According to data from Xpheno, 12,900 professionals have returned to India in 2026 so far, with 15,100 techies returning in the entire 2025. Meanwhile, the number of Indians moving to the US has declined significantly, with only 14,800 moving in 2026 compared to 21,200 in 2025. As reported by The Times of India, this trend is expected to continue as US immigration policies remain uncertain and India's technology ecosystem grows. Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno, predicts this could mark the first net positive year on the India-US talent corridor, where India gains more tech talent than it loses to the US. The trend represents a gradual rebalancing, with India becoming an increasingly attractive destination for experienced technology professionals, as noted by Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital.
Returning professionals face a stark salary reality, with Indian packages significantly lower than US equivalents. According to Xpheno data, a Full Stack engineer on H-1B in the US earns $105,000 annually (₹1 crore equivalent), while the same role in India pays ₹19-30 lakh annually for the top 1% by skill level. Karanth explains that returnees at the top 1% level would have to accept offers at 1/3 or 1/4th their US equivalent value. However, Neeti Sharma notes that specialized technology roles in AI, cloud, and cybersecurity command significant premiums, with GCC entry-level salaries ranging from ₹6-12 lakh annually and senior positions reaching ₹45-90 lakh annually. The friction point often lies in steep package expectations that returning talent brings from the US, as employers in India no longer bend backwards to match overseas packages. At an enterprise level, conscious efforts are deployed to maintain parity in packages at role, location and experience level, with no special top-up packages offered purely on geographic exposure anymore.
Returning professionals are securing roles across various technology segments, with Xpheno identifying software engineers, senior software engineers, project managers, data engineers, data analysts, technical architects, consultants, full stack engineers, and DevOps specialists as top positions. According to TeamLease Digital, nearly 2,500 senior returnees have been absorbed within the GCC segment, with 44% of GCCs now having ownership of platforms, products, AI adoption and business-critical functions. Neeti Sharma emphasizes that companies are increasingly giving professionals responsibility to build products, own platforms and drive technology decisions, offering opportunities that may not have been available in specialized US roles. In India, particularly in GCCs, professionals are getting larger responsibilities and end-to-end ownership outcomes, moving beyond specialized roles within larger global teams in the US. This is changing the nature of technology jobs in India, with companies looking for specific skills and relevant experience, not just international exposure.
The trend represents a positive development for India's IT sector, bringing experienced talent exposed to global markets and advanced technology frameworks. As reported by The Times of India, this addition of experienced talent with global outlook and elevated capabilities can move enterprise services further up the value chain. Such returnee talent often brings expertise in new and emerging tech stacks and frameworks that can enhance India's technology capabilities. However, the return of experienced professionals will intensify competition for existing talent in India, particularly at mid and senior levels. Karanth notes that returnees available on local packages are strong competition as their profile offers more value per dollar on ROI terms, while Neeti Sharma adds that the need to continuously upgrade skills will become even more important for India's technology workforce. The market is selective, with companies focusing on AI, cloud, product engineering and cybersecurity areas where demand is particularly strong.
