Entry-level IT engineers earning less than company cab drivers? Bengaluru techie's Reddit post sparks heated debate

Time of India

6 hours ago

In India's fast-growing digital economy, careers in software engineering are often seen as prestigious, secure, and financially rewarding. But a recent Reddit post by a Bengaluru-based software engineer has ignited a heated debate about salaries in the tech industry, after he revealed a casual conversation with a cab driver that left him questioning the earnings of entry-level engineers. The post has drawn attention not only to the salary disparity but also to the larger issue of oversupply in India's engineering job market.
Cab Driver's Salary Raises Eyebrows
In his post titled 'When the Cab Driver's Salary Shocks the Engineer in You!', the techie narrated how a routine cab ride turned into a moment of reckoning. During their conversation, the cab driver shared that he previously worked with Amazon as a company-assigned driver before the pandemic. Although he eventually quit due to the rigid grooming standards — which included daily clean-shaven appearances, polished shoes, and ironed shirts — he claimed to have earned between ₹50,000 and ₹60,000 a month, working just two trips a day with Sundays off.
The Reddit user contrasted this with the typical income of entry-level engineers, suggesting that many well-placed freshers in the IT sector don't earn even half that amount. He ended his post urging fellow engineers to evaluate their worth in the current market.
Reddit Users Weigh In
The post quickly gained traction, prompting mixed reactions from users. Some questioned the accuracy of the cab driver's earnings, citing similar claims from gym trainers and other professions that may be exaggerated. One user pointed out how people often inflate income figures to appear more successful than they are. However, the original poster clarified that while some of these stories may be overstated, not all are false.
Another part of the discussion shifted toward entrepreneurship. Several users chimed in about the potential to earn more through business ventures rather than traditional jobs. One participant shared plans to start a street food business with high hygiene standards, citing frustration with existing food vendors' cleanliness levels. Others agreed that entrepreneurship offers more control but acknowledged the difficulty of securing capital and managing personal challenges.
Oversupply of Engineers a Growing Concern
Amid the chatter, one user brought up a more structural issue — the oversupply of engineers in the job market. They argued that the abundance of engineering graduates has led to a depreciation in their market value, which naturally impacts starting salaries. The original poster agreed, acknowledging that despite the skills many engineers bring to the table, the sheer volume of job seekers has created intense competition and suppressed wages.
Job Market Realities
The post has resonated widely, especially among young professionals grappling with the realities of India's job market. While tech careers are often seen as prestigious and stable, the initial compensation doesn't always reflect that image. As some Redditors pointed out, market dynamics and saturation play a crucial role in determining pay scales, regardless of qualifications or effort.
Whether or not the cab driver's income was entirely accurate, the broader conversation it sparked sheds light on the shifting perceptions of job worth,
career choices
, and the challenges facing today's workforce. For many, the debate goes beyond cab drivers versus engineers — it's about reevaluating career expectations in an evolving economic landscape.