PGDM Salary: A 2025 Guide

Studying for a PGDM is a popular option for students in India looking to work in business management. Employers widely accept the PGDM, which is a rival to the established MBA. It allows you to enter the workplace at a management level and potentially acquire a higher-than-average salary. 

Read on to learn more about the courses you may take in a PGDM programme, jobs you may qualify for after earning the diploma, and the salary you can expect once you graduate. 

What is a PGDM?

A Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) is a two-year postgraduate qualification in business management. The course is heavily based on the business industry and delivered by private business schools. It allows it to be tailored to industry trends and updated regularly to include current standards and regulations. Employers consider the PGDM qualification equivalent to a Master in Business Administration (MBA)—and even favoured in some cases. 

The PGDM covers a range of course subjects designed to enhance your business management skills. While getting your PGDM, you may take specific courses like marketing, financial modelling, operations, and strategic management. You may also be able to choose a specialisation and a business placement in areas like finance, manufacturing, and government. This makes the PGDM very industry-focused and relevant to your career goals. 

What jobs can you get with a PGDM?

Many employers from top businesses ask for a PGDM during the application process, often in industries including marketing, finance, human resources (HR), operations, health care, and government departments.

Once you have graduated with a PGDM, your chances of getting a management-level role should improve. Different companies ask for different specialisations, so what you’ve studied greatly impacts the type of job available to you. 

Some jobs that you can get with a PGDM include:

• Marketing manager: A marketing manager creates strategies for organisations to retain and gain new customers. 

• Management consultant: As a management consultant, you would meet with companies and guide them to increase their sales and improve their business practices, often through creating reports. 

• Operations manager: An operations manager helps to manage a company's structure and function by conducting quality checks, hiring new employees, and managing workers' efficiency.

• Project manager: As a project manager, you would work towards a company’s goals by planning and organising a strategy and managing team workloads to complete projects and tasks. 

How much does a PGDM graduate earn?

A PGDM graduate typically earns more than the average salary in India, around ₹21,647 per month [1]. The actual salary of a PGDM graduate varies according to specialisation and the industry you enter. Still, PGDM graduates can access management-level careers and high salaries in many businesses. Roles PGDM graduates apply for include top positions, such as marketing manager, HR consultant, project management, and business consultant, all of which have different but respectfully high salaries.  

What is the average PGDM salary?

According to several sources, PGDM graduates' average annual salary package ranges between ₹3.6 lakhs and ₹20 lakhs [2, 3]. This wide range shows that PGDM salary as a whole is affected by several factors. The table below breaks this down. 

Factors that affect PGDM salary

You’ll discover several factors that affect whether you receive the highest salary with a PGDM degree. Common factors include your location, the company you work for, and your experience level.

Experience

One to three years of work experience is an advantage when applying for a PGDM. As you take classes, you should also be able to continue building your experience in management and innovative industry trends through practical applications like summer internships and live projects, which prepare you for management positions. For many roles, employers may specify a certain level of experience you need to apply, so gaining as much experience as possible is crucial. 

Your potential salary grows with experience. For example, entry-level finance managers earn approximately 48 percent less than the industry average, which increases with experience to 19 to 21 percent higher salaries [6].

Industry and position

The biggest factor in your PGDM salary is the industry you work in and the job title you hold. Some industries, such as the financial industry, usually pay more than others, and some positions come with a significant salary. Take a look at some specific job roles in various industries and their associated salaries:

Finance

Marketing

Operations

*All salary information is sourced from Payscale, May 2024.

Specialisation

Another important factor that determines your salary is the specialisation you choose in your PGDM since it is directly connected to the industry you work in and the roles available to you. You’ll find several specialisations to choose from, including:

• PGDM in International Business

• PGDM in Operations Management

• PGDM in Finance

• PGDM in Human Resources

• PGDM in Business Analytics

• PGDM in Marketing

Location

Your location also impacts your PGDM salary. Salaries are higher in metropolitan areas, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Although the wages of individuals in rural areas have increased over the last few years, they still earn less than those in cities. However, the cost of living in cities is also usually greater than in rural areas.

Company

The company you work for determines your overall salary package. Some companies are known for paying high salaries and are seeking PGDM graduates. A few top companies recruiting PGDM graduates are [2]:

• Pidilite Ind: ₹25.30 LPA

• Maruti Suzuki: ₹24.45 LPA

• Tata Motors: ₹22.85 LPA

• Bosch: ₹22.40 LPA

• State Bank Of India: ₹20.70 LPA

Job outlook

The job outlook for PGDM graduates is excellent, and there is a growing need for business management professionals with industry skills. Given this trend, the PGDM is a sought-after credential by employers and industry professionals across India because of its industry focus and skills-based programme. Career prospects for PGDM graduates are excellent because of the range of specialisations available. 

Getting started with Coursera

The Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) is a highly regarded credential in India, with specialisations ranging from human resources and operations management to finance and international business. If you plan to advance your career in business management, you may consider getting a PGDM as an alternative to an MBA degree. 

One option is the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research's Postgraduate Diploma in Management Online, listed on Coursera. This programme can take between 24 and 36 months to complete, and you can choose one of six specialisations to customise your education and build experience through social immersion projects.