# IIT Grad Quits Rs 13-Lakh Job for AI Master’s, Lands Rs 1.5-Crore AWS Role > Source: > Published: 2026-08-10 11:06:27+00:00 **August 10, 2026**, (Inside AI) — An Indian engineer who quit a **Rs 13-lakh** software job to study artificial intelligence in the United States has landed a **Rs 1.5-crore** role at **Amazon Web Services (AWS)**, a more than tenfold leap that underscores the premium on advanced AI skills in today's labor market. **Sai Venkata Aditya Arepalli** graduated from **IIT Dharwad** in **2022** and joined **Riverbed Technology** in Bengaluru, where he worked for nearly a year. He left in mid-**2023** to enroll in a master's program in artificial intelligence at the **University at Buffalo**, completing it in **February 2025** with a **3.6** grade point average. The career pivot paid off when Arepalli started as a full-time software engineer at **AWS** in **Seattle** in **March 2025**, a position that commands a salary roughly ten times his previous compensation. The details emerged from a post on **X** by user **Vikas Alwys**, which quickly went viral. Arepalli's trajectory reflects a broader global scramble for AI talent. A **2024** report by **McKinsey** projected that demand for AI specialists would outstrip supply by **50%** through **2027**, with top-tier engineers commanding salaries exceeding **$500,000** at major tech firms. His move from a routine software role to a specialized AI position mirrors a trend where professionals are trading job security for intensive upskilling in machine learning and generative AI. During his master's, Arepalli concentrated on certifications, coding, and product building, according to the **X** post. That hands-on focus aligns with industry demands. **LinkedIn** data shows that job postings mentioning "generative AI" surged **36-fold** in **2025** compared to the previous year, with employers prioritizing demonstrable project experience over traditional credentials. ## AI Talent Wars Fuel Historic Salary Spikes Arepalli's compensation, while eye-popping, is not an outlier. **Levels.fyi** data indicates that entry-level AI engineers at **Amazon** in **Seattle** can earn total packages between **$180,000** and **$220,000**, roughly matching the reported **Rs 1.5 crore**. Senior researchers at frontier labs like **OpenAI** and **Anthropic** command packages exceeding **$1 million**. Yet the path Arepalli took carries risks. **Student loan debt** for international master's students in the U.S. often surpasses **$60,000**, and the **H-1B visa** lottery remains a bottleneck. Arepalli's on-site role at **AWS** suggests he secured one of the coveted visas, but thousands of equally qualified graduates are forced to leave the country each year due to caps. The story also highlights the emotional calculus behind such leaps. Arepalli's father, a photographer, told **NewsBytes**: **"As a photographer, I did everything I could for them. Today, my son is taking responsibility for me."** That sentiment resonated widely. One **X** user commented: **"The father's sacrifice makes this story even more powerful."** Another wrote: **"Taking a leap of faith by quitting a stable job to pursue a Master's in AI right before the boom paid off massively. Incredible journey."** Arepalli's leap came just as **OpenAI** launched **ChatGPT** in late **2022**, igniting an investment frenzy that saw global AI spending hit **$200 billion** in **2025**, per **IDC**. His timing, whether by luck or foresight, placed him at the crest of the wave. Critics caution that such anecdotes can distort perceptions. **Dr. Anima Anandkumar**, a **Caltech** professor and former **NVIDIA** director, has warned that AI hype inflates salary expectations unsustainably. Yet for now, the market signals are clear: specialized AI skills command a historic premium, and professionals like Arepalli are cashing in.