As per All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) report from 2019, the number of PhD degrees awarded has increased by 60% in the last five years. The total admission increased from 1,24,451 to 2,02,5520 in 2019-20. It was also revealed that more than 2.02 lakh students enrolled for PhD programs.
PhD also known as Doctor of Philosophy is one of the highest degrees awarded to a candidate who wants to pursue a career in research related fields. The duration of the course is usually 3 - 6 years. In order to get admission for any PhD courses, candidates must possess a masters degree in any discipline. However, it is advisable that the candidate must pursue a doctorate according to the course pursued in Masters.
PhD Admissions are usually done on the basis of entrance exams such as CSIR UGC NET, IIT JAM, NPAT amongst the top of them. Candidates willing to pursue PhD in Engineering courses have to clear the GATE exam. Candidates can also choose the specialization in which they want to conduct research according to their interest and knowledge.
Post completion of a PhD course, there are many opportunities open to the candidates in both the sectors private as well as government. Candidates can land a high paying job depending on their specialization such as Research Scientist, Associate professor, Economists, Historians, etc. Candidates can expect a starting salary of INR 6 LPA. The highest salary can go up depending upon the experience, knowledge, skills etc.
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Ph.D Jobs
Getting a Doctorate degree within the chosen area of specialization opens many doors for the candidates in terms of job opportunities. Over the period of time, the opportunities have become very vast. PhD graduates decide whether they want to go for a start-up, gain experience and return to academics where their knowledge and skills can be put to use in an excellent way. Tabulated below are some of the top job profiles of Ph.D along with salary package,
Job Profile | Description | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|---|
Scientific Writer | A Scientific Writer is one who researches and analyzes the report on news and trends in the field of science. These scientific writers can be employed in investigation, scientific journals, write and publish articles, press releases, website content etc. | 7.53 L |
Associate Professor | Associate Professors are one who are employed at universities/colleges and are responsible for teaching students and providing them with study material and notes. | 4.00 L |
Research Assistant | A Research Assistant is responsible for conducting research studies on a certain topic and collects all relevant study material related to it. | 3.10 L |
Chief Research Manager | A Chief Research Manager is responsible for supervising research projects, tracking the progress of those projects, and suggesting new methods and findings within the research. | 10.00 L |
Lecturer | A Lecturer is a Ph.D. holding educator who is responsible for guiding the students on subject matters and through their project research. | 7.8 L |
Senior Consultant | A Senior Consultant leads certain projects and client meetings while working on a product and its development. | 14.10 L |
Research Associate | A Research Associate is responsible for collecting and analyzing research data and presenting them in a report for further evaluation. | 3.80 L |
Jobs After Ph.D: Sector Wise
Ph.D. holders are not only employed in the private sector but also the public sector. Post getting a doctorate degree, candidates have multiple areas to explore such as chemical or pharmaceutical companies, oil and gas industry, research industry, NGOs etc. The salary structure also varies in both private as well as government sectors. Discussed below are some of the top job profiles in Private as well as public sector ,
Jobs After Ph.D: Private Jobs
Jobs in the private sector are dependent on the specialization. PHd candidates can get multiple opportunities in the private sector as they are employed in almost all the sectors but their recruitment depends on which area they have their specialization. Some of the top recruiters in the private sector are Deloitte, Infosys, Google, Microsoft , private universities etc. The average salary is around INR 6.20 LPA. Some of the top job profiles are listed below for your reference,
Job Profile | Description | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|---|
Professor | A Professor teaches students at the college/university level and provides them study material and guidance through their project work. | 7.8 L |
Corporate Lawyer | Corporate Lawyers are responsible for checking the legality of commercial transactions and represent their clients in court. | 6.7 L |
Computer Engineer | A Computer Engineer is responsible for the maintenance and management of computers and computer-related softwares ensuring data security. | 2.4 L |
Jobs After Ph.D: Government Jobs
There are a plethora of opportunities in the government sector for PhD candidates and the salary structure is also high as compared to the private sector. Candidates can be employed in Hindustan Petroleum, GAIL, SAIL, government universities, Defense Research and Development Organizations etc. The average salary of a PhD candidate in the government sector is around INR 6.50 LPA. Tabulated below are some of the top job profiles in India in government sector,
Job Profile | Description | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|---|
Professor | A Professor is responsible for teaching students at the college/university level and providing them study material and guidance through their project work. | 7.8 L |
Public Prosecutor | Public prosecutors are responsible for acting in public interest and act on behalf of the state to carry out justice against a criminal sanction while keeping in mind the rights of the individual. | 6.5 L |
Researcher | A Researcher is responsible for collecting and analyzing data related to a certain topic and note down these findings in a well drafted research paper. | 3.10 L |
Computer Engineer | A Computer Engineer is responsible for the maintenance and management of computers and computer-related softwares ensuring data security. | 2.4 L |
Jobs After Phd for Freshers
Candidates can be employed even while pursuing Phd or post completing PhD from a respectable college. The job opportunities are very wide and stretched. Candidates after completing PhD can be employed as scientific writer, Assistant Manager, Research Assistant etc. Candidates can also work in research and Development organizations who look for fresh PhD candidates. The salary is comparatively higher in Industrial Research and development. The starting salary of a PhD Candidate is around INR 6.50 LPA. Some of the top job profiles in India are listed below for your reference,
Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|
Assistant Professor | 4.00 L |
Research Assistant | 3.10 L |
Computer Engineer | 2.40 L |
Legal Assistant | 3.96 L |
Consultant | 8.00 L |
Research Scientist | 7.56 L |
Senior Writer | 12.69 L |
Ph.D Jobs: Specialization wise
Jobs for PhD candidates also depend on Specialization in which the candidates have completed their research and doctorate degree. PhD offers many specializations that have different job profiles such as PhD in Management, PhD in Arts, PhD in Engineering, PhD medical, PhD legal studies etc. Let's discuss the job profiles based on specialization,
Ph.D Computer Science Jobs
PhD in Computer Science is a 3 year doctorate program in computer science and its application. This course studies Research methodology, Data mining, machine learning, rough set theory etc. PhD in computer science have many job opportunities to offer such as software Engineer, Application Developer, Application Analyst and many more. Some of the top profiles in Computer Science are mentioned below,
Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|
Professor | 6.38 L |
Software Engineer | 5.20 L |
Software Developer | 5.00 L |
Web Developer | 2.86 L |
PhD Chemistry Jobs
PhD Chemistry is a 3 year doctorate program providing detailed academic study and research. This program can be stretched to 6 years. This course will give candidates detailed knowledge about different principles of thermodynamics, advanced levels of organic and inorganic chemistry, etc. Candidates have multiple opportunities to explore such as in chemical research centers, industries, forensic labs, food packaging, processing firms etc. Some of the top PhD Chemistry profiles are tabulated below.
Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|
Chemical Researcher | 6.90 L |
Junior Scientist | 8.70 L |
Forensic Chemist | 5.40 L |
Medical technologist | 4.28 L |
PhD Legal Studies Jobs
PhD in legal Studies is a 3 year doctorate program which can be extended for a period up to 6 years. This course basically involves research and theoretical approach to law in India. They are further classified on the type of law which can be chosen according to the interest of the candidate. This course offers wide opportunities in the private as well as public sector including litigation, Judiciary, lectureship etc. Some of the top profiles are provided below for your reference.
Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|
Professor | 6.66 L |
Corporate Lawyer | 6.70 L |
Public Prosecutor | 6.50 L |
Legal Consultant | 7.00 L |
Ph.D Economics Jobs
PhD in Economics is a 3 to 5 year doctorate program that the candidate can pursue after post graduation. The major areas covered in this program are Agricultural economics, Financial economics, business economics, banking economics etc. Some of the top recruiters hiring PhD economics candidates are Bank of India, Bharat petroleum, Goldman sachs, etc.
Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|
Banker | 2.90 L |
Professor | 3.80 L |
Economists | 7.17 L |
Financial Managers | 11.01 L |
Ph.D Jobs in India
Ph.D. offers many job opportunities in India in both the public and private sector. Candidates have multiple opportunities to explore. Most of the PhD candidates go for lectureship or in research and development facilities, litigation, Scientific research etc. Some of the top Profiles are discussed below for your reference,
Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|
Assistant Professor | 4.00 L |
Associate Professor | 7.80 L |
Research Manager | 10.00 L |
Banker | 2.90 L |
Historian | 11.79 L |
Economist | 7.17 L |
Nutritionist | 3.80 L |
Lawyer | 6.70 L |
Consultant | 8.00 L |
Ph.D Jobs: Salary
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a PhD candidate is around INR 6.80 L. The Starting salary is around INR 6 LPA while the highest can go up to INR 30 LPA. The salary also depends on the area of specialization which might vary as some of the most high paying Phd are legal, Economics, biotechnology, etc. Some of the top profiles are mentioned below for your reference.
Job Role | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|
Assistant Professor | 4.00 L |
Associate Professor | 7.80 L |
Research Assistant | 3.10 L |
Research Manager | 9.80 L |
Banker | 8.20 L |
Financial Manager | 10.23 L |
Economist | 7.17 L |
Historian | 5.50 L |
Computer Engineer | 6.51 L |
Lawyer | 4.45 L |
Ph.D Jobs: FAQs
Ques. What is Ph.D?
Ans. A Ph.D is a doctoral research degree that might take 4-5 years to complete and is awarded to those candidates who have conducted successful research in their field. This is referred to as the highest academic degree.
Ques. What are the career prospects of Ph.D ?
Ans. There are career options after Ph.D:
- Associate Professor
- Researcher
- Guest Lecturer
- Assistant Researcher
Ques. What are the skills required to become a Ph.D. graduate?
Ans. The skills required to become a Ph.D. graduate are:
- Attention to detail
- Self-management
- Analysis and problem-solving
- Information Management
Ques. Who are the top recruiters for Ph.D graduates?
Ans. Some of the top recruiters for Ph.D graduates are:
- Colleges/Universities
- Research institutes
- Inter-school
- Government Jobs
Ques. Is there any internship required to become a Professor?
Ans. No, there is no internship required to become a Professor.
Ques. Can a student with Ph.D. in Economics become an IAS Officer ?
Ans. Yes, students from any background can aspire to become an IAS Officer irrespective of their stream.
Ques. Can one pursue Ph.D from distance learning?
Ans. Yes almost every college in India provides Ph.D from distance learning.
Ques. What is the highest salary of a Ph.D. graduate?
Ans. The highest salary of a Ph.D. graduate can be around INR 24-26 LPA.
Ques. What do professors do?
Ans. A professor is responsible for:
- Teaching college/university students
- Disseminating study material
- Guiding students through their project work
- Conducting research work
Ques. What is the highest salary of a Researcher?
Ans. The highest salary of a Researcher in India is around INR 20 LPA.