India’s Manufacturing, Engineering, and Infrastructure (MEI) sector is projected to experience a salary increment of 9.4% in FY27, up from 7.9% in the previous year. This growth is attributed to a resurgence in project activity, semiconductor expansion, and the rollout of Industry 4.0 capabilities, as per a report by TeamLease Services. Project Engineers are expected to lead the salary increments with a 10.7% rise, followed by EHS Officers and Site Engineers at 10.1% each, while Mechanical Design Engineers are anticipated to see a 9.9% increase.
The report underscores that engineering roles are emerging as the primary drivers of salary growth within the MEI sector. Functionally, engineering leads the salary growth at 9.9%, closely trailed by IT at 9.8% and Finance at 9.5%. This trend mirrors the evolving landscape of industrial operations, where technical execution is increasingly bolstered by digital systems, automation, and enhanced cost discipline.
On a regional scale, Gurgaon and Coimbatore have topped the list with salary growth rates of 10.9% and 10.8%, respectively. Hyderabad and Pune follow closely with increments of 10.1%, while Vadodara stands at 9.9%. The report notes that the concentration of salary growth in these cities underscores the enduring significance of industrial clusters, manufacturing ecosystems, and engineering-driven expansion.
As manufacturing and infrastructure projects grow in complexity, organizations are placing a premium on specialized capabilities that blend technical expertise with execution discipline. The rising demand for project engineers, EHS professionals, site engineers, and mechanical design talent reflects the increasing emphasis on delivering projects efficiently, safely, and at scale.
Balasubramanian A, Senior Vice President at TeamLease Services, highlighted that the focus is shifting towards professionals who can translate capital investments into operational outcomes, whether on the factory floor, project site, or through digitally enabled engineering systems. He emphasized that as industrial expansion deepens, organizations investing in specialized engineering and execution capabilities will enhance their long-term competitiveness.
