In India, there are about 800 to 1,000 open FDE positions right now, with financial services and banking leading at 24% of demand.
Entry-level pay starts at ₹18 to ₹28 lakh per year and can hit ₹80 lakh for seniors.
But here's the catch: Xpheno estimates a potential talent pool of 2,800 professionals in India and a little over 41,000 globally.
The shortage of qualified FDEs is acute because of a mismatch between academic curriculum and practical knowledge, making these jobs even more valuable.