CA Fresher Salary 2026: Highest & Lowest Paying Companies
Aarti .6 Jul, 2026
CA Fresher Salary 2026 is an important topic for newly qualified Chartered Accountants planning their careers after results. ICAIโs Campus Plus Placement drive gives freshers a clear idea of salary packages, top recruiters, regional opportunities, and hiring trends across major Indian cities.
With companies offering different salary tiers, candidates can understand which sectors and locations provide better career growth. The placement data also helps CA freshers compare the highest and lowest paying companies before applying. This explains the latest ICAI campus drive details, salary range, top companies, and key insights for freshers entering the job market.
Key Insights from ICAI Campus Drive
An analysis of the official ICAI placement data reveals several significant trends and figures:
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Total Companies Participating: A total of 92 companies participated in this campus drive.
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Regional Hubs: The drive was conducted across 6 regional hubs in India, specifically the top six cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.
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Minimum CTC (Cost to Company): A minimum CTC of Rs. 9 Lakhs was a mandatory prerequisite for any company to participate.
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Maximum CTC: The highest CTC offered was Rs. 24.7 Lakhs by ITC.
City-wise Placement Opportunities
The distribution of companies and opportunities varied significantly across the regional hubs:
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Mumbai: Hosted the highest number of participating companies, establishing itself as a primary hub for CA freshers.
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Delhi & Bengaluru: Followed Mumbai, featuring an equal number of participating companies.
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Chennai, Kolkata, & Hyderabad: Also included participating companies, albeit fewer compared to the top three cities.
Package Tiers Offered to CA Freshers
Placement packages offered to CA Freshers can generally be categorized into three distinct tiers:
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Base Floor: This represents the minimum package of Rs. 9 Lakhs, a figure set by ICAI as a mandatory requirement for companies joining the campus drive.
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Big Floor: Packages in this tier range from Rs. 10 Lakhs to Rs. 15 Lakhs. Prominent firms such as EY and Anand Rathi typically offer salaries within this range.
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Premium Floor: This tier includes packages above Rs. 15 Lakhs. Companies like ITC, Carborundum Universal (Carboram), and JK Tyres are known for offering these higher-end packages.
Top Packages Offered by Companies
The campus drive featured several high-value offers:
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ITC (Bengaluru): Offered the highest package at Rs. 24.70 Lakhs. This role typically focuses on Finance and Accounts (FPA).
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Carborundum Universal (Chennai): Provided a package of Rs. 23.50 Lakhs. This company, part of the Murugappa Group, specializes in mining and materials.
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Drolia Shipping (Mumbai): Offered Rs. 18 Lakhs.
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JK Tyres (Delhi): Also offered Rs. 18 Lakhs.
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Godrej: A package of Rs. 15 Lakhs.
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S.B. Jhanwar & Co. (CA Firm): Also offered Rs. 15 Lakhs.
The average package observed during this drive typically ranged from Rs. 11 Lakhs to Rs. 12 Lakhs.
Packages Offered by Audit and Consulting Firms
Specific packages from various audit and consulting firms include:
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Anand Rathi (Investment Banking): Offered Rs. 17.80 Lakhs.
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Big Four Firms:
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EY: Offered Rs. 11.90 Lakhs.
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Grant Thornton (GT): Offered Rs. 11.00 Lakhs.
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Other Firms: Companies like Accenture, Storage, and Deloitte typically offered packages around Rs. 10 Lakhs.
Recruitment Process Overview
The recruitment process for CA Freshers generally involves a series of stages designed to assess candidates' skills and suitability:
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Psychometric Test: Evaluates behavioral traits and logical reasoning.
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Written Test: Assesses subject-specific knowledge and expertise.
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Group Discussion (GD): Tests communication and teamwork skills.
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Direct Interview: A one-on-one interaction to evaluate overall fit.
The approach to these stages varied among participating organizations:
|
Recruitment Process Type |
Stages Involved |
Examples of Companies |
|---|---|---|
|
70% of organizations |
Directly proceed to a Direct Interview after initial screening. |
ITC, EY, Anand Rathi |
|
30% of organizations |
Utilize a multi-stage process: Psychometric Test, Written Test, Group Discussion, followed by an interview. |
Indraprastha Cancer Society, Piramal, Arihant (for certain roles) |
Center-wise Package Profile (Detailed)
A detailed look at the highest packages and company participation in major hubs:
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Mumbai: Hosted the maximum of 30 companies, with the highest package reaching Rs. 18 Lakhs.
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Bengaluru: Saw 20 companies participating, offering the highest package of Rs. 24.7 Lakhs (from ITC).
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Delhi: Also had 20 companies participating, with the highest package recorded at Rs. 18 Lakhs.
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Chennai: Included 13 companies, and featured a high package of Rs. 23.5 Lakhs.
CA Fresher Salary 2026 FAQs
What was the minimum CTC mandate for companies participating in the ICAI campus drive?
Which company offered the highest package during the ICAI campus drive, and what was the amount?
How were placement packages categorized for CA Freshers in this drive?
Which city had the highest number of participating companies in the ICAI campus drive?
What are the two main types of recruitment processes observed among participating organizations?
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