Which industries in India and which jobs in the US are expected to see the biggest pay rises in 2026, what is driving them, and how to position yourself for a raise.
In India, salaries are projected to rise by an average of 9.1% in 2026, with real estate and infrastructure (10.2%), NBFCs (10.1%) and automotive manufacturing (9.9%) leading, according to Aon's annual salary survey of more than 1,400 companies. In the US, healthcare and specialised tech and engineering roles show the fastest-growing pay among well-paid jobs, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.
Pay rises are not spread evenly. They follow demand: industries that are growing fast or struggling to find skilled people pay more to hire and keep them. Here is where the money is moving, and what it means for your career.
- 9.1% Average salary increase projected for 2026
- 8.9% Actual average increase in 2025
- 16.2% Attrition in 2025, down from 17.7% in 2024
Source: Aon Annual Salary Increase and Turnover Survey, India (Feb 2026)
Industries in India with the highest projected salary hikes
Projected salary increase in India, 2026- Real estate / infrastructure: 10.2%
- NBFCs: 10.1%
- Automotive manufacturing: 9.9%
- Engineering design services: 9.9%
- Engineering / manufacturing: 9.5%
- Retail: 9.5%
- Energy (oil, gas, power): 9.4%
- Life sciences: 9.4%
- Technology platforms and products: 9.4%
- Global Capability Centres: 9.3%
- India average: 9.1%
- Banking: 8.8%
- E-commerce: 8.8%
- Funds and asset management: 8.5%
- Life insurance: 8.2%
- Technology consulting and services: 6.6%
Source: Aon India salary survey 2025–26
What stands out
- Infrastructure and manufacturing lead. Large public and private investment in roads, housing, energy and factories keeps demand for engineers, project managers and skilled technicians high.
- NBFCs are hiring aggressively for lending, collections, risk and credit roles as consumer and small-business credit grows.
- Product tech pays more than IT services. Technology platform and product companies (9.4%) are projected well above technology consulting and services (6.6%), the lowest on the list.
- Global Capability Centres (9.3%) keep paying above average as multinationals expand engineering, analytics and operations teams in India.
US jobs with the fastest-growing pay
Among well-paid US occupations with growing employment, healthcare dominates the list of fastest-rising salaries, followed by specialised tech, engineering and legal roles. The table shows median pay and projected job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Well-paid US jobs with fast-rising salaries| Job | Median pay (May 2025) | Projected job growth 2025–35 | Typical education |
|---|
| Lawyer | $159,670 | 4.7% | Professional degree |
| Electrical engineer | $120,630 | 9.9% | Bachelor's |
| Data scientist | $120,230 | 35% | Bachelor's |
| Web designer | $104,000 | 6.0% | Bachelor's |
| Architect | $99,280 | 4.3% | Bachelor's |
| Dental hygienist | $98,100 | 8.0% | Associate's |
| Speech-language pathologist | $97,870 | 17% | Master's |
| Registered nurse | $97,550 | 5.6% | Bachelor's |
| Respiratory therapist | $82,280 | 8.5% | Associate's |
| Radiologic technologist | $80,110 | 5.0% | Associate's |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS and Employment Projections), compiled by Resume Genius
Patterns in the US data
- Half the list is healthcare. An ageing population keeps demand for nurses, therapists and technologists high.
- Data scientist stands out for projected job growth (35%), driven by AI and analytics investment.
- Several fast-growing roles need an associate's degree, not a four-year degree: dental hygienist, respiratory therapist and radiologic technologist.
Why some salaries rise faster
What pushes pay up, and what holds it backPushes pay up
- Skills shortages and long hiring times
- Fast-growing industries and new investment
- Specialised, hard-to-learn skills (AI, cloud, risk, clinical)
- High attrition that companies want to reduce
- Roles tied directly to revenue
Holds pay back
- Large supply of candidates with similar skills
- Slower demand from clients or customers
- Work that is easy to automate or outsource
- Falling attrition (fewer people leaving)
- Cost-cutting in the industry
How to position yourself for a bigger raise
From average raise to a strong one- Find the in-demand skills in your field — Read 20 job postings for the role above yours and list the skills that keep appearing.
- Build one of them this quarter — A certification, a project at work or a side project you can show.
- Record your results every month — Revenue, savings, time saved, users helped. Numbers make the case for you.
- Update your resume and LinkedIn — Even if you are not looking. It keeps your market value visible.
- Negotiate with evidence — Bring your results and market data to your review, or test the market with a few applications.
If you are switching to a higher-paying field, lead your resume with transferable skills and results, and tailor it for each role. Our guide on how to tailor your resume to a job description walks through it.
Build my resume: Update your resume with AI, check your ATS score and find jobs matched to your profile.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary increment in India in 2026?
Aon projects an average increase of 9.1% for 2026, up from 8.9% in 2025. Mercer's survey projects a similar median of about 9%.
Which industry will give the highest salary hike in India in 2026?
According to Aon, real estate and infrastructure (10.2%) and NBFCs (10.1%) lead, followed by automotive manufacturing and engineering design services (both 9.9%).
Will IT salaries go up in 2026?
It depends on the segment. Technology platform and product companies are projected at 9.4%, while technology consulting and services companies are at 6.6%, the lowest of the industries Aon surveyed.
How can I get a bigger raise?
Build skills that are in short supply, keep a record of your results with numbers, and negotiate with evidence of your impact and of market pay for your role.
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