What to Do After BTech? Career Options After Engineering

A BTech, or a Bachelor of Technology, is a popular course for aspiring engineers. After graduating from this degree programme, you can enter the work world or continue your education to enhance your career prospects before applying for roles. Currently, the number of engineering graduates vastly exceeds the number of available jobs, although employability is rising. In 2024, engineering graduates’ employability averaged 64.67 percent, a 7.23 percent rise from the previous year [1]. 

Exploring what to do after BTech can help you find the direction and strategies. After finishing a BTech, let’s explore some popular options, including careers in computer science and engineering and ideas for pursuing advanced education. 

Career options after BTech: Ideas for freshers

One of the reasons BTech remains a popular course is its versatility. This programme prepares you for a career in engineering and offers opportunities to specialise in various areas, which increases the number of professional opportunities. Many learners choose to specialise in mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering. Computer science and engineering is another sought-after option.

Your specialisation will largely dictate the direction of your career. Some career options in various fields include the following four categories. 

Mechanical engineering jobs

As digitisation and the rapid adoption of technology continue to drive Industry 4.0, the need for skilled mechanical engineers remains strong. In these roles, you might work in aviation, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and other settings and in governmental and private sector jobs.

A few possible roles and the average base pay of each include the following:

Mechanical design engineer

Average salary (IN): ₹5,00,000 [2]

You'll use mechanics, chemistry, and physics in this role to research, develop, and test new products. You will also create prototypes of the sensors, tools, and machines that you design and work on the manufacturing process whilst developing production criteria.

Power plant engineer

Average salary (IN): ₹4,20,000 [3]

Power plant engineers oversee industrial equipment maintenance and repairs. With experience, you may also manage operations and oversee other engineers on the team working in settings such as nuclear, fossil fuel, and electric or hydroelectric power plants.

Research and development engineer

Average salary (IN): ₹8,78,838 [4]

Research and development is a growing field in India, with approximately 25 innovation centres focusing on creating new ideas [5]. In this role, you'll study market trends, conduct experiments, brainstorm product ideas, and develop and test new products.

Civil engineering jobs 

Civil engineering specialisations study the construction of the architecture of buildings and roads. It may incorporate computer-aided design and analysis, sustainability, and green technologies to meet modern environmental, transportation, and structural engineering demands.

A few possible roles and the average base pay of each include the following:

Civil engineer

Average salary (IN): ₹3,60,000 [6]

Civil engineering is a continually evolving field. In this career, you’ll oversee and participate in designing, constructing, and maintaining complex structures, including dams, bridges, and highways.

Environmental engineer

Average salary (IN): ₹5,00,000 [7]

As climate change and environmental concerns take centre stage in global conversations, the role of environmental engineers is becoming increasingly critical. In this role, you’ll manage projects on protecting and protecting the environment, including systems that control air pollution and conserve water or other natural resources. You may work in various settings because the scope of environmental engineering spans everything from business to academia to the government. 

Transportation engineer

Average salary (IN): ₹5,55,000 [8]

In this role, you will oversee the design of transportation systems. You'll also take an active role in the building process, maintain those systems, and participate in various projects such as railways and airports.

Chemical engineering jobs 

Chemical engineering is another exciting field encompassing multiple industries, including medicine, pharmaceuticals, finance, and product development. It involves gathering data, developing processes for product development, safety, and problem-solving.

A few possible roles and the average base pay of each include the following:

Process engineer

Average salary (IN): ₹7,33,000 [9]

As a process engineer, you'll optimise the manufacturing industry's industrial processes. You'll also design and oversee the implementation of various production processes to take raw materials and turn them into manufactured products.

Materials scientist

Average salary (IN): ₹4,20,000 [10]

In this role, you'll work on developing and testing materials for use in products and professions. You'll study the properties, performance, and failure rate of those materials, as well as materials' impact on the environment.

Biomedical engineer

Average salary (IN): ₹2,64,000 [11]

This type of chemical engineering supports the medical industry, designing and developing instruments, equipment, and procedures for clinical and diagnostic use. You will research new product materials, evaluate biomedical equipment safety and efficacy, and create medical equipment use and maintenance protocols.

Computer science and engineering jobs

Computer engineering has a broad scope and encompasses roles continuing to grow in importance throughout India and the rest of the world. The field contains designing, developing, and integrating hardware and software. You may work in public or private companies in the technology, finance, marketing, and entertainment sectors.

A few possible roles and the average base pay of each include the following:

Software developer

Average salary (IN): ₹6,42,500 [12]

In this role, you'll design, develop, and implement software. You'll research to ensure the finished product meets users' needs. You may also evaluate and enhance new and existing software and maintain systems using quality assurance testing and other measures.

Data scientist

Average salary (IN): ₹12,17,222 [13]

India’s use of data technologies is expanding at a steady pace, making this a promising role for learners with relevant computer engineering and data analysis skills. In this role, you'll gather data from sources and databases, analyse it, and apply findings to evaluate decisions and trends.

IT consultant

Average salary (IN): ₹10,00,000 [14]

Because this role requires demonstrated expertise, you may need additional certifications, education, or professional experience to qualify. As an IT consultant, you'll work on various technology-related projects for your clients, including fixing problems, implementing hardware and software, and presenting data to leadership and stakeholders.

What to do after a BTech: Postgraduate study

Whether you enter the workforce right after graduation or go into a postgraduate programme, an advanced degree can increase your professional opportunities and help broaden your skill set. You have many available options, including master’s degrees and a PhD. 

Some popular courses after BTech include the following:

Certifications

Getting certified in a particular programming language or field of study adds a credential to your resume or CV. It also demonstrates your mastery of that specific area, which can increase your competitiveness in the job market. Some popular certifications to consider include:

• Six Sigma

• Project management

• Cybersecurity

• Software development

• Artificial intelligence

• Programming languages (Python, Java, etc)

Postgraduate diplomas

Another way to deepen your expertise and knowledge is with a postgraduate diploma, which typically takes approximately one year to complete. Some postgraduate diplomas to consider after BTech include:

• Management for those who want to pursue leadership roles

• Engineering for those who want to further specialise in areas like textile, petroleum, structural, or mechatronics engineering)

• Media and journalism for those who want to shift their careers to cover engineering-related subjects in the media

• Business analytics for those who want to increase their knowledge to help businesses better solve challenges

• Full-stack development for those who want to hone their web development skills

Master’s degrees

With the job market as tight as it is, getting an advanced degree can help increase your marketability in your preferred field. In addition to increasing your job opportunities, getting a master's degree also offers you a chance to deepen your knowledge of your chosen field and polish your professional skills. A few popular master’s degree programmes after BTech include:

• Master of Technology (MTech)

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• Master of Engineering (ME)

• Master of Science (MSc)

• Master of Computer Applications (MCA)

• Master of Philosophy

PhD programmes

Beginning in the 2022 to 2023 school year, India’s learners could opt for a programme that allowed them to pursue a PhD right after BTech. The National Education Policy aims to increase the research culture amongst BTech graduates and help motivate learners to aspire to the highest qualifications within their specialisation. Other options include combined master's and PhD programmes and applying for a PhD after completing a master’s degree programme. 

Next steps

Graduating from a BTech programme opens many career options in engineering and other fields, depending on your specialisation and choices in further studies. For example, you could further your skills in specific areas with online courses like the IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate or the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. These are just a couple of options from world-renowned educational institutions you can access on Coursera. 

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