From Rs 1.84 lakh to Rs 75 lakh in 9 years: How a BSc graduate built his tech career

A Reddit user detailed how his pay rose from Rs 1.84 lakh to Rs 75 lakh in nine years through multiple job switches. He was also laid off and faced several challenges along the way, experiences that ultimately prepared him for bigger opportunities.How many years does it take to reach a package of Rs 75 lakh per annum? It is a question many professionals ask themselves. Some dream about reaching that figure for years, some get there after years of hard work, while others never quite reach it.One such story has been making rounds on Reddit, where professionals often share their career experiences, struggles and lessons. A Reddit user recently shared his nine-year career journey, revealing how he went from earning Rs 1.84 lakh per annum at the beginning of his career to securing a package of Rs 75 lakh.What makes the story particularly interesting is that the individual did not come from an elite educational background. He did not hold an engineering degree and was not a graduate of an IIT or another prestigious institution.Instead, he completed a BSc in Mathematics with Computer Applications from what he described as a Tier-3 college. His journey, therefore, offers a glimpse into how skills, job switches, negotiations and timing can shape a career in the technology industry. THE JOURNEY BEGAN WITH A RS 1.84 LAKH SALARYAccording to the Reddit post, the individual started his career through campus placements at a WITCH company. His first annual package was Rs 1.84 lakh.The beginning was far from spectacular. For the first four years, his salary growth remained relatively slow. By the time the Covid-19 pandemic hit, he was earning approximately Rs 4.5 lakh per annum.While the pandemic disrupted the job market for millions of professionals, it also created new opportunities in the technology sector. For the Reddit user, the period became the beginning of a faster phase of career growth.He switched to a Big Four firm and secured a package of Rs 8 lakh per annum.That represented a jump of nearly 78% from his previous salary.FROM RS 8 LAKH TO RS 17.4 LAKHThe next major jump came just a year later.The Reddit user said he was unhappy with the nature of his work and decided to explore the job market again. Rather than accepting the first opportunity that came his way, he pursued multiple offers and used them to negotiate a better package.Eventually, he secured an offer worth Rs 17.4 lakh per annum.The move more than doubled his previous salary of Rs 8 lakh.It was also one of the clearest examples in his journey of how switching jobs and negotiating compensation could significantly accelerate salary growth.The following three years were less dramatic but still important.The Reddit user continued working his way up the corporate ladder while dealing with what he described as a difficult manager. Regular salary hikes gradually pushed his annual compensation to around Rs 30 lakh.But money was not the only factor influencing his career decisions. Eventually, he decided to leave the organisation and join a startup, hoping to find both better compensation and a healthier working environment.The decision paid off financially. His compensation rose to Rs 42.2 lakh per annum.THE LAYOFF THAT CHANGED EVERYTHINGThe biggest twist in his career came after the move to the startup.Roughly a year after joining, the Reddit user was laid off. On paper, losing a job that paid Rs 42.2 lakh per year could have been a major career setback. Instead, he used the period to prepare himself for the next opportunity.Rather than immediately viewing the layoff as the end of his upward trajectory, he used the severance period to sharpen his skills and prepare for interviews.Eventually, he landed another role at a startup. This time, his annual compensation jumped to Rs 75 lakh.That represented an increase of nearly 77% from his previous package of Rs 42.2 lakh.In nine years, his career had gone from Rs 1.84 lakh to Rs 75 lakh per annum.His move from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 17.4 lakh was not simply the result of a routine annual increment. He said he pursued multiple offers and negotiated rather than settling for the first figure offered to him.Losing a Rs 42.2 lakh job could easily have been viewed as a major setback. Instead, the Reddit user treated the period as an opportunity to prepare for his next move.The result was a role paying Rs 75 lakh per annum.A job loss can create uncertainty and financial pressure, but it does not necessarily mean that career growth has come to an end. In this case, the setback eventually became a stepping stone to a significantly higher-paying role.From Rs 1.84 lakh in his first job to Rs 75 lakh after nine years, the Reddit user's journey is ultimately less about one extraordinary salary jump and more about a series of calculated moves.(Disclaimer: This story is based on a social media post. The details, including figures, background, and outcomes, have not been independently verified by India Today. The article is intended for informational purposes only, and readers are advised to exercise their own discretion before drawing conclusions or making decisions based on the content.)- EndsPublished By: Rishab ChauhanPublished On: Aug 17, 2026 18:06 IST