From ₹6 LPA to ₹26 LPA in 2 years: How a tier-3 college techie quadrupled his salary in just 24 months without a CS degree

At a time when news about layoffs in the IT sector often dominates headlines, one young professional has shared an inspiring journey of how he managed to grow his salary from ₹6 lakh per annum to ₹26 lakh in just two years. His story has struck a chord online, especially since he comes from a non-computer science background and graduated from a tier-3 college.

In 2022, during his final year of studies, he began as an intern at an early-stage startup of just 11 members, earning a modest stipend of ₹7,000 per month. By consistently putting in effort and seeking opportunities, he managed to secure a pre-placement offer within a few months. His stipend was soon revised to ₹25,000 per month, and in July 2023, he officially joined the same startup full-time with a package of ₹6 lakh per annum.

Taking complete responsibility for the company’s frontend web applications, he collaborated closely with founders, backend engineers, and designers. This hands-on experience accelerated his learning curve. After a year, he began exploring opportunities outside and landed a ₹10 lakh remote offer, followed by a ₹16 lakh package at a product-based company through a referral. By 2025, his career took another leap as he moved to a well-established startup with a ₹26 lakh base salary.

Interestingly, his success did not rely on flashy projects or extraordinary coding achievements. Instead, he focused on mastering essentials like JavaScript, React, and TypeScript, while demonstrating ownership and accountability in his work. His preparation resources included popular YouTube educators such as Akshay Saini and Roadside Coder, along with platforms like LearnersBucket and GreatFrontend.

He also emphasized the importance of building a strong LinkedIn presence. Rather than applying to multiple companies, he regularly shared learnings, projects, and niche insights on the platform. This visibility attracted HRs directly, helping him secure interviews without applying. His story highlights how consistent effort, upskilling, and personal branding can significantly accelerate career growth, even in today’s uncertain job market.