Indian techies returning from US face steep salary cuts
Data shows 12,900 professionals have returned to India so far in 2026 amid immigration uncertainty.
According to the Times of India, a significant number of Indian technology professionals are returning from the US due to immigration crackdowns, AI-led layoffs, and uncertainty regarding H-1B visas and green card backlogs.
Data from staffing firm Xpheno suggests that 12,900 professionals have returned to India so far in 2026. This follows 15,100 techies who returned during the whole of 2025.
While 21,200 people moved to the US in 2025, only 14,800 have moved so far in 2026. Xpheno co-founder Kamal Karanth said the returnees count could surpass the count of outbound talent, potentially creating a net positive year for the India-US talent corridor.
However, returnees face a harsh reality regarding compensation. Karanth noted that a Full Stack engineer earning an average of $105,000 in the US might find Indian packages for the top 1 per centile ranging from $20,000 to $32,000.
Karanth added that top talent may have to accept offers at one-third or one-fourth of their US equivalent value. He stated that companies no longer offer special top-up packages purely based on geographic exposure.
TeamLease Digital CEO Neeti Sharma said the movement is a gradual rebalancing. She noted that nearly 44 per cent of GCCs now have ownership of platforms, products, and AI adoption, providing more reasons for professionals to build careers in India.
