Degree Salary Guide: What Your Degree Is Really Worth in 2025

When you choose a degree, you’re not just picking a subject—you’re picking a career path, a long-term financial direction shaped by demand, location, and government policies. Also known as a professional trajectory, it determines how much you’ll earn, where you’ll work, and how hard you’ll have to fight to get there. In India, not all degrees are created equal when it comes to pay. Some lead to jobs where you’ll clear ₹4 lakh a month before taxes. Others leave you earning just enough to cover rent and groceries. The difference isn’t always about how smart you are—it’s about which field you’re in.

The Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the top-tier government role that commands some of the highest salaries in the country. Also known as civil service, it’s not just about prestige—it’s about pay scales that include housing, travel, and allowances that push monthly earnings beyond ₹4 lakh for senior officers. Then there’s the MBA, a degree that can open doors to corporate leadership but only if you graduate from the right school. Also known as postgraduate management, it’s a gamble: some graduates land ₹20 lakh packages, while others struggle to hit ₹5 lakh. Meanwhile, NEET teachers, the people training the next generation of doctors. Also known as medical entrance coaches, earn anywhere from ₹15,000 to ₹1.5 lakh depending on whether they work in Kota’s coaching factories or run solo YouTube channels. And let’s not forget engineering—the degree that millions of students chase after JEE, hoping for a six-figure salary. But here’s the truth: only the top 5% of engineers from top IITs consistently earn big. The rest? They work in mid-tier companies with salaries that barely rise above ₹6 lakh a year.

What ties all these together? It’s not just the degree. It’s the system behind it. Government jobs like IAS have fixed, rising pay scales. Private sector roles like MBA depend on brand names and negotiation. Coaching jobs like NEET tutors rely on location and reputation. And engineering? It’s a race where only the fastest win big. Your degree doesn’t guarantee money—it just gives you a starting line. What happens after that depends on your choices, your hustle, and the market.

Below, you’ll find real data from real people—what IAS officers actually take home, how much NEET tutors earn in Hyderabad versus Delhi, whether an MBA is worth the debt, and why some engineering grads feel stuck. No fluff. No promises. Just what the numbers show.