Grand titles, modest pay: Survey shows mismatch between designation and salary

Employees sitting at a table. The survey, conducted by Valuvox on behalf of Indeed in May and June 2026, reached 1,211 employers and 2,533 employees representing a mix of industries, organisation sizes, age groups, career stages, and locations across tier 1, tier 2, tier 3 cities, and rural India. | Photo Credit: Illustration for representation only Nearly 6 in 10 professionals in India say their job title does not reflect their compensation, revealing a growing disconnect between recognition and reward in India’s workplaces, according to the latest quarterly hiring tracker of Indeed, a global hiring platform. According to the survey, nearly 80% of professionalsbelieve title inflation, a practice where grand job titles are awarded without a corresponding increase in pay, has become common across industries. Prefer compensation over titleThe survey, conducted by Valuvox on behalf of Indeed in May and June 2026, reached 1,211 employers and 2,533 employees representing a mix of industries, organisation sizes, age groups, career stages, and locations across tier 1, tier 2, tier 3 cities, and rural India. Nearly 1 in 3 professionals, who received a title change over the past two years, says it came with either no salary increase or an increment of less than 5%. Around 52% of professionals said they would choose a higher salary over a better designation when considering a new opportunity. Interestingly, the survey shows that professionals are not dismissing titles altogether. Nearly 70% believe their designation plays an important role in shaping future career opportunities, while almost 73% feel a stronger title improves how potential employers perceive them. Around 57% also say their designation has a significant impact on their overall job satisfaction. According to Indeed, these findings suggest that employees continue to value titles, but increasingly expect them to be backed by meaningful compensation and genuine career progression. A strategic tool for employers Around 57%of employers said their organisation uses senior-sounding or enhanced job titles to some or a great extent to attract or retain talent, signalling that designations are increasingly being used as a strategic talent tool, alongside compensation, especially when salary budgets remain constrained. Employers cite evolving market expectations and changing organisational structures as factors driving the use of more senior titles. The findings suggest that while organisations view titles as one of several ways to recognise talent, employees continue to associate career progression most strongly with financial advancement. “A job title has always carried professional identity. Titles remain meaningful because they signal opportunity and capability, but they are most effective when they reflect genuine career progression rather than becoming a substitute for it. Building that alignment will be increasingly important for organisations looking to attract and retain talent in a competitive market,“ said Sashi Kumar, Managing Director, Indeed India. Published - August 18, 2026 12:10 pm IST