With double-digit hikes, CEO pay in India stands at 10 crore: Deloitte survey

Short-term incentives or annual bonuses comprise 25 per cent of total CEO compensation and long-term incentives constitute the balance of 35 per cent. Short-term incentives or annual bonuses comprise 25 per cent of total CEO compensation, and long-term incentives constitute 35 per cent. To ensure progress, particularly with respect to strategic targets, organisations are increasing the emphasis on performance on such lead metrics while determining short-term annual bonus payments. India Inc. is also paying lesser bonuses to CXOs for missing financial and strategic targets compared to the year before. The survey points to an increased focus on holistic functional or business performance assessments in short-term incentives, beyond being purely financial, at a CXO level.

With double-digit hikes, CEO pay in India stands at ₹10 crore: Deloitte survey

In the 21st century, one of the most important operational aspects to any large enterprise is their ability to construct, maintain, and upgrade their information technology framework. In organizations that are large enough, these information systems operations are all managed by a high-level executive officer called the chief information officer (CIO). “Apart from the CEO, we observe significant compensation corrections in the legal, risk and compliance functions where absolute compensation has historically lagged other functions”. That may come through in next year’s numbers given the high linkage of CXO compensation with equity prices, Mr Ghose said. The professional network’s annual list of top 25 companies, where professionals have the ability to advance, grow their skills and get external opportunities, saw IT companies dominating.

CEO average pay is ₹10 crore: Deloitte

Most companies continue to use a scorecard approach while assessing CEO and CXO performances, comprising financial and strategic priorities. Approximately 60 per cent of total CXO pay is fixed while the remaining is equally split between short-term and long-term incentives. COOs and CFOs continue to be the highest-paid executive positions after the CEO, with a total compensation nearing ₹4 crore.

CEO Pay Takes A Hit In 2023, Yet Stands At 290 Times Average Workers Salary

The survey also reveals that with CEO and CXO tenures getting shorter and performance expectations and shareholder activism rising, there is more upward pressure on pay and benefits and executive contracts are being heavily negotiated. Top leadership salaries continue to rise, and more companies are now giving share-based long-term incentives as well, finds the latest Deloitte India Executive Performance and Rewards Survey. New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The median compensation for non-promoter or cio salary in india professional CEOs in India now stands at ₹10 crore, up 13 per cent over the previous year, according to the Deloitte India Executive Performance and Rewards Survey 2025. The median compensation for non-promoter or professional CEOs in India now stands at Rs 10 crore, up 13 per cent over the previous year, according to the Deloitte India Executive Performance and Rewards Survey 2025.

• The median compensation for non-promoter or professional CEOs in India now stands at Rs 10 crore, up 13 per cent over the previous year, according to the Deloitte India Executive Performance and Rewards Survey 2025.
• Additionally, there is more scrutiny on new share-based plan approvals than ever witnessed before, with proxy-advisory firms challenging management proposals and influencing voting outcomes.
• The survey also reveals that with CEO and CXO tenures getting shorter and performance expectations and shareholder activism rising, there is more upward pressure on pay and benefits and executive contracts are being heavily negotiated.
• The average compensation for non-promoter or professional CEOs is ₹10 crore, up by 13 per cent compared with the previous year, finds the survey.
• According to the survey, the pay for other CXOs like COOs, CFOs, CHROs, CMOs and CSOs over the last year saw an increase, ranging between 7 to 11 per cent.
• The study reveals that not only more companies are granting share-based long-term incentives now, but also the quantum of pay linked to stock awards and the cost incurred by companies on these plans is rising.

What is the Pay by Experience Level for Chief Information Officer (CIO)s?

• Approximately 60 per cent of total CXO pay is fixed while the remaining is equally split between short-term and long-term incentives.
• COOs and CFOs continue to be the highest-paid executive positions after the CEO, with a total compensation nearing Rs 4 crore.
• New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The median compensation for non-promoter or professional CEOs in India now stands at ₹10 crore, up 13 per cent over the previous year, according to the Deloitte India Executive Performance and Rewards Survey 2025.
• That may come through in next year’s numbers given the high linkage of CXO compensation with equity prices, Mr Ghose said.
• The sixth edition of the Deloitte India Executive Performance and Rewards Survey was launched in September 2024 as an India-specific B2B survey.
• Given the high linkage of CXO compensation with equity prices, it may seem surprising that there appears to be no negative impact on their salaries yet.

Additionally, there is more scrutiny on new share-based plan approvals than ever witnessed before, with proxy-advisory firms challenging management proposals and influencing voting outcomes. The sixth edition of the Deloitte India Executive Performance and Rewards Survey was launched in September 2024 as an India-specific B2B survey. More than 400 organisations participated in the survey, and it did not include any public sector companies, Deloitte India said in a statement. According to the survey, the pay for other CXOs like COOs, CFOs, CHROs, CMOs and CSOs over the last year saw an increase, ranging between 7 to 11 per cent. The pay for other CXOs, such as COOs, CFOs, CHROs, CMOs and CSOs, over the last year also saw an increase, ranging between 7 per cent and 11 per cent.

Average Chief Information Officer (CIO) Salary in India

The study reveals that not only more companies are granting share-based long-term incentives now, but also the quantum of pay linked to stock awards and the cost incurred by companies on these plans is rising. COOs and CFOs continue to be the highest-paid executive positions after the CEO, with a total compensation nearing Rs 4 crore. While the quantum of pay linked to stock awards and the cost incurred by companies on these plans are rising, there is also now more scrutiny on share-based plan approvals. Given the high linkage of CXO compensation with equity prices, it may seem surprising that there appears to be no negative impact on their salaries yet. The average compensation for non-promoter or professional CEOs is ₹10 crore, up by 13 per cent compared with the previous year, finds the survey.