Most people take the CAT exam primarily for IIM placements. Information regarding IIM placements is presented through three key metrics that you should be aware of: Average CTC (the average salary of the entire batch), Median CTC (the middle value, which often provides a more accurate picture than the average), and Highest CTC (exceptional or top-tier offers).
Placement figures at top-tier IIMs are impressive; average packages range between ₹32 LPA and ₹36 LPA, while the best domestic and international packages cross the ₹1 crore mark.
For recent batches, the average salary stood at approximately ₹36 lakh at IIM Calcutta, ₹35.35 lakh at IIM Bangalore, and ₹33 lakh at IIM Lucknow. However, interpret these figures with caution: no two IIMs report placement data in the exact same way, and a high average can sometimes mask significant disparities in salary distribution.
There is a significant disparity in the recently released IIM placement figures. The average package for IIM Calcutta’s 61st batch stood at ₹36.00 lakh, whereas the average package for IIM Sirmaur’s 2024-25 batch was ₹13.30 lakh, meaning there is a nearly three-times difference between the two IIMs.
This is a reality of the Indian MBA landscape. The “IIM brand” is quite complex, and there are three main structural reasons behind the vast disparities in average placement figures: the age of the campus (established vs. new), the recruiter network, and the student profile.
So, which IIMs actually offer the highest salaries, and how should you interpret these figures before relying on them? This CMI Times report consolidates official placement data for all IIMs, sourced directly from the institutes’ official placement reports.
IIM Placement 2026:
Based on the latest official reporting for the 2026 placement season, here is the comprehensive breakdown comparing the salary structures across the top Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The elite BLACKI group (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore) continues to command the highest industry packages. The table below outlines the officially reported Highest, Average, and Median CTCs (in Lakhs Per Annum – LPA).
| IIM Campus | Highest Package | Average Package | Median Package | Compare College |
| IIM Ahmedabad | INR 81.60 LPA (Audited Domestic) | INR 36.98 LPA | INR 37.00 LPA | Compare Now |
| IIM Bangalore | Not Available | INR 35.35 LPA | INR 34.75 LPA | Compare Now |
| IIM Calcutta | INR 145.00 LPA | INR 36.00 LPA | INR 35.00 LPA | Compare Now |
| IIM Lucknow | INR 100.00 LPA | INR 33.20 LPA | INR 32.90 LPA | Compare Now |
| IIM Indore | INR 82.50 LPA | INR 27.30 LPA | INR 25.00 LPA | Compare Now |
| IIM Shillong | INR 71.50 LPA | INR 27.30 LPA | INR 26.00 LPA | Compare Now |
| IIM Rohtak | INR 37.10 LPA | INR 20.03 LPA | INR 18.00 LPA | Compare Now |
| IIM Ranchi | INR 52.50 LPA | INR 19.26 LPA | INR 18.00 LPA | Compare Now |
| IIM Tirchirappali | INR44.98 LPA | INR 18.00 LPA | INR 16.75 LPA | Compare Now |
Important Note: Several campuses, such as IIM Kozhikode, IIM Mumbai, and many of the newer IIMs, have so far released only partial audited data for the Class of 2026. Therefore, we will update our portal once they release their final placement reports.
Also Read: Prestige vs. Purpose: How Students Are Rethinking College Choice Today
