Blue-collar salaries in India are rising faster than entry-level white-collar wages, signalling a shift in the labour market, according to a report by WorkIndia.
The report found that average minimum salaries for blue-collar roles grew 8.60% year-on-year to Rs 15,265 in 2025, up from Rs 14,056 in 2024.
In comparison, entry-level white-collar jobs saw a slower increase of 6.75%, reaching Rs 15,756 from Rs 14,760 over the same period.
Operational roles such as delivery, driver, and automobile jobs recorded the highest growth, with salaries rising by up to 16%. Manufacturing roles also saw strong gains of around 11%, reflecting high demand for skilled workers in logistics and mobility sectors. In contrast, administrative and support roles saw relatively modest salary increases amid a larger supply of candidates.
Despite the overall rise in wages, the report highlighted persistent gender disparities. Salaries for male workers increased 8.24% to Rs 16,456, while women’s wages rose 5.67% to Rs 13,863, indicating a continued gap across job categories.
The analysis, based on data from around 18 lakh employers on the platform across 2024 and 2025, also showed that the IT sector continues to offer the highest base salaries, rising 15% to Rs 21,858.
Geographical differences remain significant, with metro cities offering higher average minimum salaries of Rs 17,618 in 2025, compared to lower levels in smaller cities.
WorkIndia co-founder Nilesh Dungarwal said the findings point to a “silent reset” in India’s job market, where demand-driven blue-collar roles are seeing faster wage growth even as gender and skill gaps continue to limit overall parity.