Director Sashi Kumar said job titles continue to carry professional identity and can signal an employee’s capabilities and opportunities, but are most effective when they represent genuine career progression rather than acting as a substitute for it.
Salary wins when employees have to choose
Despite the importance attached to professional designations, compensation remains a stronger consideration for many workers when evaluating new opportunities.
About 52 per cent of professionals surveyed said they would choose a higher salary over a better designation when considering a new job.
The findings indicate that while an impressive title may strengthen a professional profile, employees continue to view compensation as a crucial measure of career value.
Job titles still matter for career growth
Employees are not dismissing the importance of designations altogether.
Around 70 per cent of respondents said their designation plays an important role in shaping future career opportunities.
Nearly 73 per cent believe that having a stronger job title improves how prospective employers perceive them, highlighting the role designations can play when professionals apply for future positions.
Job titles also affect employees’ experience in their current workplace, with about 57 per cent saying their designation has a significant impact on overall job satisfaction.
The findings indicate that employees value stronger titles but increasingly expect those designations to be accompanied by meaningful compensation and genuine career advancement.
Employers use titles to attract talent
Employers themselves acknowledged using job titles as part of their recruitment and retention strategies.
About 57 per cent of employers surveyed said their organisations use senior-sounding or enhanced job titles to attract candidates or retain existing employees.
Designations are increasingly being used alongside compensation to attract talent, recognise employee growth and retain high-performing workers, particularly when organisations face constraints on salary budgets.
For employers competing for skilled workers, the findings underline the importance of maintaining alignment between job titles, responsibilities, compensation and genuine career progression.
