---
title: "Engineering Freshers at HCLTech Start at Rs 4.5 Lakh…"
canonical: "https://www.metaintro.com/blog/hcltech-fresher-salary-4-5-to-18-lakh-elite-engineer"
language: "en"
author: "drashtigarach"
published: "2026-10-01T14:21:54.000Z"
modified: "2026-10-02T19:51:13.163Z"
---

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# Engineering Freshers at HCLTech Start at Rs 4.5 Lakh Outside Four Cities and Rs 18 Lakh in the Elite Cadre

HCLTech engineering freshers start at Rs 4.5 lakh outside four New Vistas cities and Rs 18 lakh in the Elite Engineer cadre. See the AMP tiers and tests.

[![Drashti Garach](https://cdn.metaintro.com/rs:fill:40:40/q:72/plain/images/5719d740-e510-42bc-8017-e040d145f35f_1766029465094.png)Drashti Garach @DrashtiGarach](/blog/author/drashtigarach)

[October 1, 2026](/blog/archive/2026/10)13 min read

![Engineering students working at computers in a campus lab, seen from behind](https://cdn.metaintro.com/rs:fill:1200:675/q:78/plain/images/final-10429.jpg)

[https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=Engineering%20Freshers%20at%20HCLTech%20Start%20at%20Rs%204.5%20Lakh%20Outside%20Four%20Cities%20and%20Rs%2018%20Lakh%20in%20the%20Elite%20Cadre&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fhcltech-fresher-salary-4-5-to-18-lakh-elite-engineer](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=Engineering%20Freshers%20at%20HCLTech%20Start%20at%20Rs%204.5%20Lakh%20Outside%20Four%20Cities%20and%20Rs%2018%20Lakh%20in%20the%20Elite%20Cadre&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fhcltech-fresher-salary-4-5-to-18-lakh-elite-engineer)[http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fhcltech-fresher-salary-4-5-to-18-lakh-elite-engineer](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fhcltech-fresher-salary-4-5-to-18-lakh-elite-engineer)[https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fhcltech-fresher-salary-4-5-to-18-lakh-elite-engineer&title=Engineering%20Freshers%20at%20HCLTech%20Start%20at%20Rs%204.5%20Lakh%20Outside%20Four%20Cities%20and%20Rs%2018%20Lakh%20in%20the%20Elite%20Cadre](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fhcltech-fresher-salary-4-5-to-18-lakh-elite-engineer&title=Engineering%20Freshers%20at%20HCLTech%20Start%20at%20Rs%204.5%20Lakh%20Outside%20Four%20Cities%20and%20Rs%2018%20Lakh%20in%20the%20Elite%20Cadre)[mailto:?subject=Engineering%20Freshers%20at%20HCLTech%20Start%20at%20Rs%204.5%20Lakh%20Outside%20Four%20Cities%20and%20Rs%2018%20Lakh%20in%20the%20Elite%20Cadre&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fhcltech-fresher-salary-4-5-to-18-lakh-elite-engineer](mailto:?subject=Engineering%20Freshers%20at%20HCLTech%20Start%20at%20Rs%204.5%20Lakh%20Outside%20Four%20Cities%20and%20Rs%2018%20Lakh%20in%20the%20Elite%20Cadre&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fhcltech-fresher-salary-4-5-to-18-lakh-elite-engineer)

HCLTech has completed its FY27 fresher hiring after visiting engineering campuses [from July onwards](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070), and the intake is [likely to be similar to FY26, at roughly 11,000](https://www.hrkatha.com/news/hcltech-offers-rs-18-lakh-starting-salary-as-it-steps-up-elite-engineer-hiring/). Engineering freshers on the AMP track start at [₹4.50 LPA, or ₹3.75 LPA in four New Vistas cities](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), while the Elite Engineer cadre for IIT and NIT graduates starts at [Rs 18 lakh a year](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070). For [Metaintro](https://www.metaintro.com) readers who are final-year engineers in India, the useful detail sits on [HCLTech's own campus hiring page](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), which sets out each AMP salary tier, the tests behind it and the marks you need to apply. This guide walks through that page, the company's own hiring numbers and what the pay structure asks of you.

## What Did HCLTech Confirm About This Year's Campus Drive?

The FY27 programme is complete, with the company [likely to hire around 11,000 freshers this fiscal](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070). That is an [expected figure](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070), not a count of open roles.

In the year ended March 2026, HCLTech [added 11,744 freshers](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/documents/investor-reports/hcltech-q4-fy26-investor-release.pdf), with a [total people count of 227,181 and a net addition of 3,761](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/documents/investor-reports/hcltech-q4-fy26-investor-release.pdf) for the year.

Fresher joining [varies by quarter](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/documents/investor-reports/HCLTech_Q1_FY27_Investor_Release.pdf). Across the five quarters in the [Q1 FY27 investor release](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/documents/investor-reports/HCLTech_Q1_FY27_Investor_Release.pdf), fresher additions ran 1,984, then 5,196, then 2,852, then 1,712 and then 1,056 in the latest quarter. Total headcount stood at [223,889 people on June 30, 2026, a decrease of 3,292](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/document/open/call-trans/2026-07/HCLTech-Earnings-Q1-FY27-Transcript.pdf) from the previous quarter, and [attrition stood at 12.7% on an LTM basis](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/document/open/call-trans/2026-07/HCLTech-Earnings-Q1-FY27-Transcript.pdf).

The drive also comes as the IT services industry has [turned cautious on freshers amid macro uncertainty and AI-led productivity gains](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070).

## How Does the AMP Pay Ladder Work for Engineering Graduates?

AMP stands for Ascend, Momentum and Polaris, and HCLTech describes it as [a meritocratic selection process for fresh engineering graduates where it is your skills that decide the salary](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring). The three tiers on [HCLTech's current campus hiring page](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring) are:

- **Ascend.** Every candidate who clears the selection process gets an Ascend offer at [₹4.50 LPA, or ₹3.75 LPA at the New Vistas locations of Lucknow, Nagpur, Vijayawada and Madurai](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).
- **Momentum.** The [top 10% of Ascend candidates](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), based on further skill assessment, can upgrade to Momentum at ₹6.0 LPA.
- **Polaris.** The same top group can instead [upgrade to Polaris at ₹10.0 LPA](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), the highest of the three tiers.

That means the [Rs 4.5 lakh figure](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring) is the floor only outside the four New Vistas cities. If you are offered a role in Lucknow, Nagpur, Vijayawada or Madurai, the Ascend salary on the page is [3.75 LPA](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).

The upgrade from Ascend is [not automatic](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring). Candidates in that top group are [evaluated further through additional interviews, hackathons, or technical tests](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), and their performance and ranking decide whether they move to Momentum or Polaris. Even [the highest-paid Primus tier remains below where the Elite Engineer cadre begins](https://www.hrkatha.com/news/hcltech-offers-rs-18-lakh-starting-salary-as-it-steps-up-elite-engineer-hiring/).

## Who Is Eligible to Apply, and Can Off-Campus Graduates Join?

The engineering track is open to graduates with a [B.E, B.Tech, M.E or M.Tech degree](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), and the AMP section accepts an [engineering degree in any branch](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).

For the four New Vistas locations, the minimum is [65% or above throughout academics (Class 10, Class 12 and graduation)](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring). For all other locations, the bar is [70% or above throughout academics](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).

Off-campus graduates can apply too, since [all fresh engineering graduates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria are eligible for AMP, whether hired on-campus or off-campus](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring). Candidates from non-Primus colleges or off-campus drives must [undergo mandatory pre-joining training and clear a post-training assessment](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), which is designed to help them perform better in evaluations and [potentially upgrade their offer from Ascend to Momentum or Polaris](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).

HCLTech also has [campus tracks for MBA/PGDBM graduates, graduate trainees with a BA, BBA, BCom, BCA, BSc or BPharma, and CA, ICWA, law and PhD candidates](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), but the AMP salary tiers above apply to engineering graduates. For graduate trainees, HCLTech has [partnered with key universities so staff can pursue a Masters (MBA, MTech, MCA) along with the job](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), and it partially funds the course. Management graduates can grow into roles across [Sales, GTM, Business Analyst, Product Manager](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring) and similar functions, while CA, law and PhD hires [work in core areas across Finance, BFSI domain and Research work](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).

## What Tests Decide Which Tier You Land In?

The Ascend test has [three stages](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring):

- **Cognitive test.** Numerical, verbal and reasoning questions over [about 90 minutes](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).
- **Coding or technical test.** This runs for [60 to 90 minutes](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).
- **Versant test.** It checks English speaking and listening, and a [score of 46 to 56 (B1 level)](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring) is required to qualify.

Only candidates who clear the cognitive and coding tests [proceed to the Versant test](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring). Those who clear it [move forward to technical and HR interviews](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).

Candidates from Primus partner colleges are [assessed on cognitive ability, coding and technical skills, and English proficiency, followed by interviews](https://www.hrkatha.com/news/hcltech-offers-rs-18-lakh-starting-salary-as-it-steps-up-elite-engineer-hiring/) before being placed in a tier. Practise all three parts, since [only candidates who clear the cognitive and coding tests reach Versant, and only those who clear Versant reach the interviews](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).

> We are hiring freshers to solve future problems, not current problems, as shared during the AMPlify Your Career session featuring HCLTech's campus hiring leader Prasath Panneerselvam, according to [HCLTech's campus careers blog](https://www.hcltech.com/blogs/amplify-your-career-future-tech-skills).

## What Is the Elite Engineer Cadre, and Who Gets In?

The Elite Engineer cadre sits at [the top of the campus pay scale](https://www.hrkatha.com/news/hcltech-offers-rs-18-lakh-starting-salary-as-it-steps-up-elite-engineer-hiring/). It [comprises graduates from IITs and NITs with skills mapped to frontier technology domains such as semiconductors and silicon, AI, data engineering, physical AI and robotics, and quantum](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070), and the company scaled up hiring under it in FY27.

Salaries for the cadre [start at Rs 18 lakh a year](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070). On the [Q3 FY26 earnings call in January 2026](https://www.thepeoplesboard.com/featured-news/hcltech-pays-elite-freshers-rs-18-lakh-in-skills-based-pivot/), Chief People Officer Ram Sundararajan said the company had earlier shared that the elite cadre would earn 3X to 4X of regular hires, [anywhere between Rs 18 lakhs to 22 lakhs](https://www.thehansindia.com/technology/tech-news/hcltech-bets-big-on-elite-freshers-with-ai-skills-unveils-record-2026-salary-packages-1039193), and one report on that call put the elite group at [15-20% of fresher hires](https://newsfirstprime.com/technology/hcltech-offers-rs-22-lakh-packages-to-elite-freshers-11208832). No updated elite share of fresher hires appears in [the coverage of this year's drive](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070).

Ram Sundararajan has [spoken about increasing the percentage of elite engineers](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070) the company would hire, and said [these elite engineers over the next two to three years should become part of the FDE cohort](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070). In January, the cadre was described as working on [next-generation technology areas such as AI, data engineering, digital engineering, cybersecurity, and enterprise technology platforms](https://www.thehansindia.com/technology/tech-news/hcltech-bets-big-on-elite-freshers-with-ai-skills-unveils-record-2026-salary-packages-1039193).

The Elite Engineer cadre and its selection process do not appear on [HCLTech's campus hiring page](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), so the cadre details above come from news coverage, including [coverage of the January call](https://www.thehansindia.com/technology/tech-news/hcltech-bets-big-on-elite-freshers-with-ai-skills-unveils-record-2026-salary-packages-1039193) and [of this year's drive](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070).

## What Do Primus Partner Colleges Get?

The rest of the intake comes largely through Primus, under which [more than 60 partner engineering colleges receive hiring priority](https://www.hrkatha.com/news/hcltech-offers-rs-18-lakh-starting-salary-as-it-steps-up-elite-engineer-hiring/). HCLTech [expanded its Primus Campus programme](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070) to build a network of select partner engineering colleges.

At Primus campuses, the company integrates [an industry-aligned curriculum to bridge the gap between academics and real-world requirements](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), and students there receive training that better equips them for the AMP assessments. HCLTech also runs [expert mentorship sessions, tech talks and hackathons](https://www.hrkatha.com/news/hcltech-offers-rs-18-lakh-starting-salary-as-it-steps-up-elite-engineer-hiring/) on these campuses and gives guidance on curriculum.

If your college is not a Primus campus, you are still [eligible for AMP if you meet the minimum eligibility criteria](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).

## Which Skills Are Moving Fresher Pay Up?

The domains attached to the top cadre [include semiconductors and silicon, AI, data engineering, physical AI and robotics, and quantum](https://www.hrkatha.com/news/hcltech-offers-rs-18-lakh-starting-salary-as-it-steps-up-elite-engineer-hiring/). HCLTech is [pivoting to a skills-based hiring approach with a focus on emerging technologies that are in demand with clients globally](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070), Chief People Officer Ram Sundararajan said.

HCLTech is also [training existing staff in AI](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/document/open/call-trans/2026-07/HCLTech-Earnings-Q1-FY27-Transcript.pdf). In the quarter to June 2026, [around 24,000 unique employees](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/document/open/call-trans/2026-07/HCLTech-Earnings-Q1-FY27-Transcript.pdf) took part in AI and GenAI learning journeys, and capability building is under way in areas such as [physical AI, the SLM builder role, partner platforms and hyperscaler technologies](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/document/open/call-trans/2026-07/HCLTech-Earnings-Q1-FY27-Transcript.pdf).

AI work is also growing as a business, and [Advanced AI revenue for the quarter stood at $171 million](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/document/open/call-trans/2026-07/HCLTech-Earnings-Q1-FY27-Transcript.pdf), with year-on-year growth of [62.1% in constant currency](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/documents/investor-reports/HCLTech_Q1_FY27_Investor_Release.pdf). Those are company-wide figures, not fresher numbers.

[Demand is increasingly centred on specialised capabilities across AI/ML, cloud, cybersecurity, data engineering and automation](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070), said Varun Sachdeva, SVP and APAC Head at [NLB Services](https://www.nlbservices.com/). [Infosys](https://www.infosys.com/) Group CHRO Shaji Mathew said the company had [expanded opportunities in the Specialist Programmer track, with packages up to Rs 21 lakh](https://www.thehansindia.com/technology/tech-news/hcltech-bets-big-on-elite-freshers-with-ai-skills-unveils-record-2026-salary-packages-1039193), in coverage published in January 2026. At that time, Infosys was also [preparing an off-campus hiring drive for 2025 graduates, with salary packages ranging from Rs 7 lakh to as much as Rs 21 lakh a year](https://www.thehansindia.com/technology/tech-news/hcltech-bets-big-on-elite-freshers-with-ai-skills-unveils-record-2026-salary-packages-1039193), under designations such as [Specialist Programmer and Digital Specialist Engineer, open to graduates from computer science, IT, and select circuit branches](https://www.thehansindia.com/technology/tech-news/hcltech-bets-big-on-elite-freshers-with-ai-skills-unveils-record-2026-salary-packages-1039193).

> The Elite Engineer programme continues to play an important role in our strategy to build future-ready talent, Chief People Officer Ram Sundararajan said, according to [the Deccan Herald report](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070).

## How Can You Prepare for the Upgrade Rounds and Hackathons?

Three statements, I've learned, I've built and I can explain, emerged in HCLTech's AMPlify Your Career session as [a strong indicator of career readiness](https://www.hcltech.com/blogs/amplify-your-career-future-tech-skills), and the session advised that a good resume should simply prove them.

The company also runs [AMPlified, its flagship campus hackathon](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), built to find AI-native talent. Students earn tokens through [daily submissions, weekly challenges, leaderboard performance and prototype-building rounds](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring). Hackathons are also one of the routes HCLTech uses to [evaluate the top Ascend candidates](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring) for an upgrade.

On AI, the advice is that students should become [AI-assisted thinkers, not AI users](https://www.hcltech.com/blogs/amplify-your-career-future-tech-skills), with strong fundamentals and the habit of checking AI-generated outputs. HCLTech's campus blog describes organisations as [increasingly hiring for future potential rather than current expertise](https://www.hcltech.com/blogs/amplify-your-career-future-tech-skills), and the session offered one shift in perspective, [do not prepare only to get an offer letter, prepare to deserve that opportunity after you receive it](https://www.hcltech.com/blogs/amplify-your-career-future-tech-skills).

A meaningful project is [defined by clarity on four questions](https://www.hcltech.com/blogs/amplify-your-career-future-tech-skills), what problem you are solving, how you approached it, what challenges you faced and what you learned. Writing down your answers before a hackathon or an interview round is a simple way to prepare.

If you are still in college, the [Campus Ambassador Program](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring) lets students represent HCLTech on campus and connect peers with opportunities, with industry mentorship and exposure to emerging technologies. The company also hosts [Campus Talks throughout the year](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), where leaders and alumni share placement insights. For college staff, [AIKYAM is HCLTech's forum for Training and Placement Officers](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring) to connect with industry leaders and exchange ideas on emerging skills and hiring trends.

## How Do You Apply and Avoid Fake Offers?

Start from the [HCLTech campus hiring page](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), which has apply buttons for each track.

Watch out for fraud. HCLTech [only sends emails from @hcltech.com and never asks for recruitment fees](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), and it asks candidates to apply through its official careers site. Any offer that asks you to pay, or that comes from a personal email address, is a red flag. Before your first day, know your [workplace rights as a fresher](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/freshers-workplace-rights) as well as the offer terms.

As a Graduate Engineer Trainee, you [gain hands-on experience of the latest technologies and methodologies while being mentored by professionals](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), and you [work with cross-functional teams to solve complex business problems](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring). Graduate Engineer Trainees have the chance to advance to positions such as [Senior Engineer, Technical Lead, Project Manager, and beyond](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).

## What This Means for Engineering Freshers, and What Should You Do Next?

The Elite Engineer cadre hires [IIT and NIT graduates](https://www.hrkatha.com/news/hcltech-offers-rs-18-lakh-starting-salary-as-it-steps-up-elite-engineer-hiring/), while [all fresh engineering graduates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring) can enter AMP, where the [top 10% of Ascend candidates](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring) can upgrade to Momentum or Polaris. That upgrade, [based on further skill assessment, takes an Ascend offer to Momentum at ₹6.0 LPA or Polaris at ₹10.0 LPA](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).

Read the [AMP page](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring) line by line. These steps follow from it:

- **Check your marks first.** Confirm you meet the [70% bar, or 65% for the New Vistas locations](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), across Class 10, Class 12 and graduation.
- **Train for all three test stages.** Practise timed aptitude, coding and spoken English, since you need [46 to 56 on Versant](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring) to move on.
- **Build one project you can explain.** Hackathons and interviews feed the [upgrade to Momentum or Polaris](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), and students who can [confidently articulate their work often stand out](https://www.hcltech.com/blogs/amplify-your-career-future-tech-skills).
- **Pick a frontier skill.** AI, data engineering and semiconductors are among the [domains HCLTech maps to its top cadre](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070), and Infosys has [its own frontier engineer goal for campus hires](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/infosys-6000-frontier-engineers-campus-hiring) as well.
- **Read the location line.** An Ascend offer in a New Vistas city pays [₹3.75 LPA rather than ₹4.50 LPA](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring).

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## People Also Asked

### Q: What is the starting salary for freshers at HCLTech?

A: Engineering freshers in the AMP track start at [₹4.50 LPA in all other locations and ₹3.75 LPA in the four New Vistas cities](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), with upgrades to ₹6.0 LPA or ₹10.0 LPA open to the top 10% after further skill assessment, while the Elite Engineer cadre starts at [Rs 18 lakh a year](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070).

### Q: How many freshers will HCLTech hire this year?

A: The company is [likely to hire around 11,000 freshers this fiscal](https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/hcltech-completes-fy27-campus-drive-will-likely-hire-11000-freshers-salaries-from-rs-18-lakh-4166070), after adding [11,744 freshers in the year to March 2026](https://www.hcltech.com/sites/default/files/documents/investor-reports/hcltech-q4-fy26-investor-release.pdf).

### Q: What is the eligibility for HCLTech's AMP program?

A: You need an engineering degree in any branch and [70% or above throughout academics, or 65% for Lucknow, Nagpur, Vijayawada and Madurai](https://www.hcltech.com/careers/campus-hiring), and both on-campus and off-campus graduates can apply.

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