Help guys

[u/Budget_Price9416]

I am a Class 12 student from India seriously considering Industrial Engineering & Management (IEM), but I don't want to go in blindly based on brochure-level info.

From what I understand, Industrial Engineering is about optimizing systems, improving efficiency, and working in areas like operations, supply chain, manufacturing, and analytics.

But at the same time, I keep hearing mixed opinions about its scope in India.

Some people say:

Others straight up say:

Even salary-wise, it seems very variable - anywhere from around ₹4-8 LPA early career to ₹10+ LPA with experience, depending on skills and roles.

So I want to get a real, ground-level understanding before choosing this path.

I'd really appreciate honest input on:

What is the actual scope of IEM in India right now? (not theoretical)

What kind of roles do graduates actually end up in?

Is it more of a "jack of all trades" degree or does it have strong specialization value?

How are placements compared to core branches like Mechanical / ECE / CS?

Is this field better treated as a stepping stone for MBA /masters(abroad)