STEM Graduates Earn 1.6 Times More Than Others, Says Study

Bengaluru: Graduates with STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) earn 1.6 times more than students having other background.

According to a report by HR consultancy firm, NLB Services; 70 per cent of the highest-paying jobs worldwidedemand highly skilled STEM graduates.

“Salaries for these roles typically range from Rs 4-8 lakhsfor freshers, 6-11 lakhs for mid-level managers, and 12-30 lakh for senior professionals.The gender distribution in these positions reflects a male-to-female ratio of 4:1,” NLB Services said in a report. According to the report, more than 1.5 million students take the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), competing for roughly 16,000 seats at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Similarly, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) sees over 1.8 million aspirants vying for around 90,000 MBBS seats. “This fierce competition reflects the high societal and economic value placed on STEM careers, driven by lucrative salary prospects and the perception of greater job stability inthese fields,” the report said.

A Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) report on the global distribution ofSTEM graduates shows that 34 per cent of all graduates in India come from STEM disciplines.

Interestingly, India’s annual STEM graduate output is sufficient tomeet the IT-related workforce demands of Europe and the USA, including specialised roles.

Usually, people with STEM background become eligible for roles such as software developer, computer network architect, environmentalengineer, and biochemist with the most sought-after positions being software developers (24 per cent), data analysts (18 per cent), and AI/ML specialists (15 per cent).

The consultancy firm noted that tech companies are hiring more in tier-2 and tier-3 cities in recent years. STEMopportunities are growing in locations such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. In the coming years, STEM hiring from these regions is expected to rise by 15-20 per cent by 2027.

Moreover, India’s overall STEM sector is projected to see a 40-45 per cent increase by 2027, driven by risingdemand for skilled professionals across industries.

“‘The growing emphasis on STEM education andworkforce development is a testament to India’s commitment to innovation and economicprogress. This is also reflected in the Union Budget announcement focusing on transforming India’seducation landscape with initiatives like 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs, high-speed internet for ruralschools, AI integration, and skill development. The tinkering labs will help in research in the STEM field where students can practice new ideas and approaches. Additionally, ‘One Day as a Scientist’ initiative, for National Science Day 2025, encourages young minds to engage with research institutions, fostering hands-on scientificexploration,” Sachin Alug, CEO of NLB Services said.