PhD Scope: Salary, Job Roles, Career after PhD

Akansha BishtSenior Executive
Thanks to its advanced knowledge and research expertise, PhD career scope is vast in India and around the world. It gives great earning potential and skill enhancement options. After a PhD, you can work in academia, consulting, politics, writing, research and development, government organizations, and entrepreneurship.
University Professor, Policy Analyst, Research Scientist, Product Manager, Senior Consultant, Research Advisor, and Scientific Writer are some top job options you can seek. Continue reading the article in interested in PhD career scope.
Suggested Link-
Career Opportunities after Pursuing PhD: Specializations, Entrance Exams
PhD Jobs in India: Top Profiles
This section discusses some of the popular PhD jobs, both in the government and private sectors, that you can look forward to in India.
Government PhD Jobs
You can find a PhD vacancy in the government sector in the PSUs, MNCs, government departments, politics, and research institutions. This section will show you some of the popular jobs after a PhD that research scholars can opt for in India with the average salary package.
|
Govt Jobs after PhD |
Govt. PhD Jobs Description |
Average PhD Jobs Salary |
|---|---|---|
|
Research Scientist |
Conducts in-depth research on a particular topic to come up with fresh findings via research projects and experiments to contribute to the advancements in society. |
INR 10 LPA |
|
University Professor |
Prepares and delivers insightful lectures to students at the university to impart knowledge and enhance their learning experience. |
INR 15.7 LPA |
|
Research Advisor |
Oversees research projects, providing mentorship to fellow researchers regarding data analysis, insights, and making ethical decisions throughout the research journey. |
INR 5 LPA |
|
Policy Analyst |
Conducts detailed analysis of existing policies using research expertise, assessing their effectiveness and providing valuable inputs for betterment. |
INR 7 LPA |
|
Historian |
Responsible for diving into deep research about historic events, people, and ancient society to interpret the past and shape a better future via informed policy decisions. |
INR 7 LPA |
|
Economist |
Looks after the analysis of economic data to provide assistance in the formulation of economic policies to government organizations. |
INR 16.5 LPA |
Note- The salaries are taken from Ambitionbox.com.
Useful Links for Jobs after PhD in India:
Engineering Jobs and Career Scope
Humanities and Social Science Career Scope
Private PhD Jobs
Many PhD jobs are available in the private sector, specifically in academia, consulting, healthcare, IT, writing, and entrepreneurship, with top recruiters offering healthy salary packages.
You can check the table below to see the popular job options, which you can opt for in India.
|
Private PhD Jobs in India |
Private PhD Jobs Description |
Average PhD Jobs Salary |
|---|---|---|
|
Subject Matter Expert |
Has expert knowledge in a particular subject area and offers guidance of all sorts regarding the same to fill in the knowledge gaps. |
INR 8.8 LPA |
|
Senior Consultant |
Offers expert advice to various organizations to implement effective strategies that can drive more business growth and profitability. |
INR 19 LPA |
|
Product Manager |
Plans and implements product strategies by delving into research and understanding user needs and involving cross-functional collaboration among teams to ensure commercial success. |
INR 22 LPA |
|
Data Analyst |
Leverages their strong research and analytical skills to analyze large datasets and extract meaningful findings to help businesses evolve. |
INR 6.5 LPA |
|
Entrepreneurial Consultant |
Provides assistance and expert guidance to small startups and businesses to enhance their operational functionality and profitability. |
INR 16.7 LPA |
|
Science Writer/Editor |
Research and write articles for professional scientific publications and journals showcasing research expertise and advanced knowledge in the respective field. |
INR 7.8 LPA |
Note- The salaries are taken from Ambitionbox.com.
Relevant Links for PhD Jobs in India:
PhD Jobs: Industry-Wise Top Recruiters
There are many key work sectors that provide jobs after PhD, ensuring students have multiple career paths to explore. Here’s a table below providing the core employment areas where doctorate degree holders can find PhD jobs in India, along with the top recruiters in the respective work sector:
|
Academia |
|
|---|---|
|
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) |
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore |
|
Central Universities (JNU, BHU, UoH, etc.) |
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) |
|
Research & Development |
|
|
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) |
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) |
|
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) |
ISRO & DRDO |
|
Consulting |
|
|
McKinsey & Company India |
Deloitte India |
|
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) |
Infosys Limited |
|
Think Tanks |
|
|
Centre for Policy Research (CPR) |
Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) |
|
World Resources Institute (WRI) India |
Centre for Civil Society (CCS) |
Note- This information is sourced from multiple sources on the web. Hence, is subject to vary.
PhD Jobs: Best Colleges for Placements in India
Prominent colleges in India offer excellent placements and salaries for PhD jobs. With competitive salary packages and career prospects, these colleges are among the best choices for PhD degree holders seeking top placements. Let us have a look at some of the best colleges in India and the average placement packages for PhD students:
|
Name of College |
Average Package Offered |
|---|---|
|
INR 17.92 LPA |
|
|
INR 16.75 LPA |
|
|
INR 6 LPA – 10.8 LPA |
|
|
INR 7.5 LPA |
|
|
INR 6 LPA |
Note- This information is sourced from official website/ media reports/ NIRF website and may vary.
PhD Jobs FAQs
Q. What are the career options after completing a PhD degree?
A. A PhD degree can serve as a ladder to job roles at the senior level demanding research expertise and analytical knowledge, something that the doctoral students are known for. There is a plethora of career options to explore in both government and private sector enterprises across work sectors. Some popular PhD jobs in India are given here for students' reference:
- Research Scientist
- University Professor
- Policy Analyst
- Business Consultant
- Historian
- Economist
- Product Manager
- Scientific Writer
- Subject Matter Expert
Q. What is the average salary after a PhD degree in India?
A. The average salary offered after completion of PhD degree. Generally the salary ranges from Rs. 8-12 LPA. After sometine or with experience, it will increase over time.
Source: External site and may vary.
Q. Which industries hire professionals with a PhD degree?
A. Jobs after PhD can be explored in academia, research and development, politics, consulting, academic writing, government organizations, and entrepreneurship. Top recruiters across varied disciplines look for valuable research knowledge, analytical aptitude, a probelm-solving approach, and the hunger to do wonders while contributing something fresh and innovative to the field with specialized expertise gained over the years of PhD coursework and research projects.
Q. Can you list a few top recruiters for PhD jobs in India?
A. When it comes to making a successful career after PhD, numerous top recruiters can be looked out for in terms of high earning potential and research exposure. You can work in research and development organizations, university settings, PSUs, MNCs, EdTech companies, consulting firms, think tanks, and government agencies. A few top recruiters are given below:
- Academic units like IITs, IIMs, and Central Universities
- Research organizations like ICMR, ICAR, ISRO, DRDO, etc.
- Think tanks like CPR, ICWA, and WRI
- McKinsey & Company India
- BCG India
- Deloitte India
Q. Are there opportunities for government jobs after completing a PhD degree?
A. Yes, after the completion of a PhD degree, person can work as a professor at government universities with a good salary package. After PhD degre, student can use Dr. prefix in their name. After completing degree, they also work as a research scientist, scientific officer, etc.
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News & Updates
Dec 10, 2025
Student Forum
Answered Yesterday
Of course, you can. Here are some top online colleges you must explore for a PhD in Political Science.
| PhD in Political Science Online Colleges | Course Fee |
|---|---|
| Amity Noida | INR 3.02 Lakh |
| Jindal School of International Affairs | INR 3 Lakh |
| Woxsen University | INR 4 Lakh |
| Amity Kolkata | INR 3.24 Lakh |
Note - The information is taken from the official site.
Know more about -
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
PhD Amity University Mohali admissions are open. The below are the PhD details:
· 35+ Research Centres
· 194 H-Index
· 2,580+ Patents Filed | 450 Granted
· 500+ Govt. Funded Research Projects
· 59+ Ramalingaswami/Ramanujan Fellows
· 2,000+ PhD Scholars Across Discipline
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, PhD is not available for Data Science course. The Data Science course is only offered as Master of Science (S.M.) under School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. PhD degree under SEAS is available for Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, etc.
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Hi.
Yes — under certain conditions, a person with a four-year bachelor's degree in “Medical Sciences” can be eligible to apply for a PhD at IIIT Guwahati — depending on the discipline and whether the degree qualifies as “in a relevant area.”
What IIIT Guwahati's policy says
For PhD admission in some d
h
Scholar-Level 17
Answered a week ago
Check out the PhD placements 2024 recorded at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda placements 2024 given below:
Courses | the highest Package (2024) | the lowest Package (2024) | Number Placements (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
PhD | INR 5 LPA | INR 5 LPA | 1 |
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Of course you can. A few learning platforms, like Old Dominion University, offer a PhD in Criminology. Though it's a university abroad, you can get admission to its online PhD program, i.e., PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice. It's a 24-month degree course and the average fee is INR 24.79 Lakh.
M
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
The fee structure of IIIT Guwahati is segregated in three parts including per semester tuition fee, institute caution money and hostel fee. Hostel fee will be incurred only if you plan to stay in the hotel. Otherwise, you only need to pay tuition fee and institute caution money (one-time refundable
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Students need to pay INR 12,500 if they want to stay at IIIT Guwahati hostel. This fee also includes mess fee. Do note that hostel rent is charged on a pro-rata basis. INR 5,000 are for one-time caution money that is refundable and INR 5,000 is for tuition fee every semester. So if you are availing
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
IIIT Guwahati does not offer scholarships for PhD programs. However, students can still get financial aid from PSUs and other banks. Also, there are many fellowship programs in which you will be eligible based on your merit. Visvesvaraya PhD scheme for Electronics and IT, MHRD Fellowships and Prime
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
First of all, you need a master's degree in either Engineer or technology with at least 6.5 CPI or at least 60% marks. If you have completed MSc in CS/ IT or MCA or any other non-tech master's degree, your CPI should be at least 6.5 or you should have scored 60% or more in GATE/SLET/NET in CS/IT. Th
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
A Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) measures overall academic performance throughout all completed semesters. It is calculated by taking weighted average of Semester Performance Index (SPI) scores. It tells about consistency and academic achievement which reflect grades from all subjects and semest
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
It is not possible to pursue PhD in Mathematics from IIIT Guwahati with 50% marks because minimum percentage requirement is 60%. Even if you are a reserved category candidate, you get a relaxation of 5%. For improving your chances of admission, try to score 60% or more in post-graduation.
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
There are three categories in which students have been segregated. First one are regular students who are working full time for PhD degree. They are eligible for fellowship or assistantship like INSPIRE, NFSC, NFSR, UGC-NET, JOINT, CSIR-UGC, NET, WoS etc. These students can also be self-financed. Se
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, it is not enough since you will need to pass the interview round. This will be the final step to ensure that you get an admission in PhD programme at IIIT Guwahati. Do note that you will not be getting any travel allowance from the institute for the interview round.
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
MHRD Fellowships is a financial assistance for PhD students for a maximum period of five years. PhD students will get INR 37000 as monthly stipend for the first two years at JRF level and then for the next 3 years, they will receive INR 42000 per month at SRF level.
Under the Visvesvaraya PhD scheme
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
A valid score of GATE, NET, JRF or SLET exam works for admission in IIIT Guwahati PhD programs. You can check the eligibility section where each PhD has a different exam score requirement. Based on this criteria, you can plan to take the exam. For example, candidates who plan to pursue PhD in Humani
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
For SC category students the eligibility criteria for every IIIT Guwahati PhD programme is relaxed by 5% marks which translates into 0.5 less CPI. For example, Computer Science and Engineering general category candidates should have at least 7.0 CPI. In this case, SC category students will need 6.5
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Admission deadline for IIIT Guwahati PhD programs depends on the admission date of the program. The admission dates for every course is different. Right now, admissions for PhD in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) are open and the last date to apply is 30th November, 2025.
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, IIIT Guwahati does not charge any application fee from PhD candidates. The institute only charges course fee from students who have been finally selected after the interview and written exam. This fee includes one time caution money and tuition fee. Further, those who plan to stay at the IIIT Gu
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
IIIT Guwahati is a good option, particularly for PhD in computer science. IIIT PhD fee is INR 13750. The faculty is generally well-regarded. When it comes to scholarship, students of Electronics and IT are offered INR 38,750/- per month as stipend under Visvesvaraya PhD scheme. On the top of that, i
J
Contributor-Level 10
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Can I pursue a PhD in Political Science online?