Career Options after 12th: Choosing the right career path after secondary school (12th Class) can be a stressful experience for students. Ideally, a career should align with their interests while also offering good earning potential. Students typically choose a stream—Science, Commerce, or Humanities—based on their preferred career fields. However, thorough research into the best available career options within their chosen stream and those that align with their interests and future goals is essential.
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We have listed down various career options available in different streams to pursue a bright start to your career. However, before we go ahead and explore the career opportunities after the 12th, we have to ensure that our 12th board results are in line with the stream we want to pursue.
Students must do thorough research on the courses listed below, keeping in mind their interests and scores. One needs to plan and apply for admission in a good college/institute based on 12th board result,s as in the case of certain fields, your score in Class 12th also determines your eligibility for admission.
There are ample career options after 12th Science. Medicine and Engineering are the two most popular and sought-after careers after completing 12th in the Science stream, but there are other thriving careers too. Students with an interest in Biology can opt for MBBS, BDS, Optometrist, Pharmacist, Forensic Science, Microbiology, and many more. Those with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) can opt for B.Tech, B.E, B.Arch, Aeronautics, etc.
Careers | Eligibility | Expected salary* (Per annum) |
Engineer | B.Tech/BE degree | Rs. 3 Lakhs to upto 10 Lakhs |
Doctor | MBBS/BDS/BHMS/BUMS | Rs. 5 Lakhs to Rs. 12 Lakhs |
Architect | B.Arch | Rs. 4 Lakhs to 10 Lakhs |
Pilot | Pilot license To become a Pilot at the Indian Air Force (IAF), one needs to clear the NDA examination. | Rs. 6 Lakhs to 10 Lakhs |
Data Scientist | B.Tech in IT or computer science | Rs. 3.5 Lakhs to 9 Lakhs |
Veterinarian |
| Rs. 2.5 Lakhs to 5 Lakhs |
Agricultural Scientist | Master's degree in Agri-Botany/ Agri-Biotechnology/ Agri-Chemistry/Agri-Economics/ Social Forestry. | Rs. 5.5 Lakhs to 11 Lakhs |
Biomedical Engineer | Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering | Rs. 3 Lakhs to 10 Lakhs |
Nurse |
| Rs. 3.2 Lakhs to 7.8 Lakhs |
Government Jobs | Bachelor's degree in any field. | Rs. 3 Lakhs to 7 Lakhs |
Note: Please note that all salary information has been sourced from Google and is subject to change from time to time.
Chartered Accountant (CA), Company Secretary (CS), and Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) are a few professional careers in Commerce after 12th one can choose after completing 12th in Commerce. Some regular options for making a career after class 12 commerce courses include - a Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA), a Bachelor in Economics, and a Bachelor in Commerce (B.Com).
Career | Starting Salary* (per annum) |
Accountant | Rs. 1.3 Lakh to Rs. 5.8 lakh |
Financial Analyst and Advisor | Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh |
Investment Banking Analyst | Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh |
Chartered Accountant | Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh |
Company Secretary | Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh |
Human Resources | Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh |
Tax Auditor and Consultant | Rs. 2.3 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh |
Event Manager | Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh |
Government Jobs/Banking Jobs | Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh |
Entrepreneur | Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh |
Also, Check: Best Career Options After 12th Commerce
Students passing out of the 12th Humanities stream can choose from plenty of career options available for higher studies. One can choose from a course after 12th arts like law, journalism, and mass communication, to others like fashion design, hotel management, graphic design, etc.
Top Careers | Expected Starting Salary |
Content Writer/Blogger | INR 1.5 to 6 LPA |
SEO Analyst | INR 1.5 to 4 LPA |
Fashion/Interior Designer | INR 2 to 20 LPA |
Creative Director/Media Manager/Journalist | INR 2 to 18 LPA |
Growth Hacker | INR 30k to 60k per month |
Social Worker | INR 15k to 30k per month |
Wildlife Photography | INR 2.5 to 3 LPA |
Social Media Manager | INR 1.7 to 6 LPA |
Government Jobs | INR 20k to 40k per month |
Event Management | INR 4 to 6 LPA |
Also, See: Highest Paying Careers in Arts Stream
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The ideal careers after 12th depends upon your interests and aspirations. There are a plethora of options in the field of engineering, medicine, business, arts and more. Students should opt for an option that aligns with their interests and goals.
There are ample number of options available in the Science, Commerce and Arts streams. Research on all the options well and consider seeking advice from professionals if required to make an informed decision.
After 12th Commerce, the most popular courses pursued by students include - B.Com, BBA, CA, CS, courses in finance, accounting, management etc. Students should select option based on their interest, passion and future goals.
After 12th Arts, students have a wide variety of options to pursue like a degree in journalism, social sciences, fine arts, media etc. They can also pick and explore options of vocational courses.
On Question asked by student community
Dear Student,
Please go through the link to check 12th CBSE Chemistry question paper: https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-previous-year-question-papers-class-12-chemistry
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Dear Student,
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