# China/India pay scales

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-india-pay-scales/602212>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 7, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-india-pay-scales/602212 "2011-11-07T22:05:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-india-pay-scales/602212/1 "2011-11-07T22:05:56Z")

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I work with software developers who are in Beijing and Pune India. What kind of pay do they make? I know it’s not the same as we make here in the US, but I wonder how low it is.

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-india-pay-scales/602212/2 "2011-11-08T01:41:24Z")

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According to [data from PayScale.com](http://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Software_Engineer_%2F_Developer_%2F_Programmer/Salary), Indian software developers average between 150K–650K rupees per annum, which works out to about US$3K–13K.

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**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-india-pay-scales/602212/3 "2011-11-08T07:54:47Z")

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> [@Kimstu](#):
>
> According to [data from PayScale.com](http://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Software_Engineer_%2F_Developer_%2F_Programmer/Salary), Indian software developers average between 150K–650K rupees per annum, which works out to about US$3K–13K.

Yep. It does go a lot higher than that with experience/skill though. Kimstu’s given you an entry level range. Also keep in mind purchasing power parity. INR 650k p.a translates to a comfortable life in an Indian city, although you will have to keep an eye on your expenses.