Which Is the Best Branch in Engineering?

Engineering is a highly popular career field with a variety of disciplines to choose from. Finding the appropriate career path is crucial whether you are a fresh graduate searching for your first job or an experienced engineer seeking new challenges. You might be in search of a career where you can apply your expertise and earn a good salary. In this article, we review some of the high-paying engineering branches in an attempt to find the best branch in engineering.

Which is the best branch in engineering for the future?

There are many engineering branches with high earning potential. However, computer science engineering can be considered the best branch in engineering for the future. In almost every sector, computer engineers are in high demand due to the increase in software-driven devices. In the future, where AI (Artificial Intelligence) and machine learning may have immense scope for development, graduates in computer science or related degrees have good job prospects. The average base salary of a computer engineer is ₹2,24,524 per year. This figure has the potential to go much higher with experience and qualifications. Some of the other branches which show potential for future growth include mechanical engineering and civil engineering.

Which branch of engineering has the highest salary?

The branch of engineering with the highest earning potential is computer science engineering. There are many branches within computer science engineering like data engineering and software engineering which also have good earning potential. The average base salary for a data engineer is ₹10,52,990 per year and that of a software engineer is ₹6,36,310 per year.

Guide: What Is Software Engineering? Complete Guide

Which is the most popular branch in engineering?

To understand the popularity of different engineering branches, it is beneficial to evaluate the volume of candidates pursuing specific engineering branches and the number of seats allocated nationally, for each branch. Considering these factors, the most popular branches include mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering and computer science engineering. These are branches that show evergreen demand as graduates are required in most sectors in various job roles. A vast majority of students traditionally opt for these branches. The pay scale may, however, vary from branch to branch.

Top 12 highest-paying branches in engineering

Many engineering fields have good earning potential, but here are the top 12 highest-paying engineering jobs:

1. Computer science engineer

National average salary: ₹2,24,524 per year

Primary duties: Almost all sectors function with the assistance of computer science engineers. It is one of the branches of engineering which has experienced an exponential increase in demand. Computer engineers are responsible for developing, testing, implementing, and maintaining computer software and hardware. They make sure that the physical hardware and software programming components of their client's systems are in working order. They may specialise in a variety of fields like programming, security, hardware or IT.

Computer engineers also collaborate with different groups of professionals, evaluate system requirements, and develop hardware and software components. They can work in a variety of industries ranging from healthcare and infrastructure to aerospace and automobile engineering.

2. Mechanical engineer

National average salary: ₹2,34,775 per year

Primary duties: A mechanical engineer may design machines that generate power as well as ones that demand a lot of power to operate. They may be in charge of overseeing other employees, as well as creating and maintaining successful procedures for a company. Mechanical engineers also develop blueprints using computer-aided design tools. They usually conduct analysis and run simulations to evaluate designs before proceeding with a potentially cost-effective construction process. Their responsibilities may vary depending on the specific industry or job role that they work in.

Related: How To Become a Mechanical Engineer

3. Electronics and communication engineer

National average salary: ₹2,35,330 per year

Primary duties: These professionals apply their expertise to the design, development, testing, and maintenance of electronic systems and components. They usually work for small businesses or in the commercial sector. Their day-to-day responsibilities vary depending on the job role but often include designing, planning, doing research, inspecting equipment, attending conferences, and liaising with others. Interpreting client requirements, generating cost and time estimates, testing systems and drawing up improvement plans are all part of an electronics and communication engineer's job.

Related: What Is Electronics and Communication Engineering?

4. Chemical engineer

National average salary: ₹2,39,736 per year

Primary duties: Chemical engineers apply their scientific and mathematical expertise to enhance chemical processing systems and equipment, as well as discover solutions to problems that many businesses encounter. They examine procedures and data, conduct research and experiments, and devise strategies to improve plant efficiency.

5. Design engineer

National average salary: ₹2,53,064 per year

Primary duties: A design engineer designs and supervises the manufacture of products or services. Design engineers perform market and user research to assess the utility and performance of products or services. They design production methodologies and execute them with the help of computer-aided design software, simulation tools and modelling software. They also need to stay updated on the industry trends in order to incorporate technological advancements into their upcoming products or services.

Related: What Is a Design Engineer? A Comprehensive Career Guide

6. Aerospace or aeronautical engineer

National average salary: ₹2,54,612 per year

Primary duties: Aerospace engineers design, test, repair and improve commercial and military aircraft, including spacecraft. Engineers that specialise in planes are known as aeronautical engineers, whereas astronautical engineers specialise in spacecraft. They typically aid in the development of new and innovative air and spacecraft designs, assist in the testing of materials and prototypes and examine component or product failures.

Related: What Is Aeronautical Engineering? Definition and Career Tips

7. Electrical engineer

National average salary: ₹2,55,584 per year

Primary duties: Electrical engineers undertake the responsibility of testing, developing and designing electrical devices and equipment such as navigation systems, motors, power generators and communication systems, as well as automotive and aviation electrical systems. They are also in charge of overseeing the production of various gadgets, systems, and equipment. This is one of the highest employed branches in engineering with evergreen demand. It is also one of the oldest branches of engineering.

Related: What Is Electrical Engineering? Definition and Opportunities

8. Civil engineer

National average salary: ₹2,68,686 per year

Primary duties: A civil engineer's primary domain is construction. Civil engineers construct, improve and safeguard our built environment and infrastructure. They design and supervise the construction and maintenance of harbours, tunnels, airports, dams, bridges, railroads, roads and power plants. To identify and solve engineering issues, a civil engineer requires critical thinking skills with strong subject knowledge in mathematics and physics. They have job prospects in both the private and public sectors.

9. Project engineer

National average salary: ₹3,38,417 per year

Primary duties: A project engineer oversees the life cycle of a project. Besides strong technical skills, a project engineer should have leadership qualities and interpersonal skills to manage multiple teams effectively. The project engineer remains in regular communication with different teams and senior members of the company staff to keep them up to date on the project's progress. They often serve as a liaison between management and the rest of the staff. Project engineers are also required to have a firm grasp of international, national and local regulations that apply to a project, to ensure that it adheres to the prescribed codes and norms.

10. Network engineer

National average salary: ₹3,42,985 per year

Primary duties: A network engineer oversees the safe implementation and maintenance of a variety of networks, including telephone, internet, intranet and other connected networks. Tasks for a network engineer include working to improve both a network's speed and its security.

A network engineer is responsible for the installation and maintenance of devices used to grant employees or clients access to a network. They regularly monitor a network's performance and perform troubleshooting and repairs. If there is an issue that they cannot resolve in-house, they may work with representatives of a third party to find and execute a solution to the problem.

Related: How To Become a Network Engineer: A Complete Guide

11. Metallurgical engineer

National average salary: ₹3,57,612 per year

Primary duties: Metallurgical engineers specialise in the refining and usage of metals and alloys. They determine the physical and chemical characteristics of metals and alloys. They design and supervise the manufacture and development of these components for a variety of production environments.

12. System engineer

National average salary: ₹5,06,465 per year

Primary duties: System engineers oversee and maintain the technological infrastructure at a company. The system engineer must be capable of working with both hardware and software to ensure that all elements of the network are operating as intended. They also have to engage in active learning throughout their career.

Because the threats to technological infrastructure are always changing and evolving, an engineer needs to keep learning and following trends to ensure they are ready to handle the latest threats and concerns. Besides maintaining and testing the functionality of the network, a systems engineer may write scripts to perform automated maintenance and repairs on the infrastructure to minimise labour lost to downtime.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.