Return to India - Salary Expectations and Negotation
I am moving back to India in the next couple of months after having stayed five years in the US. I have completed my Master’s degree in the United States and I have a total of seven years of experience when it comes to the technology field. I am currently getting a TC of 175k in the US for a mid cap company and they are supportive of me working from India. However, I do not have a clear idea of what salary I should expect when I am negotiating. Will they low-ball me? I understand that there will be a pay-cut, but I am not exactly sure how much. Please suggest some talking points during the negotiations and a practical number that I should expect. I have read about the Big Mac Index and PPP. Help! #india #r2i #salary #negotation #tech
Are you planning to move now or after 5 years?
Also - if you’ve decided to move, join a company that gives RSUs where it’s easier to move internally to india. That way besides the 1/3rd of base you’ll get to keep your RSUs prices for US market. E.g. Amzn, MSFT, google etc.
I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear in my post. I am returning to India now, after having stayed 5 years in the US.
About 40-50 Lakhs in good startups and fast growing companies.
No way. It would be much higher than that.
I am keeping the same company ! It’s a mid-size startup.
That 5 years from now will never come. Don't think too much. Seen thousands of people.
What could be reason for it
I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear in my post. I am returning to India now, after having stayed 5 years in the US.
It sounds like he’s been in the USA for 5 years, not that he will go back to India after 5 years. OP, let us know which one you’re referring to.
I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear in my post. I am returning to India now, after having stayed 5 years in the US.
I think the OP meant he wants to return to India, after "having" stayed 5 years in US.
You’re right. I’ve edited my post for clarity.
Can you specify the reason u want to return? And wd you recommend this route of doing masters and returning later?
- Visa - Family As far as recommending someone else, I don’t think it’s my place since it’s a very personal decision and depends on a lot of factors which change from person to person
Do you regret it? If you didn't want to settle y did you go there if you don't mind me asking? Will help me make my decision.
5 cr
Lol
Market in India is hot right now. Try to interview for a few companies and use it to negotiate with your current company or switch. At 7yoe you can expect 50-70lpa in a lot of startups and tier 1 companies.
That’s helpful! Can you name some startups please?
I have done the US - > India journey, so it comes from my personal experience. Most of it is not too old (less than 2 years), so it still holds. Yes, they would lowball you. Most Indian HR feel as if they are paying you from their daddy's pocket. They would ask your US salary and offer you a TC of 1/3 of your US salary, give and take few percentage. So you can expect something around 30 to 35 lacs of base. Don't take that offer, play slow with the HR, tell you are interviewing with other companies too. Yes, in India you can be very upfront about it. I don't know your skills, but if your initial offer in India is 35 base, you can easily take it to 40 or 45. Obviously, stocks and joining bonus can be additional brownies. Get multiple offers. In India, you have to rely a lot on social network to get calls. So activate your contacts, update your LinkedIn location with Bangalore, India a week before leaving and "Open to Work". By the time, you reach India and take 1 week rest, you would start getting interview calls. Take them slow, even if you would be tempted to take first call and first offer. Play it slow, explore all options. Naukri.com is another option, but I feel you also get lot of irrelevant calls and sometimes even scam calls. So install truecaller for sure if you are not using it. Don't worry what recruiter might think, there might be a good chance recruiter might also leave the company within next 1 or 1.5 years. So even if you fight for higher pay, bid offers - at the end there won't be any bad blood. They might ask you why you came back from US, might judge you, some might ask if you would go back. That might be some not so important side questions, HR or some interviewers might ask.
Thank you so much. This is extremely insightful and detailed. Much appreciate this answer. My employer is actually doing something called as “Employment of Record” with some company in India - so my payroll would still be managed by my company in the US, but I would be an employee of the other entity that registered in India. Not sure if that helps my case to get a higher salary. As for switching to a new job, here’s what I think . R2I is already an intense and exhaustive process - so many changes to get re-adjusted to. So while I adjust to my new life, at least having one thing stable(current job) will be helpful.
The way you get high salary in India is my forwarding your payslips and/or offer letter. When HR/recruiter calls you, yes in India they call first in most cases, they ask for current and expected salary. So recruiters don't really care about arrangement but only want to see payslips or offer 🙂 if they say it exceeds out budget, then say "Not interested then". Not sure if you have looked at R2I Forums. It has some good discussions and stories there. Some of those might come handy for you
To keep it simple try 1/3 of US TC as benchmark, anything above is a Plus
This 30-50% of US Pay is common when you move from US to India at FAANG
Thanks! It’s not a FAANG - it’s a mid size startup