India has achieved a major milestone in workplace equality. According to the 2025 Deel Compensation Report, the country’s gender pay gap has narrowed significantly, positioning India among the nations with the lowest disparities in pay between men and women.
The report, based on data from over 1 million employment contracts across 150+ countries, highlights that median salaries for men and women in India are now nearly equal, typically ranging between USD 13,000 and USD 23,000.
This marks a notable shift in pay equity and reflects the growing emphasis on transparent, role-based compensation practices across Indian industries.
Key Insights from the Report
- Pay Parity Improves: The median pay gap between men and women in India is now minimal, placing the country among the most equitable globally.
- Data-Driven Insights: The findings are drawn from Deel’s analysis of global contracts and compensation data across 35,000+ companies.
- Sector Variations: While pay equality has improved overall, the gap still persists in certain sectors — particularly in tech and product roles — where men continue to earn slightly more on average.
- Overall Compensation Trends: The report also noted a decline of nearly 40% in median pay for engineering and data roles year-on-year, which could have indirectly influenced the narrowing gap.
- Global Comparison: Countries like the US, Canada, and France continue to show wider pay gaps, while India, Brazil, and the Philippines lead in gender pay equity.
Why the Gap Is Shrinking
Experts attribute this improvement to several interlinked factors:
- Increased Pay Transparency: More organisations are publishing role-based pay structures.
- Standardised Compensation Models: Companies are using market benchmarks and analytics to guide pay decisions.
- Rising Female Workforce Participation: More women are entering roles in management, HR, and technology, leading to balanced representation.
- Performance-Linked Compensation: Merit-based pay models are helping reduce bias in salary negotiations.
The Bigger Picture
While the narrowing gap is a positive sign, it doesn’t necessarily mean gender bias has been eliminated.
India still ranks 131 out of 148 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index 2025, according to the World Economic Forum. The country continues to face challenges in areas such as leadership representation, labour participation, and career progression opportunities for women.
The recent data shows progress — but also reminds policymakers, HR leaders, and organisations that pay parity is only one part of the broader equality equation.
What Organisations Should Focus On Next
To maintain momentum and truly close the gender gap, organisations can:
- Conduct Regular Pay Audits: Analyse salaries by role, level, and gender to identify hidden disparities.
- Standardise Job Levels: Define clear pay bands for each role to prevent negotiation bias.
- Encourage Equal Advancement: Create pathways for women to move into senior and technical positions.
- Ensure Pay Transparency: Open discussions around compensation help build trust and fairness.
- Monitor Progress: Set measurable equality goals and publish results internally to stay accountable.
Looking Ahead
India’s remarkable progress in reducing the gender pay gap demonstrates how policy, awareness, and technology can drive real change.
However, the journey toward full equality continues. Sustained attention to fair pay, equal opportunity, and inclusive workplace culture will ensure that India not only leads in numbers — but in true equity.
