Thousands of US-based techies return in 9 months; steep salary cuts await in India
A growing number of Indian technology professionals are returning home from the US due to visa uncertainties and shifting economic policies. While the trend is increasing, returnees often face significant salary cuts compared to their US earnings.
Why it matters
This migration shift could impact the global talent pool and the economic landscape of the Indian technology sector as the net flow of skilled workers changes.
Thousands of US-based Indian techies are returning to India to a job market that does not offer similar salary levels. But, the number of such returnees is increasing as visa uncertainties weigh under the Donald Trump administration.As the number of technology professionals returning from the US continues to rise, India could be heading towards a reversal in the movement of talent between the two countries.Between January and September 2026, around 12,700 white-collar technology workers returned to India, according to data sourced from staffing firm Xpheno by ET. The tally is already approaching the record 15,100 returnees recorded in the whole of 2025, and is expected to surpass that figure by the end of this year.Indian techies return from the USThe increase has been consistent over the past few years.
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