MBA placement salaries in India vary dramatically by B-school tier, specialization, and the economic environment. Here's the realistic picture for 2026 graduates.
By B-school tier: IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta (IIM-ABC): Median CTC ₹28-35 LPA, top 10% CTC ₹50-80 LPA, highest CTC ₹1 Cr+ (international placements). IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore: Median ₹20-28 LPA. Newer IIMs (Trichy, Ranchi, etc.): Median ₹14-20 LPA. ISB Hyderabad: Median ₹30-35 LPA (2-year PGPM equivalent). XLRI, MDI, FMS: Median ₹22-30 LPA. SP Jain, NITIE, IIFT: Median ₹20-28 LPA. Tier 2 (Symbiosis, NMIMS, Great Lakes): Median ₹10-18 LPA. Tier 3: Median ₹5-10 LPA.
By specialization: Finance: ₹25-40 LPA at top schools (investment banking, PE, VC roles). Consulting: ₹28-45 LPA at top schools (McKinsey, BCG, Bain). Marketing: ₹18-28 LPA (brand management, product marketing). Operations/Supply Chain: ₹16-25 LPA. HR: ₹14-22 LPA. IT/Analytics: ₹20-35 LPA (growing sector for MBA placements).
By industry: Consulting firms pay the highest base (but demanding hours). Investment banking/PE pay well with significant bonuses. FMCG (HUL, P&G) offer moderate base with strong brand value. Tech companies increasingly hire MBAs for product, strategy, and analytics roles. Startup roles may offer lower base but significant equity.
Reality check: Placement statistics reported by B-schools often highlight averages skewed by top packages. The median (50th percentile) is a more realistic expectation than the average. Also, CTC reported often includes performance bonuses, relocation, and one-time joining components that inflate the number.