A Guide to Making a Career in Plastic Engineering

Almost done with your board exams and planning what to do next? Feel like engineering is your calling, but you want to try something different in the field? Ever been fascinated by the field of designing, developing, testing, and manufacturing? Then we have some brilliant news – a career in plastic engineering might just be your true calling!

Plastic or polymer engineers work in the field of designing, developing, testing, and producing plastic and plastic-related materials or products. In this field of plastic engineering, you’ll have to engineer polymers or plastic in various ways to develop new kinds of plastics that may be resistant or biodegradable. You will also evaluate different plastic products in terms of their elasticity, quality, resistance, and biodegradability!

So let your creative side meet your scientific side and mould something extraordinary!

What is plastic engineering?

Without plastics or polymers, your laptop or computer, the mobile phone in your pocket, and even the toothbrush you use every morning aren’t possible. Plastics and polymers literally shape the world around us, and plastics engineering graduates have the freedom to choose what that shape will be! All these sounds exciting and interesting, but what does it really mean to have a career in plastic engineering? Let’s find out! 

Plastic engineering is a vast field of science that deals with the study of various plastic products. Professionals in the Plastic Engineering field don’t just focus on manufacturing but also on developing plastic products and synthetic materials. That’s why Plastic Engineering courses are quite unique. They are designed to equip students with the necessary skills and training to branch out right after their graduation and start their journey! After completing the course, graduates get placements in industries like robotics, technology, and even medicine!

This country’s different institutes and colleges mainly offer two courses in this field: Bachelor in Plastic Engineering and Master in Plastic Engineering. The bachelor’s course in Plastic Engineering is for four years, while the master’s course is for two years. Many colleges and institutes across the country offer both courses. Graduates have many career options to choose from after their course in Plastic Engineering is done.

Education and Training Requirements

Though the primary academic requirement for a career in plastic engineering is usually an undergrad or a bachelor’s degree, it might be more, depending on the specific job position you’re applying for. If you’ve been working in this field for quite some time, you will be required to pursue a master’s degree to keep up with the latest developments in the profession.

Generally, a bachelor’s degree may be all that is needed for an entry-level position. But  it’s always better to dream big! Higher education will usually be recommended if you wish to advance in your career. Here’s the eligibility criteria for both undergrad and postgrad students wishing to pursue plastic engineering!

• For a bachelor’s degree in plastic engineering: 

The minimum age required to pursue the course is 17 years. In addition, you must have physics, chemistry, and maths as primary subjects in your 10+2 or an equivalent qualification. Few colleges and institutes also require qualifying entrance exams such as JEE MAINS or university-specific entrance exams.

• For a master’s degree in plastic engineering

If you’re planning to apply for a master’s, you must have a B.E/B. Tech or B.Sc in plastic, chemical, production, or tool engineering with a minimum of 60% aggregate. At the same time, you’ll have to sit for entrance post-graduation exams of colleges you want to apply to! Once you clear and crack the exams, counselling rounds will be conducted in the institute of your choice based on the merit list prepared by the individual college.  

Top 5 institutes to pursue your dream

Plastic engineering is still considered to be a developing field in India. Therefore, selecting the right institution is key to building a stellar career. Here are a few of the top institutes in India that will help you turn your dreams into reality! 

1. Central Institute of Plastic Engineering & Technology (CIPET)
2. Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-Delhi)
3. Madras Institute of Technology
4. LD College of Engineering
5. University College of Science & Technology, Calcutta University

Scope for plastic engineering in India

If you’re planning to pursue a career in plastic engineering, it’s only fair to think about the demands and scope of jobs for plastic engineering in India and abroad. 

Plastic engineering will always be in demand. Though engineering is a vast spectrum and continues to be a lucrative job field, plastics engineering often enjoys a better-than-average demand.

If were to just consider the first decade of the 21st century alone, the market need for plastic raw materials has increased from more than 3.3 million metric tonnes to 6.8 million metric tons. Even the recycling industry in India has umpteen employment and growth opportunities! The estimated growth rate in the plastic industry has the potential to generate over 3 million additional job opportunities over the next few years. Furthermore, with the introduction of biodegradable polymers, there is a massive market demand for brand new research in this field, opening up even more horizons for the use of plastics and polymers. So rest assured about your future in this field, since there’s a huge demand for professionals, particularly with public sector associations such as:

1. Oil India
2. ONGC
3. Polymer businesses in different states
4. Petro-chemical research laboratories
5. The Ministry of Petroleum and Chemicals

How Much Will You Earn?

Starting salaries for those who want a career in plastic engineering might vary, depending on the location, organisation and their existing skill-set. The private sector’s salary starts from INR 12,000 to 25,000 per month. In the public sector, you can begin with a starting salary of INR 10,000 to 20,000 per month. 

If you have master’s degrees such as M.E./M. Tech, your starting salary can go as high as INR 30,000 to 40,000 per month!

Job Opportunities in Plastic Engineering

So if you’re planning to pursue a degree in plastic engineering and having a hard time deciding the career options after completing the degree, we are here for you! We have scanned through millions of job listings and prospects, and we were able to find the best of best and most preferred jobs by plastics engineering graduates!

• Process Engineer:

Industrial engineers find ways to reduce wastefulness in production processes. They develop and design efficient methods incorporating workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.

The average base pay of process engineers in India is ₹6,00,000 /yr.

• Analytical Chemist:

Chemists and materials scientists analyse substances at the atomic and molecular levels and how the matter interacts with one another. They use their command in the subject to develop new and improved products and test manufactured goods’ quality.

The average base pay of an analytical chemist in India is ₹25,000 /mo.

• Manufacturing Engineer:

Starting the process from scratch! That’s what manufacturing engineers do! They plan, design, sets up, and observes the manufacturing operations. They work for not only the plastic sectors but also oil, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.

The average base pay of a manufacturing engineer in India is ₹5,91,086 /yr.

• Project Engineer:

Overlook the entire process while manufactuing goods! Starting from the designing to the manufacturing operations. 

The average base pay of a project engineer in India is ₹4,11,500 /yr.

• Research and development chemist:

Last but not least, the research and development chemist studies chemical compounds and uses their study to help them develop products, including manufactured products or industrial processes.

The average base pay of a research and development chemist in India is ₹3,00,000 /yr.

Is plastic engineering for me? 

It’s quite normal to have doubts  while making vital decisions about your future! However, if you have these qualities, you’ll be well-suited for a career in plastic engineering:

• Genuine talent and aptitude, and a keen interest in maths, physics, and engineering.
• Undying love and interest in plastics and material science!
• An amalgamation of a creative and scientific bent of mind! 
• Last but not least, being familiar with current trends in the industry! Maintaining high standards of professionalism and working in a team with an analytical mind and practical skills is a must!

Still not sure if this is a good pathway for you?  Mentoria can help you validate your decision! Moulding a career as unique as plastic engineering requires the right guidance, and with Mentoria’s counsellors, rest assured that you will be directed towards careers you’re most likely to enjoy and excel at. Our guidance doesn’t just end at counselling; we will handhold you from the moment you sign up with us until you get into your chosen career! 

What are you waiting for? Kickstart your career discovery journey with Mentoria and find the right career fit for you! Our four-step career guidance solution helps us find the right career fit for you from 3 streams, 850+ courses & 12,000+ careers.