Instrumentation Engineering

Instrumentation engineering is a branch of electrical and electronic engineering that is concerned with the study of engineering principles and procedures of computing instruments used in designing and assembling automated systems. The work of instrumentation engineers is critical in the industrial manufacturing sector as they are required to construct, design, and maintain instruments and systems of an industry and decide on the type of instruments needed for better quality and efficiency of the products. Instrumentation engineers need to possess creative skills, in addition to technical expertise. They should have the ability to write custom software applications as well as computer programs relating to the proposed objectives. They should also be familiar with operating elementary machinery systems and industrial tools. Owing to rapid industrial and economic growth, job opportunities in this sector are increasing every day.

Courses and Eligibility:

The eligibility criterion for admissions to a bachelor’s programme is a 10+2 pass in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as core subjects. The 2-year MTech course can be pursued after successfully completing an undergraduate course. Students must go through entrance exams such as GATE for admissions to BTech and MTech courses. One can also opt for a diploma course after completing class 10.

Job Prospects:

Increased use of automatic control in manufacturing and process plants has opened up more avenues for graduates in this field. Career opportunities exist for instrumentation engineers in sales, management, and technical projects, as well as in R&D laboratories and defense establishments. They can also gain employment in power plants, steel plants, fertilizer and chemical plants, refineries, and cement-manufacturing plants.

Remuneration:

A fresh graduate can earn a salary of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month excluding other allowances. In the government sector, the salary range of diploma holders is Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month. Lecturers in colleges can earn a starting salary of Rs. 12,000–Rs. 13,000 per month. Senior engineers can earn anywhere between Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 50,000 a month. Those at management levels can earn up to Rs. 60,000 or even more.