NIFT Salary and Job Opportunities in 2026
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Planning a future in fashion and design through NIFT? The article below deals with NIFT salary expectations, freshers’ pay scales, long-term earning potential, placement insights, and top career paths across design, merchandising, and retail leadership. A practical career guide for students.
NIFT Salary and Job Opportunities in 2026
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is India’s leading institution for fashion education. Along with creativity and skills, most aspirants have a common question: What will be my salary after NIFT, and what career opportunities will I get? This guide explains NIFT salary statistics, placement results, job profiles, and career growth across the fashion and lifestyle industries.
Also Check: Career Opportunities after NIFT
- Salary After NIFT: What to Expect
- Salary for Freshers After NIFT
- Career Opportunities After NIFT
- NIFT Placement Salary Trends
- What To Do If You Do Not Get a Job Immediately After NIFT
- Is NIFT Worth It?
Salary After NIFT: What to Expect
Below is a quick overview of the salary potential associated with NIFT graduates across all specializations.
| Category |
Salary Estimate |
|---|---|
| Average salary for NIFT graduates |
Around ₹22.1 LPA |
| Common earning range |
₹16.8 LPA to ₹50 LPA |
| Top 10 percent alumni earnings |
Above ₹35 LPA |
| Top 1 percent high achievers |
Above ₹50 LPA |
Also Check: Scope of Fashion Technology through NIFT
Part A paper of UCEED 2026 exam will be conducted in a computer based mode. So, candidate must know the basics of computer handling to take the exam. Note that advanced knowledge of software and hardware is not needed to take the paper. Note that in the scenario, there is a technical issue during the exam, the candidate may approach the invigilator for assistance. The invigilator will then take remedial steps to fix the problem. If the problem persists, the candidate will be assigned a different computer terminal.
CEED 2026 exam has two sections Part A and Part B. Part A will be conducted in online mode and Part B will be conducted offline. Part A will have three sections, NAT, MCQ and MSQ. Part B will include drawing based questions only. Part A is of 150 marks and Part B is of 100 marks.
Salary for Freshers After NIFT
Most freshers start with practical, hands-on roles in merchandising, production, retail, or creative departments.
| Role Type |
Typical Starting Salary |
|---|---|
| Merchandising or production roles |
₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month |
| Creative design and styling roles |
₹20,000 to ₹30,000 per month |
| Average UG placement package |
₹3 to ₹5 LPA |
Career Opportunities After NIFT
You can choose from a wide range of career paths. NIFT graduates are not limited to fashion design careers only. The expanding retail and lifestyle industries offer vast opportunities.
| Job Profile |
Approx Early Career Salary |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹60,000 per month |
|
| Fashion Illustrator |
₹20,000 to ₹25,000 per month |
| Stylist (Fashion or Celebrity) |
₹25,000 to ₹30,000 per month |
| Fashion Journalist / Media Roles |
₹2.4 to ₹6.4 LPA |
| Fashion Merchandiser |
₹15,000 to ₹45,000 per month |
| Quality Assurance Executive |
₹5 to ₹6 LPA annually |
| Retail or Brand Marketing Roles |
₹3 to ₹7 LPA |
Also Check: BTech in Design: Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Career Scope, and Salary
The allotment of seats will be based on:
- Choice opted at the time of counseling registration (academic programs + campuses)
- The category of the candidate
- Seat intake in the college opted for admission
- NIFT 2026 merit rank of the candidate.
NIFT 2026 seat allotment process will be conducted in four regular and one spot rounds.
The 1st round of seat allotment will be declared around the 3rd week of June 2026. .
The counseling registration will be conducted in May 2026.
NIFT Objection Window opens for two days. For 2026, it was open from February 17, 2026, to February 19, 2026 till 11:50 PM. After this duration, candidates cannot raise objections against the NIFT Answer Key.
NIFT Stage 2 will have Situation Test and Personal Interview.
| Programme | Stage 2 Components |
|---|---|
| B.Des (Bachelor of Design) | Situation Test – Model-making, material handling, creativity, innovation |
| B.Des (NLEA) | Studio Test + Personal Interview |
| B.Des (Artisans) | Artisan Skill Test + Personal Interview |
| B.F.Tech (NLEA) | Technical Ability Test (OMR-based) + Personal Interview |
| PG Programmes (M.Des, M.F.M., M.F.Tech) | Personal Interview |
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NIFT Placement Salary Trends
Placement results differ across specializations and campuses. Here is an overview.
| Program or Category |
Highest Package |
Average Package |
|---|---|---|
| Top UG and PG placements |
Up to ₹20 LPA |
₹4.5 to ₹5.5 LPA |
| General placement range |
₹5 to ₹9 LPA |
₹4 to ₹6 LPA |
- Specialization and market demand
- Portfolio strength and practical skills
- Campus reputation and placement support
- Internships and industry exposure
- Professional networking
- Leadership and business skills
- Experience and achievements over time.
Also Check: NIFT Placements 2026: Highest/Average salary, Participating Companies & Job Roles
| Job Profile | What You Do | Where You May Work |
|---|---|---|
| Fashion / Apparel / Textile Designer | Create garments, textiles, prints and seasonal collections | Fashion houses, design studios, apparel brands, export units |
| Fashion Merchandiser / Buyer / Planner | Coordinate production, plan inventory, manage buyer relationships | Buying houses, retail companies, export and sourcing firms |
| Retail / Store / Brand / Product Manager | Manage brand operations, product lines and store performance | Retail chains, lifestyle brands, e-commerce companies |
| Visual Merchandiser / Stylist / Trend Analyst | Style shoots and shows, design store displays, forecast trends | Retail brands, magazines, styling agencies, visual merchandising firms |
| Production / Sourcing / QA Executive | Oversee manufacturing, sourcing materials, ensure quality | Export houses, textile mills, manufacturing units |
| Fashion Marketing / Communication | Brand promotion, digital campaigns, content and PR | E-commerce, marketing agencies, fashion media, brand teams |
| Entrepreneur / Freelancer | Start a label, boutique, or consult on projects | Independent ventures, small businesses, collaborations |
Top hiring industries include retail fashion brands, export houses, design studios, textile mills, buying agencies, e-commerce platforms and fashion media.
Also Check: NIFT MFM Syllabus 2026: Section-wise Important Topics, Semester-wise Syllabus & Subjects
What To Do If You Do Not Get a Job Immediately After NIFT
Not getting placed right away is common. The steps below are practical ways to build skills, income and visibility while you search for full time roles.
- Freelance or contract work
- Internships or assistant roles
- Go for higher studies or short-term courses.
Quick reminder: your first job is rarely your final career. Starting in a practical role can lead to creative opportunities later as your portfolio and network grow.
Also Check: NIFT Fashion Designing Course 2026: Fees, Syllabus, Admissions, Scope, & Salary
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Is NIFT Worth It?
Even a coin has two sides. The decision lies up to the candidates. We have provided advantages as well as cons to help you make the decision.
Advantages
- Diverse and growing career opportunities
- Strong long-term earning potential
- Industry-level exposure and internships
- Prestigious institute with alumni presence
Challenges
- Freshers may receive modest salaries initially
- Placement success varies by campus
- Competitive industry environment
- Portfolio and exposure matter more than degree
A degree from NIFT can lead to successful careers in design, retail, media, sourcing, and entrepreneurship. While initial salaries may vary, students who build strong skills and a portfolio can experience excellent long-term growth.
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Anshul Jindal completed her Masters in Computer Applications from JIMS, Delhi, and has over 4 years of experience in content writing. Currently at Shiksa, creating content for exams like AILET, MHCET Law, and NLET.
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