Last updated: October 2026 · FY 2026-27 tax rules
₹18 LPA is a senior salary in India, and well past the point where income tax kicks in. Under the new regime you will pay around ₹1.2–1.4 lakh a year in tax at this CTC.
Here is the exact monthly in-hand, how the tax is worked out, and when the old regime is worth a look.
18 LPA in-hand salary: the short answer
- Monthly in-hand (new regime): ₹1,18,134 – ₹1,31,151
- Yearly in-hand: ₹14,17,611 – ₹15,73,807
- Income tax: ₹1,20,699 a year under the new regime
- Gross monthly salary (before PF, tax): ₹1,37,392 – ₹1,44,592
- Assumes: basic pay is 50% of CTC, no variable pay, ₹200 a month professional tax
Why a range and not one number? It depends on how your company calculates PF. If PF is 12% of your full basic pay, you get the lower figure. If PF is capped at the statutory wage limit of ₹15,000 a month (₹1,800 a month from you, ₹1,800 from the company), you get the higher one. Your offer letter or first payslip will tell you which applies.
18 LPA salary breakup: from CTC to in-hand
Here is how a ₹18 lakh CTC turns into money in your bank account. Two parts of CTC never reach your monthly salary: the employer's PF contribution (it goes to your PF account) and gratuity (paid only if you stay 5 years).
| Component (per year) | PF on full basic | PF capped at ₹1,800/month |
|---|---|---|
| CTC (cost to company) | ₹18,00,000 | ₹18,00,000 |
| Basic pay (50% of CTC) | ₹9,00,000 | ₹9,00,000 |
| − Employer PF (goes to your PF account) | −₹1,08,000 | −₹21,600 |
| − Gratuity (4.81% of basic, paid after 5 years) | −₹43,290 | −₹43,290 |
| = Gross salary | ₹16,48,710 | ₹17,35,110 |
| − Employee PF (12%) | −₹1,08,000 | −₹21,600 |
| − Professional tax | −₹2,400 | −₹2,400 |
| − Income tax (new regime, incl. 4% cess) | −₹1,20,699 | −₹1,37,303 |
| = In-hand per year | ₹14,17,611 | ₹15,73,807 |
| = In-hand per month | ₹1,18,134 | ₹1,31,151 |
How the tax works out: taxable salary is ₹16,48,710 minus the ₹75,000 standard deduction, which is ₹15,73,710. That is above ₹12 lakh, so the 87A rebate no longer applies and you pay slab tax: 0% up to ₹4 lakh, 5% to ₹8 lakh, 10% to ₹12 lakh, 15% to ₹16 lakh, 20% to ₹20 lakh, 25% to ₹24 lakh, plus 4% cess. That gives ₹1,20,699 a year.
What your monthly payslip will look like
A typical payslip at this salary, with PF on full basic. Companies split the non-basic part differently, so your HRA and special allowance may not match, but the total and the in-hand will be close.
| Payslip line | Per month |
|---|---|
| Basic pay | ₹75,000 |
| HRA | ₹30,000 |
| Special allowance | ₹32,392 |
| Gross earnings | ₹1,37,392 |
| Employee PF | −₹9,000 |
| Professional tax | −₹200 |
| Income tax (TDS) | −₹10,058 |
| Net pay | ₹1,18,134 |
Old vs new tax regime at 18 LPA
With only ₹1.5 lakh of 80C investments, the old regime leaves you about ₹1,06,838 a month, against ₹1,18,134 in the new regime. The old regime only wins if your total deductions beyond the standard deduction (80C, 80D, HRA exemption, home loan interest) add up to more than about ₹5,84,500 a year. People paying high rent in a metro and claiming HRA are the ones most likely to cross that line. Check yours with our HRA calculator.
Who earns 18 LPA in India?
Software engineers with 4–6 years at product companies, data scientists and data engineers with 3–5 years, product managers early in their careers, and managers in consulting and banking commonly earn around ₹18 LPA.
At large IT services firms, ₹18 LPA is a typical salary at around 5 years of experience.
Average fixed pay reported on Weekday's company salary pages, at 5 years of experience:
- Tech Mahindra: ₹16.69 LPA
- Wipro: ₹17.12 LPA
- Accenture: ₹17.59 LPA
- Capgemini: ₹18.35 LPA
- Zomato: ₹19.89 LPA
Is 18 LPA a good salary?
Yes, it is a high salary by Indian standards. About ₹1.18–1.31 lakh a month in hand is comfortable in any city, with room for rent, an EMI and serious savings.
At this level, salary structure matters. Employer NPS (up to 14% of basic is deductible even in the new regime) can cut your tax noticeably, so ask HR if it is offered.
Moving beyond 18 LPA
From ₹18 to ₹25–30 LPA, companies pay for ownership: leading a product area, mentoring others, or depth in a high-demand skill like data engineering, ML or security. Offers in this band often include ESOPs or RSUs, so compare fixed pay and in-hand first.
Want to see what a hike does to your take-home? Run it through the salary hike calculator, or browse jobs on Weekday paying ₹20 LPA and above.
In-hand salary at other CTCs
| CTC | Monthly in-hand | Yearly tax (new regime) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 LPA | ₹17,632 | ₹0 |
| 3 LPA | ₹21,199 | ₹0 |
| 3.5 LPA | ₹24,765 | ₹0 |
| 4 LPA | ₹28,332 – ₹28,732 | ₹0 |
| 4.5 LPA | ₹31,898 – ₹32,798 | ₹0 |
| 5 LPA | ₹35,465 – ₹36,865 | ₹0 |
| 5.5 LPA | ₹39,031 – ₹40,931 | ₹0 |
| 6 LPA | ₹42,598 – ₹44,998 | ₹0 |
| 6.5 LPA | ₹46,164 – ₹49,064 | ₹0 |
| 7 LPA | ₹49,730 – ₹53,130 | ₹0 |
| 7.5 LPA | ₹53,297 – ₹57,197 | ₹0 |
| 8 LPA | ₹56,863 – ₹61,263 | ₹0 |
| 9 LPA | ₹63,996 – ₹69,396 | ₹0 |
| 10 LPA | ₹71,129 – ₹77,529 | ₹0 |
| 12 LPA | ₹85,395 – ₹93,795 | ₹0 |
| 14 LPA | ₹99,026 – ₹1,04,018 | ₹7,623 |
| 15 LPA | ₹1,00,308 – ₹1,10,819 | ₹77,832 |
| 18 LPA | ₹1,18,134 – ₹1,31,151 | ₹1,20,699 |
| 20 LPA | ₹1,29,339 – ₹1,44,033 | ₹1,57,435 |
| 30 LPA | ₹1,80,693 – ₹2,02,975 | ₹3,97,129 |
For any other number, or to plug in your own basic pay, PF type and city, use the in-hand salary calculator. If you are new to the terms, our guide on CTC vs in-hand salary explains every line of a payslip.
Frequently asked questions
What is the in-hand salary for 18 LPA per month?
Around ₹1,18,134 – ₹1,31,151 a month under the new tax regime, assuming basic pay is 50% of CTC and there is no variable pay. You pay about ₹1,20,699 a year in income tax (₹10,058 a month).
How much tax on 18 LPA?
About ₹1.21 lakh a year under the new regime with PF on full basic (around ₹10,000 a month), or about ₹1.37 lakh if PF is capped.
Is old regime better for 18 LPA?
Only if your deductions are large. See the break-even figure in the old vs new regime section above.
Does variable pay change my 18 LPA in-hand?
Yes. If part of your CTC is a performance bonus, it is paid once or twice a year, not monthly. Take it out of the CTC before you calculate the monthly figure, then expect the bonus as a lump sum (taxed when paid).
Why is my in-hand lower than this?
Common reasons: a lower basic % (PF and gratuity eat more), group health insurance deducted from salary, meal cards or NPS taken from your pay, or a state with different professional tax. Your payslip shows each one.
How we calculated this
All figures use FY 2026-27 rules under the Income-tax Act, 2025, which kept the same slabs as last year: a ₹75,000 standard deduction and full rebate up to ₹12 lakh taxable income in the new regime; a ₹50,000 standard deduction in the old regime; 4% health and education cess. We assume basic pay is 50% of CTC (the new labour codes push most companies to at least 50%), gratuity at 4.81% of basic inside CTC, employee and employer PF at 12%, and ₹2,400 a year professional tax. Your actual numbers depend on your salary structure, so treat these as a close estimate, not a payslip.
