Viral Post: Techie Earning ₹11 LPA Questions Pay After New Hire Joins at ₹18 LPA, Sparks Debate
Viral Post: Techie Earning ₹11 LPA Questions Pay After New Hire Joins at ₹18 LPA, Sparks Debate
Reddit post sparks debate on pay gaps in IT sector and the value of loyalty versus job-hopping.
A young tech professional has sparked an online debate after revealing that despite strong performance and consistent growth, they earn significantly less than a newly hired colleague with similar experience.
The employee, who joined their company in 2023 through campus placements at ₹8.5 lakh per annum, said their salary increased to ₹11 lakh per annum after two years and a recent promotion. However, they were shocked to learn that a new hire with three years of experience had joined the same team at ₹18 lakh per annum.
“From what I’ve seen over the last four months, he hasn’t contributed a single line to the codebase yet. Honestly, I don’t even know what he does most of the time,” the techie wrote in a now-viral Reddit post.
The poster added that they had been praised in their annual review for “doing great,” showcasing holistic knowledge of the application, solving complex customer tickets, context switching across topics, and even leading workshops. Still, they felt undervalued and questioned whether they were being underpaid simply because they entered as a fresher.
Online Reactions
The post triggered a flood of responses, many acknowledging the unfairness of pay discrepancies in the IT industry.
“Unfortunately this is very common. If you switch companies, you usually end up with a higher pay grade than someone who has stayed on,” one user commented, advising the techie to either negotiate with their manager or start looking for new opportunities.
Another added, “There will always be someone earning more than you. But if you feel undervalued, switching is often the fastest way to get better pay.”
A third user pointed out that compensation often runs in cycles: “You might feel underpaid now, but over time, you could become overpaid compared to newer hires. Still, if money is the priority, switching is the quickest solution.”
The viral discussion has once again highlighted a familiar dilemma in the IT sector—whether loyalty and internal growth can match the financial benefits of job-hopping in a competitive market.
