TCS CEO’s ₹7 Lakh Per Hour Salary: Surprisingly the Lowest Among Top Indian IT Chiefs
Introduction
When you hear that a CEO is earning ₹7 lakh per hour, it naturally raises eyebrows. Yet, in the context of India’s multi-billion-dollar IT industry, this figure might not be as jaw-dropping as it seems. Surprisingly, this impressive figure belongs to the CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), K Krithivasan—and even more surprising is that he’s currently the lowest-paid CEO among his counterparts at leading Indian IT firms.
This blog dives into why this matters, what it says about compensation culture in Indian tech companies, and how it impacts the perception of leadership pay equity in one of the country’s most prestigious corporations.
Who is K Krithivasan?
K Krithivasan took over as CEO of TCS in June 2023, succeeding Rajesh Gopinathan. With over three decades of experience at TCS, Krithivasan has long been considered a core part of the company’s leadership. His deep understanding of the organization and strong global exposure made him a natural choice for the top role.
Despite leading India’s largest IT services company, his salary structure reflects TCS’s traditionally moderate approach to executive compensation.
The ₹7 Lakh Per Hour Figure – How Is It Calculated?
Let’s break down the ₹7 lakh per hour statistic in simple terms.
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Total Compensation: ₹26.5 crore (approximate)
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Working Hours Considered: 3,760 (based on a 47-hour work week across 50 weeks)
When this total package is divided by a rough estimate of total working hours in a year, it gives us a figure close to ₹7 lakh per hour.
Sounds extravagant? Let’s put it in perspective.
How Does Krithivasan Compare to His Peers?
While ₹26.5 crore is certainly a large sum by any standard, it pales in comparison to the pay packages of CEOs at other major Indian IT companies.
| Company | CEO | Annual Pay (Approx.) | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCLTech | C Vijayakumar | ₹84 crore | ₹22 lakh/hr |
| Infosys | Salil Parekh | ₹66 crore | ₹17 lakh/hr |
| Wipro | Srinivas Pallia | ₹50 crore | ₹13 lakh/hr |
| TCS | K Krithivasan | ₹26.5 crore | ₹7 lakh/hr |
TCS's CEO earns less than one-third of what HCLTech's CEO does, even though TCS remains the largest and most profitable IT services firm in India.
Why is TCS CEO Paid Less?
There are several potential reasons:
1. Tata Group’s Conservative Pay Philosophy
TCS, part of the broader Tata Group, has long upheld values of moderation, humility, and sustainability. Their compensation structures reflect this ethos, prioritizing long-term value creation over flashy, short-term pay spikes.
2. Focus on Stability and Internal Growth
Krithivasan has been a company insider for over 30 years. Promoting internal candidates often results in less aggressive pay negotiations compared to hiring star talent from outside.
3. Shareholder Optics
With rising scrutiny on income inequality and fair pay ratios, TCS appears to be deliberate in maintaining an image of balance, especially in how executive pay compares to average employee salaries.
What Do TCS Employees Earn in Comparison?
The median salary of a TCS employee is around ₹8 lakh per annum. Krithivasan earns approximately 330 times that amount. While that might sound huge, it’s actually more balanced than the ratios seen in some other companies where the CEO earns over 1,000 times the median employee income.
Why This Matters to the Public
Understanding executive compensation is important for a few reasons:
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Investor Insight: Shareholders and analysts often view CEO pay as a reflection of company priorities.
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Public Perception: In a country like India, where wealth disparities are significant, CEO salaries attract media attention and public scrutiny.
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Employee Morale: Equitable compensation practices affect how employees feel about leadership and the company.
Does Less Pay Mean Less Value?
Absolutely not.
Krithivasan may earn less, but his leadership is expected to deliver consistent results. Under his watch, TCS has continued to focus on digital transformation, AI innovation, and global delivery excellence.
In many ways, TCS’s pay structure is less about how much and more about why. The company seeks to reward sustainably, aligning incentives with long-term goals.
Industry Trends: Skyrocketing CEO Salaries
While TCS maintains a balanced stance, the Indian IT sector at large is seeing a trend toward rapidly increasing executive salaries, especially for leaders managing global operations and facing intense competition.
Many companies now offer:
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Stock options worth crores
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Performance bonuses
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Luxury perks including international travel, housing, and security
This raises questions: How much is too much? And what does this mean for entry-level employees or mid-tier management?
CEO Paychecks: What the Watchdogs and Experts Are Saying
Let’s face it—when CEOs take home crores in annual compensation, it’s bound to raise a few eyebrows. But who keeps an eye on how much is too much? In India, that responsibility partly falls to SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India), which has rolled out disclosure norms requiring companies to be upfront about executive salaries. That’s a solid start—but here’s the twist: there are still no hard caps on how much a CEO can earn.
This gap leaves plenty of room for debate. Corporate governance experts often point out that executive pay should reflect actual performance. If a CEO’s income is soaring while shareholder returns are flat and employee morale is sinking, that’s a red flag. The demand is growing for companies to tie top-level compensation more closely to long-term business health—not just short-term gains.
Now let’s zoom in on TCS.
In contrast to the industry trend of ballooning CEO salaries, TCS seems to be walking a different path. The company’s top leadership compensation, while still significant, appears more grounded. Why? Because it’s backed by results. We’re talking about strong quarterly earnings, dependable dividends, and one of the lowest attrition rates in the sector. In short, TCS seems to reward performance—not just position.
This approach isn’t just refreshing; it’s strategic. By aligning leadership pay with measurable outcomes, TCS reinforces trust among its employees, shareholders, and the public.
Final Thoughts: What TCS’s Pay Structure Tells Us
TCS’s CEO may earn ₹7 lakh per hour, but in the competitive world of Indian IT, that’s actually a statement of restraint, culture, and ethics.
This isn't just about numbers; it's about values.
By maintaining a relatively moderate CEO salary, TCS reinforces its belief in:
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Sustainable leadership
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Internal promotion over external showmanship
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A fairer compensation culture
And in a time when headlines scream about billion-dollar bonuses, that’s a story worth celebrating.
Would You Like to Work at TCS?
If you're an IT professional or a student aspiring to join the tech world, understanding how a company values its leaders and employees can help you make better career choices. TCS is known for:
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Stable career progression
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Strong training programs
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Ethical leadership
And maybe someday, you’ll rise through the ranks just like Krithivasan—and become a CEO who leads with both vision and values.
Tags: TCS CEO salary, Krithivasan, Indian IT companies, executive pay, tech industry India, TCS compensation structure, CEO income comparison