Aeronautical Engineering Career Guide: Roles, Salary 2025 & Future Scope

Akansha BishtSenior Executive
Aeronautical engineers use their artistic skills to design and build airplanes that take people places and curate every step for a successful flight defying gravity. At the forefront of this technology lies an impeccable science of Aeronautical Engineering in India driving students towards learning design, construction, and maintenance of aircraft and other missile systems.
The primary job of an Aeronautical Engineer is to devise aircraft and propulsion systems, but with time, the engineer is given many more responsibilities to carry out, such as testing aircraft systems and their maintenance. Aeronautical Engineering career in India can prove to be extremely promising for students after they complete their Aeronautical Engineering course.
Popular Aeronautical Engineering jobs for freshers include Aerodynamics Engineer, Avionics Engineer, Propulsion Engineer, Flight Test Engineer, Missile Systems Engineer, Aeronautical Research Scientist, etc. There are a plethora of job opportunities for aeronautical engineers in India with decent salary packages being offered by top recruiters in the country. The average Aeronautical Engineering salary in India is approximately INR 11 LPA, which varies on the basis of experience, skill set, and academic qualification.
Relevant Links for Aeronautical Engineering Career in India:
Aeronautical Engineering Salary in India vs Worldwide
Top Aeronautical Engineering Job Profiles
Aeronautical engineers are experts in creating and maintaining aircraft and aircraft-related technologies to enhance the functioning of the defense and aviation industry. Aeronautical Engineering courses offer a wide range of career options in India. Candidates can seek a career in the government and private sector as well as big MNCs. Aviation and defense are the top sectors that offer rewarding career options to Aeronautical Engineering graduates. Students can go through some of the popular job options along with the average salary figures below:
| Aeronautical Engineering Jobs |
Average Aeronautical Engineering Salary |
|---|---|
| Aerospace | |
| Aerospace Engineer | INR 12.1 LPA |
| Aerodynamics Engineer | INR 9.8 LPA |
| Structural Engineer (Aerospace) | INR 8.2 LPA |
| Flight Test Engineer | INR 4.5 LPA |
| Avionics Engineer | INR 6.7 LPA |
| Propulsion Engineer | INR 7 LPA |
| Defense | |
| Military Aircraft Maintenance Engineer | INR 13.8 LPA |
| Missile Systems Engineer | INR 15 LPA |
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Engineer | INR 12 LPA |
| Airlines | |
| Airline Maintenance Engineer | INR 13.8 LPA |
| Airline Systems Engineer | INR 14.4 LPA |
| Airline Operations Engineer | INR 4 LPA |
| Research & Development | |
| Aeronautical Research Scientist | INR 11.6 LPA |
| Aeronautical Simulation Specialist | INR 12 LPA |
| Aeronautical Composite Materials Engineer | INR 4.2 LPA |
Note- The above salary has been taken from Ambitionbox.com, and hence may vary.
Useful Link for Careers in Engineering:
Why Engineering is Still a Highly Paid Career Stream?
Aeronautical Engineering Scope in India: Jobs, Salary, and Further Education
Aeronautical Engineering courses help students explore many work profiles as mentioned before. Students can also become air traffic controllers and maintenance technicians as they get hands-on experience in aircraft manufacturing, mechanics, and engineering. Aeronautical Engineering being a technical skill requires professionals with keen observation and strong calculative skills. Aeronautical Engineering courses can also be pursued at the postgraduate or doctorate levels, which will help professionals to gain promotions.
Courses after Graduation in Aeronautical Engineering
Students in India with an Aeronautical Engineering degree or even a well-settled job in the aviation sector have various options to advance their professional career and areas of expertise. Following are some of the course options, they may choose after completing Aeronautical Engineering courses at the undergraduate level:
|
Courses |
Course Description |
|---|---|
| MTech in Aeronautical or Aerospace Engineering | A two-year postgraduate level programme where students get exposed to the advanced-level theoretical knowledge and practical aptitude in aircraft and spacecraft design, testing, and maintenance. This could get students placed at a high-paying position across sectors like defense, aviation, and research. |
| PG-Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering | A one-year professional programme for providing detailed information regarding all aircraft-related verticals, including cutting-edge technologies, component manufacturing, maintenance, etc. |
| Specialized Certificate Courses in Aeronautics and Space Science | These specialized short-term courses can lead to advancement in career prospects with enhanced technical expertise and analytical efficiency regarding space technology and aeronautics. Recruiters prefer such professionals, offering them excellent salary packages. |
Aeronautical Engineering Core Industries and Top Recruiters
Nowadays, India is one of the countries in the world with talented and diligent young people who may choose the aeronautical field for their future career progress. Students who have a strong academic record and technical expertise in the field of Aeronautical Engineering are hired by top recruiters in India who are ready to offer handsome salary packages. A few core industries who provide Aeronautical Engineering job opportunities are given below:
|
Core Industries |
|
|---|---|
|
Aircraft Manufacturing |
Missile and Space Systems |
|
Avionics and Electronics |
MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) |
Below are some of the top recruiters from each popular industry:
|
Aircraft Manufacturing |
|
|---|---|
|
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) |
Tata Advanced Systems Limited |
|
Mahindra Aerospace |
Bharat Forge Limited |
|
Missile and Space Systems |
|
|
ISRO |
BrahMos Aerospace |
|
Bharat Dynamics Limited |
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) |
|
Avionics and Electronics |
|
|
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) |
Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) |
|
Tata Power SED |
Godrej Aerospace |
|
MRO |
|
|
Air India Engineering Services Limited |
Tata Airlines Engineering Services Limited |
|
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) |
Indo-Asian Services Limited |
Note: This information is taken from external sites, and hence may vary.
Best Aeronautical Engineering Colleges for Placements in India
|
Aeronautical Engineering Colleges |
Av. Salary (in INR) |
|---|---|
|
INR 12 LPA |
|
|
Dr. Ambedkar Institute Of Technology (AIT), Bangalore Placements |
INR 6 LPA |
|
INR 4.2 - 4.5 LPA |
|
|
INR 6.75 LPA |
|
| Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Hyderabad Placements |
INR 4.5 LPA |
|
INR 8.48 - 8.88 LPA |
Note- The above salary has been taken from external sources, and hence may vary.
Aeronautical Engineering Career FAQs
Q. What is the average salary of an Aeronautical Engineer in India?
A. The average salaries are different based on different experiences, company, location, and specialization. The common salary ranges between INR 4-6 LPA for entry-level jobs, while mid-level professionals can earn INR 8-12 LPA, and senior-level engineers can earn INR 15-25 LPA
Q. What are the job prospects for Aeronautical Engineers in India?
A. Public sector organizations like ISRO, HAL, DRDO, and private companies like Tata Advanced Systems, Mahindra Aerospace, and various airlines and MRO service providers offer jobs in this field where professionals can work at profiles like Aerodynamics Engineer, Avionics Engineer, Propulsion Engineer, Flight Test Engineer, Missile Systems Engineer, Aeronautical Research Scientist, etc.
Q. What are the different specializations in Aeronautical Engineering?
A. Aeronautical engineering offers various specializations:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Aircraft Design
- Aerodynamics
- Propulsion Systems
- Aircraft Structures
- Avionics
Q. What are the different sectors in the Aeronautical Engineering industry?
A. The aeronautical engineering industry comprises several sectors:
- Commercial Aviation
- Defense Aerospace
- Space Exploration
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
- Aviation Support Services
Q. What are the popular Aeronautical Engineering jobs for freshers?
A. Below are some vacancies for Aeronautical Engineers (freshers) in India -
- Aerodynamics
- Structures
- Avionics
- Propulsion
- Flight Mechanics
- Manufacturing
- Maintenance
Q. Are there enough job opportunities for Aeronautical Engineering graduates in India?
A. There are endless job opportunities for Aeronautical Engineering graduates in India as well as abroad in aviation, defense, avionics and electronics, aerospace research and development, etc. If you are passionate about aircraft designing and manufacturing, the aviation business industry is ready to welcome you with open arms given the increasing demand of airplanes and other flight-driven machinery in the country.
The domestic air passenger traffic has seen growth in the last few years, which has forced the airline companies to increase their number of airplanes. The need for defense military aircraft also makes aeronautical engineering a promising career option. So, you need not worry about the career possibilities and job stability after pursuing BTech in Aeronautical Engineering.
Q. Is it better to look for a job after BTech Aeronautical Engineering or pursue MTech in the same field?
A. This is a very subjective question. It completely depends on your interest areas and future career plans. Some might prefer to enter into the job market right after completing their graduation because it gives a sense of financial security at an early age making youngsters like you feel more independent.
Q. Which job profile is better: Aircraft Design Engineer or Avionics Engineer?
A. See, this depends on your personal interest and skills. I think both the profiles are fine and give good working options in the aero. industry with a decent salary. You have to think about your interests and expertise carefully and then come to a conclusion.
Hope you got your answer,
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Student Forum
Answered 3 days ago
Diploma in Aeronautical engineering A 3 year polytechnique degree dealing with aircraft design, manufacturing, operation, and maintenance. It teaches technical information of the aircraft functioning and equips students with aviation related employment.
Eligibility:
After Class 10 study can include st
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
To a student in Maharashtra seeking to pursue Aerospace Engineering in Bangalore, the most optimum place is the R.V. College of Engineering (RVCE). It is also one of the best privately-owned engineering colleges in India and it has a B.E. in Aerospace Engineering with good academic, research, and in
A
Contributor-Level 10
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