Indian employees received an average salary hike of 15.1 per cent in 2007, the highest increase across 14 Asia Pacific countries, global human resources services company Hewitt Associates said today.

This year would see a similar increase of around 15.2 per cent, marking the fifth consecutive year of double digit salary growth in India.

However, the salary hikes are expected to gradually decrease and stabilise in the range of 9-10 per cent by 2012.

The 12th annual Asia-Pacific Salary Increase Survey conducted by Hewitt Associates covered more than 550 companies across sectors.

In the last survey done for January-October 2007, India was placed second at 14.8 per cent, next only to Sri Lanka which reported the highest salary increase of 15.3 per cent. According to the latest survey, the average salary hike in Sri Lanka stood at 15 per cent.

Across management levels, junior managers are expected to receive a salary hike of 15.5 per cent this year. This category has recorded the highest salary increase for eight consecutive years.

Sectorally, real estate may witness the highest salary rise at around 25 per cent in 2008, ahead of the retail and telecommunication sector, the survey said. In 2007, this sector had seen a salary rise of 25.2 per cent.

Interestingly, the information technology-enabled services sector would record the lowest pay hike of 14 per cent in 2008, a further dip from 14.1 per cent in 2007, the survey added.

"Salary increases in the technology and outsourcing sectors have stabilised since 2004. Even though they are still among the highest in Asia Pacific, they have been stabilising between 13 to 14 per cent. This is primarily because the salary levels in these two industries are already fairly competitive," Sandeep Chaudhary, India business leader, Hewitt Associates said.