TCS Engineer Reports Salary Decline Over Five Years Amid Performance Challenges

A TCS software engineer shared on Reddit that his monthly salary decreased from Rs 25,000 in 2020 to Rs 22,800 in 2026. The employee, who graduated from a tier-3 college, focused on government exam preparation rather than IT skill development, resulting in poor performance ratings and placement on a Performance Improvement Plan in 2025. After switching projects internally, his appraisals were halted, affecting salary growth. He also reported challenges in securing new jobs due to his low salary history, highlighting concerns about career stagnation in the IT sector.