Updated for 2026 with the latest CA salary trends, packages, and career insights.

Let’s address the elephant in the room immediately. You’ve likely seen the headlines about the ₹29 LPA package offered in the recent placements and felt a mix of awe and panic. “Am I going to get that?” “If I get the average package, have I failed?” Here is the reality check from the ground: That ₹29 LPA offer is an outlier. For the remaining 98% of Chartered Accountants, the market operates on a different, albeit still very lucrative, logic. Inflation has shifted, the ICAI exam frequency has changed to three times a year, and hiring cycles are evolving. Using the latest data from the ICAI 61st Campus Placement Report and real-time 2026 hiring trends, here is the hard truth about what you can expect to earn this year.

CA Salary in India 2026 Overview

The average range of the chartered accountant salary in India in 2026 is between ₹10 to ₹14 LPA for freshers. Now there are some exceptions, like if you are a rank holder, your salary can range from ₹15 to ₹20 LPA, and single-digit rankers can get even higher salaries. It also depends on how many attempts a candidate has taken to clear the CA exam; with fewer attempts, preferably a single attempt, the salary can range much higher. Growth is massive after a few years of experience. With 3 to 5 years of experience, one can get a higher salary, like ₹25 LPA or more.

ICAI 61st Campus Placement Report 2025: Key Highlights

The new 61st Campus Placement Programme by ICAI saw participation from top organisations across India.

• Average package: ₹12.86 LPA

• Highest package: ₹29 LPA (offered by Diageo India)

• Total participating organisations: 204

• Most placements: Audit & Assurance, Taxation, and Financial Planning roles.

Top Hiring Sectors for CAs in 2026

New demands are emerging in the hiring sectors for CAs. The 2026 data shows the top hiring sectors.

Here’s where the demand is right now,

*Note: While the demand is declining, the need for accuracy in Traditional Accounting remains.
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025, shows that job roles in FinTech, Data Analytics, and IT Audit are growing rapidly, while traditional accounting and similar functions are reducing demand.

If you are a fresher as a CA, then you must focus on upskilling towards data and tech, which can make your profile highly in demand.

CA Salary in India – Company Wise in 2026

Data Source: Market trends, Glassdoor, Shiksha and ICAI Placement summaries (2025).

CA Salary Growth Path: Realistic Roadmap

1. Year 1: ₹10–14 LPA → Learn, explore, and understand your domain.
2. Year 2–3: ₹14–20 LPA → Build a niche (Tax Tech, FP&A, FDD).
3. Year 4–8: ₹20–30 LPA → Lead teams and manage clients.
4. Year 10+ or Practice: ₹35–50 LPA → Independent consulting, firm partner, or senior finance roles. Opportunities are many.