Going home isn’t worth the pay cut for Indians in the U.S.
One-third won’t take any pay cut, and nearly half would accept only up to a 50% reduction
Blind, the anonymous community app for professionals, has released new survey findings on return intent among Indian professionals working in the United States, alongside insights into compensation expectations and potential housing demand upon return.
Despite the rapid expansion of Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and engineering hubs across India, nearly 60% of respondents say they are not considering a move back within the next 2–3 years, showing that job creation alone is not enough to bring talent back.
When asked how much of a pay cut they would realistically be willing to accept, one-third (33%) say they would not accept any pay cut, effectively ruling out a return to India under current compensation levels. Another 45% say they would accept reductions only up to 50%, indicating that for most, returning is not an option unless compensation remains broadly comparable.
Even among those open to returning, intent remains limited. Only 19% are actively planning or preparing to move, while the majority say they would only consider returning under external pressures such as layoffs or visa uncertainty. This suggests that return migration remains conditional, not opportunity-driven.
Return intent is relatively higher among employees at companies with established India operations. At companies such as Snap, Walmart, Intel, ServiceNow, and Capital One, 62% to 80% of respondents express willingness to return, likely reflecting clearer internal mobility pathways and the presence of local engineering hubs. However, even within this group, willingness to return depends on job continuity and stability. Without clear transfer pathways or role security, relocation remains unlikely.
Despite relatively high earning power among this group, only 41% say they would plan to purchase property within two years of returning, including 25% who would buy immediately and 16% who would buy if prices stabilize. Meanwhile, 33% remain unsure, and a combined 26% say they would either rent or delay purchasing due to high prices, suggesting that any increase in return migration is unlikely to immediately translate into strong housing demand.
Recent discussions on Blind suggest that many Indian professionals succeed despite the system, not because of it.
One user from Adobe wrote, “If India wants to produce the next Surya Midha, the one who builds here, employs here, and compounds wealth here, then the conversation needs to be about ecosystems, not scorecards.” Another user from Microsoft added, “Most Indians succeed not because of India but despite India,” highlighting that improvements in workplace conditions, career growth, and overall professional ecosystems may be just as critical as job creation and corporate investment in India.
Methodology
The survey is based on responses from 2,316 Indian professionals currently working in the United States on Blind, collected between March 10 and March 16, 2026.
The following shows the response breakdown by question:
- Are you considering returning to India in the next 2–3 years?
- Yes, actively planning (19%)
- Yes, but monitoring visa or job conditions first (9%)
- Only if laid off or visa becomes uncertain (14%)
- No (58%)
- If you return to India, how much of a pay cut would you realistically accept?
- None (33%)
- Less than 25% (15%)
- 25–50% (30%)
- 50-70% (11%)
- Over 70% (11%)
- Do you plan to purchase property within 2 years if you return?
- Yes, immediately (25%)
- Yes, but only if prices stabilize (16%)
- No, I would rent (18%)
- No, I would delay buying due to high prices (8%)
- Unsure (33%)
