BENGALURU – Arpit Verma, a user interface designer from Bengaluru, has written a stunning social media post that has resonated with many people. In it, he questions the common belief that a higher wage always leads to a better life. Verma’s essay talks on a trend that is becoming more common among business people, especially in the city’s booming IT sector: the never-ending search for the next financial milestone, even after reaching what was once thought to be a high income.
The Changing Pay Scale in Bengaluru
Verma’s story is an example of how quickly salaries have gone up in the Indian IT business since the pandemic. He and his pals, who all made between ₹12 lakh and ₹15 lakh per year (LPA) in 2020, thought that a salary of ₹25 LPA was the best way to live a pleasant and “lavish” life.
The world has changed a lot in just five years. Verma said that many of his friends have not only made more than ₹25 LPA, but they are now making more than ₹50 LPA. Broader trends in the sector back up this anecdotal information. Since FY21, the median salary for big IT companies like Infosys and Wipro has gone up by as much as 30%. In only three years, the median salary has gone from about ₹7 lakh to ₹10 lakh. Some of the best specialists in industries like AI, cybersecurity, and data science are making well over ₹25 LPA, while senior positions can pay more than ₹50 LPA.
The Unending Chase and the Rising Cost of Living
Verma said that even if salaries have gone up a lot, people are still looking for the “next big milestone LPA.” The quickly rising cost of living in a city like Bengaluru is probably making this problem worse. The cost of basic needs has also gone up a lot, even as salaries have gone up a lot. For instance, the rent for a 1BHK flat in a good area presently ranges from ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 a month. The costs of utilities, groceries, and getting about have also gone up steadily, and gas prices have gone over ₹100 per liter. Even if you make a lot of money, this financial stress can make you feel like you’re always jogging in place.
Verma’s counsel to people who are stuck in this “rat race” is simple yet deep: “Sprint and relax.” Do it again. But remember to take it easy. His tweet makes a very important point that has struck a chord with hundreds of others online: genuine happiness doesn’t come from making more money; it comes from finding a balance between being ambitious and enjoying the moment.