Key Skills & Salary Trends in Healthcare & Pharma for 2025

India’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors have witnessed tremendous growth in the last decade, with cutting-edge technology being widely integrated into operations.

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Currently, the healthcare and pharma industries are valued at a colossal $372 billion and $50 billion, respectively. As one of the largest employers, employing around 7.5 million people, the healthcare sector is undeniably the country’s economic backbone. Amid this competitive landscape, it’s imperative for existing professionals and those aspiring to build a career in the healthcare/pharma industry to upskill themselves regularly. Let’s delve into the skills and salary trends over the past five years in the healthcare and pharma sectors.

Evolving Skillsets

The healthcare and pharmaceutical industries are undergoing profound transformations, led by the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), telemedicine, automation, and data analytics. These innovations are reshaping the workforce, creating demand for roles like data scientists, AI specialists, and platform engineers. A recent report forecasts that these technological shifts will generate 2.7 to 3.5 million new jobs by 2027, even as they replace about 23 per cent of existing positions.

Between 2020 and 2024, salaries for fresher roles in these sectors increased from Rs 1.7 lakh per annum to Rs 2.2 lakh per annum, while lateral roles saw stable compensation levels around Rs 9.9 lakh per annum. Technology-specific roles such as AI engineers, machine learning experts, and data scientists have witnessed higher growth in salaries, with entrylevel positions starting at Rs 9.6 to 10.2 lakh per annum and senior positions commanding over Rs 24 lakh per annum. However, despite a general salary increase of 9-10 per cent annually, disparities remain. Factors like company size, location, and specialisation play crucial roles in determining compensation. Urban hubs like Bengaluru and Hyderabad offer higher salaries, reflecting their status as tech-driven healthcare hubs.