Average pay for contractual worker in India’s telecom sector rises to Rs 25,225 a month

New Delhi: The average monthly salary for contractual employees in India’s telecom sector went up from Rs 24,609 in FY22 to Rs 25,225 in FY25, reflecting steady efforts to offer competitive compensation, a report showed on Wednesday.

The Indian telecom industry experienced a moderation in contractual workforce expansion in 2025 while continuing to invest in young talent to support its operational needs, according to the latest data from TeamLease Services.

The data also highlights that professionals in the 18 to 32-year age group continued to form a significant part of the contractual workforce.

The data further reveals that year-on-year growth in contractual roles at the associate level has moderated to 11.9 per cent in fiscal year 2024-25, indicating a more measured approach to workforce expansion.

Attrition levels have remained relatively stable over time, recorded at 50.8 per cent in FY 2021-22 and 50.3 per cent in FY 2024-25.

“The data reflects a steady recalibration in the telecom sector’s workforce strategy. While hiring volumes are becoming more measured, there continues to be a strong emphasis on engaging young, educated professionals who are well-suited for dynamic, customer-facing, and technical roles,” said Kartik Narayan, CEO-Staffing, TeamLease Services.

Tenure analysis suggests that a majority of contractual associates are in the early stages of their careers, with over 60 per cent having less than two years of experience.

This, combined with the age and qualification distribution, reflects the sector’s continued reliance on entry-level professionals, said the report.

Meanwhile, increasing internet adoption and data consumption by rural subscribers are emerging as structural drivers for growth in average revenue per user (ARPU) of Indian telecom companies and to capitalise on the trend, telcos are strengthening rural connectivity, which should help expand their data subscriber base and returns, according to another report.

Over the four calendar years ended December 31, 2024, internet penetration in rural India surged from 59 per cent to 78 per cent, outpacing urban areas, which grew from 77 per cent to 90 per cent, according to a Crisil Ratings report.

—IANS