Is Rs 18 LPA at 22 'too low' salary? Young scientist who quit tech job censured for low pay

What is a "good" salary at the start of your career? Is financial progress more important than career satisfaction and future security? These are dilemmas many young professionals face, especially in a setting where private sector pay scales and government benefits afford extremely different career trajectories. A recent case — that of a 22-year-old graduate in engineering who just rejected the private IT industry for a government research job — has reignited this debate, especially after friends informed him that his Rs 18 lakh-a-year offer was "low." 

A Change of Track: From Coding to Research

The young man, a mechanical engineering graduate from a Tier-3 institution in Mumbai, started working with an IT company on a salary of Rs 3.6 lakh per annum. Still, he had his heart fixed on a research job, so he started preparing for the competitive exams held by premier central government research institutes. After clearing the recruitment process, he joined as a Scientific Officer in Mumbai.

His new job has the Rs 18 lakh per annum salary, and all kinds of government benefits — family medical cover, an annual airfare allowance within India, education assistance to children, and a pension scheme guaranteed from April. The job also has stability, non-transferability, and a right over housing in the posh Mumbai areas. 

Surprising Resistance from Friends

Apart from the competitive package and benefits, the young scientist was surprised when some of his friends murmured disappointment, saying that he was shortchanging himself. Most of these friends demonstrated that the IT industry would provide more compensation in the long term, even though most of them received less than half his package.

Their observations left him perplexed, particularly since some of them argued his salary increase would one day lag behind theirs. But statistics he provided indicated otherwise — his colleague who has served in the same organization for 14 years currently takes home about Rs 42 lakh, with future revisions to be done by the pay commissions that are likely to boost this amount by a significant margin.

Reddit Weighs In: The Scientist Is Supported

The post gained much attention on Reddit with the users coming to the scientist's defense. One user mentioned that his new pay compared to his previous Rs 3.6 lakh job must be taken as the real comparison, calling the difference "remarkable" at the age of 22.

Others have claimed that most in the IT sector, with 14–20 years of experience, are uncertain due to fast-paced technological changes and automation threats. The point raised was that constant layoffs are now becoming the new normal, and constant growth in IT is continuously ensured by constant upskilling. A government research job, on the other hand, provides predictability and guarantee.

The Bigger Picture: Perks Beyond Pay

Other Reddit commenters pointed out that compensation by itself is not the whole value of a job. One user explained that the entire package of benefits — from medical care and housing to pension and employment security — makes work as a scientist desirable. Others even discussed how unusual such benefits are in the private sector, where long-term tenure is no longer assured.

Other users were also curious if his friends were judging him due to jealousy or insecurity. They advised him to be cautious of the shift in their attitude since it was from those who were earning much less than him.

In his own reply to the post, the young scientist said that he prioritizes meaningful work and financial security over pursuing numbers. He mentioned requiring sufficient money for occasional overseas vacations with his parents but not at the expense of being satisfied with work or having a work-life balance.

He concurred that his colleagues who are working in IT can receive more pay for a short time, but his present work suits him according to his interest. He also did not plan to move to technical areas such as AI since he did not want to pursue further study.