Cognizant will roll out salary hikes for about 80% of employees from November 1.
The increments will cover staff up to the Senior Associate level, with amounts varying by performance ratings and country.
As of June 30, the IT major had 343,800 employees, adding 7,500 in the first half of the year.
Nasdaq-listed IT services company Cognizant Technology Solutions plans to roll out salary hikes for about 80% of its employees starting 1 November. The move aligns with the company’s earlier guidance that merit-based pay hikes would be given in the second half of this year.
According to a company statement released to media outlets, the increases will apply up to, and including, the Senior Associate level. The amount will vary depending on individual performance ratings and the employee’s country.
Cognizant’s total headcount stood at 343,800 as of June 30. The company, which follows a January–December fiscal year, added 7,500 employees in total during the first two quarters of this year.
For consistent highest performers, pay increases will be in the high single digits, while top performers will receive the largest hikes. Reports say Cognizant paid most of its associates their highest bonuses in the last three years for 2025.
Cognizant, which typically begins its annual salary increments on August 1, has delayed the decision this year amid global macroeconomic headwinds, including US President Donald Trump’s tariff measures that have added uncertainty to client technology budgets.
The move mirrors most of its peers, with only TCS rolling out hikes so far. From August 7, a 25% tariff on Indian goods came into effect, followed by an equivalent penalty that will apply from August 27 for purchases of Russian oil and arms.
At the July 31 earnings call, Cognizant Chief Financial Officer Jatin Dalal said, “Given the macro environment and the uncertainty around it, we have not yet taken a decision on salary increases. Our endeavour is to cover a vast majority of our employees during the second half of this year as and when we decide.”
Cognizant plans to hire 15,000–20,000 fresh graduates in 2025. CEO Ravi Kumar S said the latest quarter marked one of the first periods of significant headcount growth, driven largely by fresher recruitment in India.
