GATE is a prestigious exam and each year lakhs of aspirants appear for this exam. The GATE exam not only opens career opportunities in India, but also opens gates to go abroad and complete the higher studies. Now, while many aspirants dream to crack this exam, a common question that comes up with this is - “How much will i earn as a GATE topper?” or “how much will I earn as a GATE aspirant?”
In this article we aim to provide a complete analysis of how much can you earn as a GATE topper and what are your future prospects. Cracking GATE exam opens several doorsfrom PSU recruitment to MTech admissions with stipends, fellowships, and more.
Salary of a GATE Topper in a Month in PSU Jobs
Joining PSUs is one of the lucrative career paths after qualifying for GATE. Many companies like GAIL, NTPC, ONGC, NALCO, GRID-INDIA, BSBE- IIT Kanpur, NPCIL, etc. accept GATE scores for recruitment.
PSU Salary Structure
PSU Category | Monthly Gross Salary (Approx.) |
Maharatna | 1.2 to 2.5 lakh |
Navratna | 90,000 to 2 lakh |
Miniratna | 70,000 to 1.5 lakh |
GATE PSU Salary Breakdown
TheseGATE PSU salariesinclude the following -
Salary Component | Description |
Basic Pay | The fixed starting salary as per the pay scale; forms the core of the salary structure. |
Dearness Allowance (DA) | Paid to counter inflation; revised quarterly or biannually based on CPI (Consumer Price Index). |
HRA (House Rent Allowance) / Accommodation | Either a cash allowance for renting a house (percentage of basic pay) or company-provided housing. |
Performance-based Incentives | Additional earnings linked to individual or company performance targets. |
Medical Perks | Coverage of medical expenses, health insurance, and reimbursement for employee and dependents. |
Transport Allowance | Fixed or reimbursed amount for commuting expenses. |
LTC (Leave Travel Concession) | Reimbursement for travel expenses incurred during official leave travel, usually for self and family. |
GATE Topper's PSU Salary
Here is an approximate salary range of aGATE Topperin a month (company-wise).
PSUs | Salary Offered | College | Average GATE salary |
NTPC | 18 LPA | IIT Bombay | 16.5 LPA |
EIL | 19 LPA | IISc | 22.5 LPA |
PGCIL | 18 LPA | IIT Madras | 13 LPA |
ONGC | 16.5 LPA | IIT Kanpur | 15.3 LPA |
HPCL | 16 LPA | IIT Delhi | 16.1 LPA |
GATE-Based M.Tech Admissions: Monthly Stipend
Another major option afterGATE is pursuing M.Tech from IITs, NITs, or IIITs. This path comes with a monthly GATE scholarship stipend provided by AICTE and other bodies.
- Financial Assistance given to M.Tech students is Rs. 12,400 per month and generally paid for 22 months.
- Financial Assistance given for Ph.D. programs (Direct PhD after B.E./B.Tech/M.Sc equivalent with a valid GATE score) is Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years and Rs. 42,000 per month from the third to the fifth year.
Important: To continue receiving this stipend, you must meet attendance, academic performance, and thesis submission criteria.
Ideal for Students Who:
- Prefer academic and research careers
- Want to build a PhD profile
- Aspire for faculty roles or R&D positions
Research Fellowships and Central Government Roles via GATE
GATE score is also valid for various fellowship programs, PhD entries, and research jobs. You can join ISRO, BARC, DRDO, or IIT research projects.
Monthly Salary in Research-Based Jobs
- JRF roles- 31,000/month
- SRF roles- 35,000/month
- DRDO/ISRO Research Jobs- 80,000 – 1.25 lakh/month
- PMRF Fellows- 70,000 per month + contingency grant
- Research jobs may offer lower in-hand pay compared to PSUs, but are highly respected academically.
GATE Topper Monthly Salary Vs Career Option
Career Path | Monthly Take-Home (Approx.) |
PSU Jobs (Maharatna) | 1 to 2.5 lakh |
PSU Jobs (Navratna/Miniratna) | 70,000 to 2 lakh |
M.Tech (AICTE Stipend) | 12,400 |
JRF/SRF Fellowships | 31,000 to 35,000 |
PMRF Fellowship | 70,000 + research grant |
DRDO/ISRO Scientist Roles | 80,000 to 1.25 lakh |
Choosing the Right Path After GATE
The best salary after GATE doesn’t just mean the highest number. Here’s how to choose based on your career goals-
If You Want | Choose |
Job security, great salary, work-life balance | PSU Job |
Academic career, research exposure | M.Tech or Fellowship |
PhD/Research with higher funding | PMRF or CSIR Fellowships |
Is the GATE Topper Salary Worth It?
Yes, absolutely, achieving a topGATE score under 100 or even under 1000 in GATE, you can open opportunities to high-paying PSU jobs, like GAIL, AAI, ONGC, etc. Overall, the starting salary of the GATE toppers can upto 2.5 lakh above (depending on your skills and branch).
GATE Toppers Can Also Get into FAANG and Top Tech Companies
GATE is a pathway to PSU jobs and MTech admissions. Do you also know that, GATE aspirants can also get into FAANG companies - Facebook (Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google, and other top tech companies like Microsoft, Adobe, etc.
How to get into FAANG companies through GATE?
- With a good GATE rank/score, you can get into elite institutions, like IITs and crack college placements.
- Build your understanding in topics like operating system, DBMS, and computer networks
- Get into internships to gain experience.
Salary Package in FAANG via GATE Pathway
Company | Monthly Salary (Approx.) |
Google/Meta (India) | 2.5 to4 lakh per month (35–50 LPA) |
Amazon | 1.5 to 3 lakh/month (20–35 LPA) |
Microsoft | 1.7 to 2.5 lakh/month (25–35 LPA) |
