If you've searched "software engineer salary in India," you've probably noticed something frustrating: every website gives you a different number. One says ₹4.4 lakh. Another says ₹8.8 lakh. A third claims the average is ₹23 lakh. None of them are lying, they're just measuring different things. The real answer is: it depends almost entirely on company type, not just experience. A fresher at an IT services firm and a fresher at a funded product startup can earn 2-3x apart for