Aerospace Engineering Career Guide: Roles, Salary & Future Scope

Akansha BishtSenior Executive
To put it concisely, Aerospace, defense, airlines, civil aviation, automobiles, manufacturing, research and development, academia, etc, are some of the areas where you can aspire to work after the completion of a course in this specialization. Some of the top recruiters include Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Mahindra Aerospace, Boeing, ISRO, DRDO, BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., Tata Advanced Systems Ltd., Air India, etc.
Relevant Link for Aerospace Engineering Jobs in India:
Why Engineering is Still a Highly Paid Career Stream?
Aerospace Engineering Jobs in India: Top Profiles
Aerospace Engineering courses after Class 12 can lead to a lot of exciting work opportunities for students in various sectors. They can work with government research organizations, airline companies, multinational aircraft manufacturing companies, the Indian Air Force, space agencies, aeronautical laboratories, and so much more. Some of the most popular Aerospace Engineering jobs for freshers are given in the table below along with the average annual salary packages:
|
Aerospace Engineering Jobs in India |
Average Aerospace Engineering Jobs Salary |
|---|---|
|
Aerospace Engineers |
INR 12.2 LPA |
|
Aeronautical Engineers |
INR 10.5 LPA |
|
Aircraft Engineers |
INR 12 LPA |
|
Propulsion Systems Engineers |
INR 7.8 LPA |
|
Aerodynamics Engineers |
INR 9.5 LPA |
|
Spacecraft Maintenance Engineers |
INR 6 LPA |
|
Flight Test Engineers |
INR 6 LPA |
|
Thermodynamics Engineers |
INR 7 LPA |
Source: Ambitionbox.com.
Useful Link for Aerospace Engineering Jobs:
Aeronautical Engineering Jobs in India
Emerging Trends in Aerospace Engineering Jobs in India
Some popular trends in Aerospace Engineering jobs are mentioned below:
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel: The aerospace industry is making strong moves when it comes to cutting down the carbon footprint and using biofuels for aerospace operational activities. A few research reports reveal that the global sustainable aviation fuel market will reach 16.8 billion US dollars in the next 5 years with a 47.7% CAGR.
- Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace: This emerging trend of additive manufacturing deals with the use of metal 3D-printing techniques for making stronger and more durable alternatives to the aviation equipment and machines, leading to cost reduction and enhanced efficiency.
- Autonomous Flight Systems: Autonomous ground vehicles and drones are already popular in existence; however, the aerospace industry is also involved in research and taking small steps towards single-pilot commercial aircraft and even pilotless aircraft led by automated systems and AI technology. This trend might take some time to come in full swing but will do wonders in the aerospace sector.
- Internet of Things (IoT): The IoT technology helps in the analysis of large amount of data useful for predictive maintenance like identifying aerospace component failures before they actually happen and making timely fixes ensuring passenger safety at all times.
- Electric Propulsion: This leads to a quieter aircraft takeoff and landing with less emissions and reduced costs. Electric propulsion systems also facilitate improvement in the design of aircraft and spacecraft vehicles.
Useful Links for Aerospace Engineering Jobs in India:
Engineering Jobs and Career Scope in India
Aerospace Engineering Jobs in India: Scope, Salary and Further Education
Aerospace Engineering courses after 12th open doors for a plethora of career options to explore in different work sectors such as aerospace and defense, manufacturing, civil aviation, airlines, academia, research and development, etc. The overall career scope of the course is extremely diverse and promising with endless opportunities for growth and skill enhancement. Students can either pursue higher education after their UG-level Aerospace Engineering courses or look for a job in the corporate world.
Courses after Graduation in Aerospace Engineering
Students in India with an Aerospace Engineering degree or even a well-settled job have a lot of options to advance their professional career and areas of expertise. Following are some of the course options, they may choose after completing B.E/ BTech Aerospace Engineering:
- M.E/ MS/ M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering
- M.Tech + PhD in Aerospace Engineering
- Advanced-level Certificate Courses in Aerodynamics, Aerospace Structures, and Avionics
Information source: multiple sites on web (may vary)
Aerospace Engineering Jobs: Core Industries & Top Recruiters
A well-established Aerospace Engineering career path in India can be achieved with the help of laboratory work, industrial visits, and internships that together provide hands-on experience. After graduation, students can apply for jobs in various work sectors. A list of the core recruiting industries along with the top companies, is given below for reference:
| Core Industries for Aerospace Engineering Graduates | |
|---|---|
| Government and Defense | Academia |
| Civil Aviation | Space Agencies |
| Automotive and Manufacturing | Research and Development |
| Private Airline Companies | Aeronautical Laboratories |
Various recruiters hire Aerospace Engineering graduates through placement drives hosted at prestigious engineering universities, as well as through specific walk-ins. The recruiters listed below are given according to the core industry that they belong to:
|
Government & Defense |
|
|---|---|
|
ISRO |
DRDO |
|
HAL |
GTRE |
|
Civil Aviation |
|
|
Airports Authority of India (AAI) |
DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) |
|
Air India |
Indian Airlines |
| Aerospace & Defense | |
|
Tata Advanced Systems |
Mahindra Aerospace |
|
Taneja Aerospace |
Reliance Aerospace |
|
Automotive & Manufacturing |
|
|
Tata Motors |
Mahindra & Mahindra |
|
Ashok Leyland |
Larsen & Toubro |
| IT & Consulting | |
|
TCS |
Infosys |
|
Wipro |
HCL Technologies |
|
Airlines & MRO |
|
|
Indigo Airlines |
SpiceJet |
|
Air India Express |
MRO service providers |
Information source: multiple sites on web (may vary)
Aerospace Engineering Jobs: Best Colleges for Placements in India
The popular colleges for Aerospace Engineering include the top IITs and NITs which are considered as temples of technical education and are popular due to its industrial tie-ups and good placement opportunities. The colleges along with their average placement packages are as follows:
| Aerospace Engineering Colleges | Average Package Offered |
|---|---|
| IIT Bombay - Indian Institute of Technology Placements | INR 17.92 LPA |
| IIT Hyderabad - Indian Institute of Technology Placements | INR 15 LPA - 21.8 LPA |
| IIT Kharagpur - Indian Institute of Technology Placements | INR 21.28 LPA |
| IIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology Placements | INR 12 LPA - 17.5 LPA |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology Placements | INR 6.1 LPA |
| Lovely Professional University Placements | INR 7.07 LPA - 8.1 LPA |
| SASTRA University Placements | INR 5.5 LPA - 7.6 LPA |
| Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra Placements | INR 9 LPA |
| Graphic Era Deemed to be University Placements | INR 7.25 LPA |
Information source: Official website of the institute, and may vary.
Helpful Links for Aerospace Engineering Jobs for Freshers:
IIT Placements – Know Highest Salary Package & Placement Process
NIT Placements – Know Highest Salary Package & Placement Process
- Popular Aerospace Engineering Colleges in India
- Popular Private Aerospace Engineering Colleges in India
- Popular Exams
- Most Popular Courses
- Popular Aerospace Engineering UG Courses
- Popular Aerospace Engineering PG Courses
Popular Aerospace Engineering Colleges in India
#3 India Today
Popular Private Aerospace Engineering Colleges in India
Aerospace Engineering Applications open. Apply Now
Aerospace Engineering Applications open. Apply Now
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Most Popular Courses
Popular Courses
- B.Tech. in Aerospace EngineeringIIT Bombay - Indian Institute of Technology
- B.Tech. in Aerospace EngineeringIIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology
- B.Tech. + M.Tech. in Aerospace EngineeringIIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology
- M.Tech. in Aerospace EngineeringIIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology
- B.Tech. in Aerospace EngineeringSRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur
- B.Tech. in Aerospace EngineeringIIT Kharagpur - Indian Institute of Technology
- B.Tech. in Aerospace EngineeringIIT Kanpur - Indian Institute of Technology
- M.Tech. in Aerospace EngineeringIIT Kanpur - Indian Institute of Technology
- B.Tech. in Mechanical EngineeringIIT Hyderabad - Indian Institute of Technology
- B.E. in Aerospace EngineeringChandigarh University (CU)
Popular Aerospace Engineering UG Courses
UG Courses
- B.E. / B.Tech
84 Colleges
- B.Sc.
1 College
Popular Aerospace Engineering PG Courses
PG Courses
- M.E./M.Tech
45 Colleges
- M.Sc.
5 Colleges
- MBA/PGDM
1 College
- MS
1 College
News & Updates
Student Forum
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, you can. Some colleges offer Diploma and certification courses in Aerospace Engineering that don't require any entrance exam scores. For degree courses, you may need to research a bit about colleges providing admission based on merit.
Know more about -
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
It depends on the level of the course you choose. For example, there'll be application fees, course fees, hostel or mess charges (if applicable), and other expenses.
The average fees in India range from 10,000 to 31 Lacs Rs.
Government Colleges (INR 10,000 - INR 5 Lakh)
Private Colleges (INR 96,000
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
Some of the top colleges for a PhD in Aerospace Engineering in India are here. Take a look
| PhD in Aerospace Engineering Colleges | Course Fees |
|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | INR 6.78 Lakh |
| IIT Kanpur | INR 48,550 |
| Lovely Professional University | INR 3 Lakh |
| Amity University, Noida | INR 3 Lakh |
| Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences | INR 1.2 Lakh |
| Amity University, Mumbai | INR 1.92 Lakh |
Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.
M
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, In fact, many aerospace companies in India and abroad prefer hiring Mechanical Engineers. Because their skills are broader and more versatile. Aerospace is essentially a specialised branch of Mechanical Engineering. To transition, you can pursue a Master's (M.Tech/MS) in Aerospace or simply gai
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, the market has shifted significantly. Opportunities were previously limited to government bodies like ISRO, DRDO, and HAL. Now this sector has opened up. The government introduced a new space policy. There is now a surge in hiring from private players and startups (like Skyroot and Agnikul Cosm
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 5 days ago
The names of the subjects that M.Tech Faculty of Engineering and Technology, MSRUAS offers are mix of the elective, core, subjects atering to advanced research and industry needs. Some of the names of the subjects are:
- Advanced Concrete technology and Modern Construction Techniques
- Resource Managemen
C
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
From the sixth semester of BTech course onwards, students can choose for prodessional core elective subjects. The names of some of the subjects are, Probability and Statistics, Composite Structures, Hypersonic Flow, Unmanned Air Vehicles, Aerospace Structural Dynamics, Data Sciences and Foundation,
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Top Aerospace Engineering colleges in Pune including both private and government colleges. Private colleges have higher tuition fees as compared to government colleges. Listed below is the Aeronautical Engineering colleges in Pune fees structure -
| Fee Structure | Top Colleges |
|---|---|
| Free of cost | UNIPUNE |
| INR < 1 lakh | Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (INR 88,000) |
| INR 1-3 lakh | Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (INR 1.44 lakh) |
| INR 7-10 lakh | Indian Institute for Aeronautical Engineering and Information Technology (INR 9.2 lakh) |
| INR 10-15 lakh | MIT School of Engineering & Science (INR 10.6 lakh) |
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, you can join Aerospace Engineering in Pune without appearing in JEE Main exam by giving alternatives entrance exams like MHT-CET, private college entrance exams like MET, direct admission based on Class 12 PCM merit, or through the national AME CET exam, with colleges like IIAEIT Pune offering
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
For the top Aerospace Engineering colleges in Pune, top colleges are MIT School of Engineering & Science, Indian Institute for Aeronautical Engineering and Information Technology, UNIPUNE, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, etc.
Listed below are the colleges with their tuition fees -
Top Colleges | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
MIT School of Engineering & Science | INR 10.6 lakh |
Indian Institute for Aeronautical Engineering and Information Technology | INR 9.2 lakh |
Source: Of
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
After completing the M.Tech Aerospace Engineering course from IIAEIT Pune, students can find opportunities in public and private Aerospace sectors, roles in aircraft/spacecraft design and manufacturing, research and development positions in defense labs, careers in national and international resear
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Absolutely. The sector is booming with the privatization of the Indian space sector. Companies like Tata Advanced Systems, Godrej Aerospace, and startups like Skyroot are hiring aggressively. Combined with massive projects by ISRO (like Gaganyaan), the demand for skilled engineers in India is at an
Y
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
United States and Switzerland offer the highest packages. In USA, experienced aerospace engineers can earn over USD 140,000 annually. Also, most of universities to study this course are here in USA.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Yes they can! The condition is they need to get Green card first. Organizations like NASA and SpaceX fall under strict US government regulations. Most jobs at these organizations are restricted to US citizens or Green Card holders only.
V
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Yes, there are many affordable Aerospace Engineering colleges in India. SOme of them are mentioned below with tuition fees -
| Affordable Colleges | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Division of Mechanical Sciences, Indian Institute of Sciences Fees | INR 18,000 |
| Ramaiah Institute of Technology Fees | INR 2.99 lakh |
| ACS College of Engineering Fees | INR 1.76 lakh |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Hope the above answer helps you!
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
According to NIRF ranking 2025, IIT Madras consistently ranked as the top Aerospace Engineering college in India followed by other colleges like IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay under "Engineering" category .
Source: Official site and may vary.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, there are many top private Aerospace Engineering colleges in India. Private colleges have good infrastructure and offered great placements. Listed below are the top private Aerospace Engineering colleges in India with fees -
Private Colleges | Total Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
INR 3.2 Lacs - INR 16 lakh | |
INR 3 Lacs – INR 11.2 lakh | |
Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore Admission | INR 16 lakh |
INR 2.16 lakh | |
| Chandigarh University Admission | INR 8.37 Lacs - INR 11.16 lakh |
Source: Official site and may vary.
T
Contributor-Level 10
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