PhD EMPLOYMENT
DATA BOOK 2026
1-2 YEARS AFTER
Every two years Politecnico di Milano carries out an employment survey on Ph.D graduates, respectively one and two years after degree completion, in order to verify the effectiveness of their educational path in the world of work and to address the best professional guidance purposes.
Tha data analyze the employment situation of Ph.D graduates who obtained their degree at Politecnico di Milano in 2023 and 2024. The present survey was conducted between January and February 2026 through mixed methodology (CAWI: online and CATI: phone).
The Ph.Ds answered a multiple-choice survey of about 20 questions.
866 Ph.D graduates obtained degree in 2023 and 2024. 776 gave their consent to be contacted. 420 answered to the survey. The response rate is 54%.
The response rate to the questionnaire is defined by the ratio between the number of Ph. Ds who answered the survey and the number of Ph.Ds who obtained their degree and gave their consent to be contacted.
Net monthly salary: Monthly salary received, net of taxes, considering only the 12 months of the year, excluding any extra monthly payments (such as 13th or 14th month) and annual bonuses.
PHD EMPLOYMENT
PHD EMPLOYMENT: 1-2 YEARS AFTER
IN WHICH SECTOR?
UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES
PRIVATE COMPANIES
PUBLIC AUTHORITIES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
The job market is highly favorable for PhD graduates from Politecnico di Milano, with strong employment rates and a wide range of career paths that allow them to effectively leverage their skills across diverse high-level sectors.
They go abroad:
For a lack of opportunities at home Tor better career prospects For personal / family reasons For a better salary
PHD EMPLOYMENT: UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES
UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES PRIVATE COMPANIES START UP PA
RESEARCHER / POST DOC GRANT WORK AT
FIXED TERM OTHER PERMANENT PROFESSOR MONTHLY NET SALARY
TYPE OF CONTRACT
€2,287 (DEV ST 739)
PhD graduates working in universities and research institutions mainly pursue academic careers, with an average net salary of about €2,300.
Job alignment and overall job satisfaction are very high, as is the willingness to choose a PhD at Politecnico di Milano again.
WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR PHD AGAIN AT POLITECNICO
SAMPLE: 184 people interviewed
EMPLOYMENT: PRIVATE COMPANIES MONTHLY NET SALARY
UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES PRIVATE COMPANIES START UP PA
COMPANY SIZE * (N° EMPLOYEES)
46% 15%
39% (1-250*) (251-1000*) (+ 1000*)
TYPE OF CONTRACT
€2,506 (DEV ST 670)
90% 3% 7%
PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT FIXED-TERM EMPLOYMENT
In the private sector, PhD graduates benefit from more stable contracts, higher salaries, and high levels of satisfaction, although job alignment tends to be lower.
SAMPLE: 209 people interviewed
WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR
PHD AGAIN AT POLITECNICO
HAVE A JOB THAT REQUIERES A PHD 8.0
45%
TYPE OF CONTRACT
MONTHLY NET SALARY
WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR PHD AGAIN
HAVE A JOB THAT FITS WITH THEIR STUDIES
HAVE A JOB THAT REQUIRES A PHD SATISFIED WITH CURRENT JOB (SCALE 1-10)
UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES
75% 10% 9%
RESEARCHER / POST DOC GRANT FIXED-TERM EMPOLYMENT OTHER
€2,287 77% 98% 95% 8.0 2% PROFESSOR 4% PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT
90% 3% 7% PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT
€2,506
82% 82% 47% 8.0
TYPE OF CONTRACT
MONTHLY NET SALARY
WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR PHD AGAIN
HAVE A JOB THAT FITS WITH THEIR STUDIES
HAVE A JOB THAT REQUIRES A PHD SATISFIED WITH CURRENT JOB (SCALE 1-10)
FOCUS BY AREA
ENGINEERING
ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
ENGINEERING
PHD COURSES
• AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
• BIOENGINEERING
• DATA ANALYTICS AND DECISION SCIENCES
• ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
• ENERGY AND NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
• ENVIRONMENTAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING
• INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
• INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
• MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING
• MATERIALS ENGINEERING
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS AND METHODS IN ENGINEERING
• MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
• PHYSICS
• STRUCTURAL SEISMIC AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING: UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES
UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES PRIVATE COMPANIES START UP PA
ITALY WORK AT
OTHER FIXED TERM TYPE OF CONTRACT
SAMPLE: 361 people interviewed, 352 employed (of which 156 in Universities and Research Institutes) WHERE DO THEY WORK?
€2,359 MONTHLY NET SALARY RESEARCH / POST DOC GRANT PERMANENT (DEV ST 696)
ABROAD
PhD graduates in Engineering are employed both in universities and research institutions (44%) and in the private sector (45%).
In academia, the average net salary is €2,359, with very high job alignment (96%) and satisfaction (98%), although most contracts are temporary. In the private sector, salaries are higher (€2,543 net) and contracts more stable, but job alignment is lower (50%).
WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR
PHD AGAIN AT POLITECNICO
ENGINEERING: PRIVATE COMPANIES
98% EMPLOYMENT
PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT FIXED TERM EMPLOYMENT
OTHER
83% 17%
SAMPLE: 361 people interviewed, 352 employed (of which 184 in private companies) ABROAD ITALY WHERE DO THEY WORK? TYPE OF CONTRACT
86% receive additional monthly payments
€2,543 MONTHLY NET SALARY (DEV ST 647)
HAVE A JOB THAT REQUIERES A PHD HAVE A JOB THAT FITS
SAMPLE ON SATISFACTION: employed in private companies
ARCHITECTURE
PHD COURSES
• ARCHITECTURE, BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
• ARCHITECTURAL, URBAN AND INTERIOR DESIGN
• PRESERVATION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
• URBAN PLANNING, DESIGN, AND POLICY
ARCHITECTURE: UNIVERSITIES
SAMPLE: 53 people interviewed, 48
INSTITUTES
€1,915 MONTHLY
In universities and research institutions, most positions are temporary. Job alignment is high (85%), and satisfaction with the PhD experience is universal (100%).
In the private sector, roles are generally more stable and offer higher average salaries, with a strong presence of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
ARCHITECTURE: PRIVATE COMPANIES
91% EMPLOYMENT (DEV ST 835) 55% receive additional monthly payments
UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES PRIVATE COMPANIES START UP PA
TYPE OF CONTRACT ABROAD ITALY WHERE DO THEY WORK?
PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT OTHER FIXED TERM EMPLOYMENT
€2,229 MONTHLY NET SALARY
SAMPLE: 53 people interviewed,48 employed (of which 20 in private companies)
SAMPLE ON SATISFACTION: employed in private companies WOULD
CHOOSE TO DO THEIR PHD AGAIN AT POLITECNICO
DESIGN
PHD COURSES
• DESIGN
UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES PRIVATE COMPANIES
WORK AT
50% POLITECNICO
78%
SAMPLE: 10 people interviewed, 9 employed (of which 8 in Universities and Research Institutes) TYPE OF CONTRACT WHERE DO THEY WORK? ABROAD ITALY
17%
83%
RESEARCHER / POST DOC GRANT PROFESSOR
22%
€1,813 MONTHLY NET SALARY (DEV ST 776)
The sample of PhDs in Design is relatively small. Graduates in Design are employed almost exclusively in academia, highlighting a strong link between doctoral training and academic careers. Job alignment is complete (100%), and satisfaction levels are very high (89%).
WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR PHD AGAIN AT POLITECNICO
GENDER VIEW *
ENGINEERING
ARCHITECTURE
*DESIGN: low base
GENDER VIEW
€2,488
266 PhD - F: 86 PhD
ENGINEERING
MONTHLY NET SALARY
€2,395
Universities and Research Institute
Public authorities and Non Profit organizations Private Companies
Start up
€2,355
M:19 PhD - F:29 PhD
MONTHLY NET SALARY
€1,872
EMPLOYED
Universities and Research Institute
Public authorities and Non Profit organizations Private Companies
Start up
TREND ANALYSIS
TREND ANALYSIS
Between 2022 and 2026, employment rates increased from 95% to 99%, before stabilizing at 97%. Average salaries rose from €1,944 to €2,408. Overall, the data point to a strong and growing job market, with improvements in both employment and earnings.
Ph.D 23/24
€1,944
€2,348
€2,408
TREND ANALYSIS: IN DETAIL
Ph.D 21/22
Ph.D 23/24
EMPLOYMENT
Universities and Research Institute
Public authorities and Non
Ph.D 21/22
Ph.D 23/24
A COMPARISON
PHD AND MSC GRADUATES: A COMPARISON
EMPLOYMENT RATE
PH.D GRADUATES
PERMANENT CONTRACT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR MONTHLY NET SALARY
€2,506
409 PhD employed Private Companies
Ph.D 23/24 2026 15% INTERNATIONAL 70% 30%
MASTER OF SCIENCE GRADUATES
€2,426
2,196 PhD
€1,963
3,188 PhD employed
SOFT SKILLS
SOFT SKILLS
UNIVERSITY
Number of PhD graduates out of the total who believe they have good/excellent skills
ENGINEERING
Number of PhD graduates out of the total who believe they have good/excellent skills
AnalysisskillsTargetorientationEffectivecommunicationTeamworkProblemsolvingDecisionmakingabilityFlexibility PlanningandorganizationProactiveapproachInnovationNegotiationLeadership ResultorientationStressmanagement
SOFT SKILLS
ARCHITECTURE
TargetorientationEffectivecommunicationTeamworkProblemsolvingDecisionmakingabilityFlexibility PlanningandorganizationProactiveapproachInnovationNegotiationLeadership ResultorientationStressmanagement
DESIGN
Number of PhD graduates out of the total who believe they have good/excellent skills
AnalysisskillsTargetorientationEffectivecommunicationTeamworkProblemsolvingDecisionmakingabilityFlexibility PlanningandorganizationProactiveapproachInnovationNegotiationLeadership ResultorientationStressmanagement
2026 Employment Survey on Ph.Ds who graduated at Politecnico di Milano in 2023 and 2024.
The survey is carried out by the Career Service in collaboration with the Statistical Analysis, Evaluation and Accreditation Support Office and the Alumni Association of Politecnico di Milano.
