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IIM Salary Comparison 2026: Have the placements at IIMs improved or are starting to fall behind? 20 IIMs filed their placement data with NIRF for the purpose of NIRF 2026 ranking, and the numbers so filed tell a story that is easy to miss if you just focus on the placement percentages. Across 20 IIMs, placement percentage marginally declined from 99.92% to 99.41%. But the IIM median salary went from Rs. 21.33 LPA in 2022-23 to Rs. 20.60 LPA, then regained strength to Rs. 21.02 LPA in 2024-25; however, it is still 1-2% lower. Meanwhile, seat intake climbed from 7,320 to 8,548 during the same period.
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However, the real story isn’t about average numbers furnished by the 20 IIMs, but the difference in placement outcomes highlighted in the NIRF 2026 data. As per the IIM placement data, IIM Calcutta median salary jumped 1.67% or by Rs. 5 lakhs, from Rs. 30 LPA in 2023-24 to Rs. 35 LPA in 2024-25, while IIM Amritsar median salary dropped from Rs. 15.6 LPA to Rs. 12.29 LPA, a drop of nearly 21% or Rs. 3.31 lakhs.This article will give you a much-needed understanding of the IIM placements that will help you to make informed choices.
The latest data submitted by the 20 IIMs to the National Institute of Ranking Framework (NIRF) highlights a mixed placement trend in the MBA job market. Between the MBA admission cycles of 2022-23 and 2024-25, the total seat intake increased from 7320 to 8548; similarly, the number of graduate students rose from 7180 to 8379.
In addition to the above statistics, overall placed students also saw an increase from 7135 in 2022-23 to 8283 in 2024-25. However, the IIM placement growth rate did not keep up with the batch growth. The average median salary of 20 IIMs dropped from Rs. 21.33 LPA in 2022-23 to Rs. 20.60 LPA, and recovered marginally to Rs. 21.02 LPA in 2024-25.
Top IIMs Salary Reality 2026 ? | NIRF Median Salary & Placement Report | MBA360
The IIM median salary, as highlighted in the latest NIRF data, has stagnated over the last three years, even though some IIMs increased their annual MBA tuition fees, impacting return on investment.
IIM Particulars | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
Intake | 7320 | 7827 | 8548 |
Admitted (1st Year) | 7343 | 7755 | 8551 |
Graduated | 7180 | 7566 | 8379 |
Placed | 7135 | 7501 | 8283 |
Higher Studies | 39 | 44 | 47 |
Placement % | 99.92% | 99.72% | 99.41% |
Placement % Against Graduated | 99.37% | 99.14% | 98.85% |
Placement % Against Admitted | 97.17% | 96.72% | 96.87% |
Median Salary | Rs. 21,33,907 | Rs. 20,60,688 | Rs. 21,02,378 |
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The “IIM” brand should not be treated as a single category, as salary outcomes differ substantially at different IIM campuses. While well-established IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bengaluru, IIM Calcutta, etc, continue to offer IIM median compensation exceeding Rs. 30 LPA, many other new and baby IIMs remain around Rs. 15 LPA, highlighting big differences.
Following this wide gap, candidates are advised to focus on individual institutes rather than looking at the comparable placement records of the IIM ecosystem as one category.
College Name | Median salary 2023-24 | Median salary 2024-25 | Placement % 2024-25 | Diff (2023-24) vs (2024-25) |
IIM Calcutta | Rs. 3000000 | Rs. 3500000 | 100% | +Rs. 500000 |
IIM Ahmedabad | Rs. 3100000 | Rs. 3300000 | 100% | +Rs. 200000 |
IIM Sambalpur | Rs. 1315000 | Rs. 1502692 | 100% | +Rs. 187692 |
IIM Indore | Rs. 2550000 | Rs. 2700000 | 100% | +Rs. 150000 |
IIM Sirmaur | Rs. 1298000 | Rs. 1420000 | 100% | +Rs. 122000 |
IIM Nagpur | Rs. 1600000 | Rs. 1703700 | 100% | +Rs. 103700 |
Rs. 3000000 | Rs. 3100000 | 100% | +Rs. 100000 | |
Rs. 3300000 | Rs. 3400000 | 100% | +Rs. 100000 | |
Rs. 1750000 | Rs.1840000 | 96% | +Rs. 90000 | |
Rs. 1500000 | Rs. 1580000 | 100% | +Rs. 80000 | |
Rs. 2700000 | Rs.2750000 | 100% | +Rs. 50000 | |
Rs. 3250000 | Rs. 3261000 | 100% | +Rs. 11000 | |
Rs. 1800000 | Rs. 1791000 | 100% | -Rs. 9000 | |
Rs. 1810000 | Rs. 1800000 | 96% | -Rs. 10000 | |
IIM Visakhapatnam | Rs. 1550000 | Rs. 1500000 | 98% | -Rs. 50000 |
IIM Kashipur | Rs. 1503084 | Rs. 1446000 | 98% | -Rs. 57084 |
IIM Shillong | Rs. 2567000 | Rs. 2500000 | 100% | -Rs. 67000 |
IIM Bodh Gaya | Rs. 1300001 | Rs. 1212000 | 100% | -Rs. 88001 |
Rs. 1800000 | Rs. 1709802 | 99% | -Rs. 90198 | |
IIM Amritsar | Rs. 1560000 | Rs. 1229000 | 100% | -Rs. 331000 |
Check out which IIMs median salary grew and it declined for which ones.
IIM Showing Increase in Median Salary | |
IIM Calcutta | +Rs. 500000 |
IIM Ahmedabad | +Rs. 200000 |
IIM Sambalpur | +Rs. 187692 |
+Rs. 150000 | |
+Rs. 122000 | |
+Rs. 103700 | |
IIM with Decline in Median Salary | |
IIM Amritsar | -Rs. 331000 |
IIM Udaipur | -Rs. 90198 |
-Rs. 88001 | |
-Rs. 67000 | |
-Rs. 57084 | |
-Rs. 50000 | |
These numbers deserve your attention, as many IIM institutions continue to report 100% placement, but the decline in median salary and other placement statistics significantly impacts the students' career outcomes, where the lowest package can drop as low as Rs. 7-8 LPA in several IIMs. In such a case, placement outcomes and return on investment deserve equal attention, as several IIMs have increased their tuition fees in the recent past.
MBA aspirants, the best in the country, scoring in the 97 to 99 percentile, graduating from an IIM with a median salary ranging between Rs. 12 and 15 LPA, while the tuition fees exceed Rs. 20 lakh, the repayment of the loan could take a significantly longer time. The lower placement outcomes offered by institutions may stretch the financial payback period, which particularly hurts students with education loans.
Students are advised to compare IIMs with leading private colleges like MDI, Gurgaon, SPJIMR, etc, as they outperform many of the new or baby IIMs in terms of placement outcomes. Going beyond the IIM brand and focusing realistically on salary outcomes can genuinely help students get better median salaries compared to what is offered by IIMs in recent years. However, students must keep their options open and analyse colleges individually.
At the end, students are advised to focus on a wider range of elements beyond the IIM brand name amid an increasingly diversified IIM ecosystem. This does not mean IIM placement rate is of no use, but it should be complemented with an analysis of IIM tuition fees, placement outcomes, and a calculation of return on investment to paint a long-term picture.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, several IIMs have recorded a 100% placement rate, but some institutes reported slightly lower rates; for instance, IIM Raipur and IIM Trichy at 96%, IIM Visakhapatnam and IIM Kashipur at 98%, and IIM Udaipur at 99%.
The average median salary at IIMs reported a marginal decline in the NIRF 2026 data. The salary was Rs. 21,33,907 in 2022-23 and it dropped to Rs. 21,02,378 in 2024-25.
Some of the new and baby IIMs like IIM Amritsar, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Kashipur, IIM Sirmaur, and IIM Visakhapatnam had IIM salary under 15 lakh.
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