Top 18 Career Options for Commerce After 12th

Commerce is one of the most sought-after streams in the Class 12 Board exams. Candidates who complete their Higher Secondary in Commerce have several options before them during their undergraduate course. Commerce students can not only select an undergraduate program in the Commerce stream but also select from non-Commerce streams like Humanities and Law.

The most popular streams for Commerce students are in the field of Accountancy, Business Studies, Entrepreneurship, Management, Finance, and Economics.

In India, the Commerce stream can be broadly categorized as Commerce with Maths and Commerce without Maths. Students of both streams are in an advantageous position as there are career options for both.

Those of you who are looking for information on the career options for Commerce students after the 12th need not worry. In this article, we bring before you the most common career options and also the lesser-known career options for Commerce after the 12th.

Top 18 Career Options for Commerce After 12th

1. Chartered Accountant

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) offers this professional course and it is one of the top career options for Commerce after the 12th.

The main responsibilities of the Chartered Accountant include Financial Planning, Taxation, and Auditing. Interested candidates have to appear for the CPT exam followed by the IPCC exam and the CA final exam.

The average salary is INR 12 Lakhs per annum. An experienced Chartered Accountant can earn a salary of INR 24 Lakhs per annum.

2. Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst is one of the top career options for Commerce after the 12th. The job of a Financial Analyst is to help companies and individuals make financial decisions. The job areas of a Financial Analyst include banks, stockbroking firms, insurance firms, and public sector organizations.

After completing the undergraduate program the candidates can pursue an internship program or complete higher studies like MBA or M.Com.

The average salary of a Financial Analyst is INR 5 Lakh per annum and Financial Analysts with more than 20 years of experience can get a salary of INR 10 Lakhs per annum.

3. Company Secretary

A Company Secretary is among the top career options for Commerce after 12th. The job roles of Company Secretaries are spread across both Private and Public sectors. The responsibilities include dealing with collaborations and mergers, handling legal documents, and filing taxes for the company.

The candidate must complete graduation in Commerce from a recognized Institute and complete the Foundation course from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.

The starting salary of a Company Secretary is INR 6 Lakhs per annum and the salary may rise to INR 14 lakhs per annum depending upon the experience of the candidate.

4. Investment Banker

Investment Banking is one of the best career options for Commerce after 12th. The main work area includes managing and handling the Financial losses of a company, participating in mergers and acquisitions,and helping raise money for the expansion of the company. The candidate must complete the Bachelor's Degree program in Commerce or Finance and MBA/M.Com degree

The average salary of an Investment Banker is INR 10 Lakhs per annum and the salary may increase up to 26 Lakhs per annum with experience.

5. Chartered Financial Analyst

The main work area of a Chartered Financial Analyst is preparing financial models through data collection and risk analysis. An experienced Chartered Financial Analyst oversees the finances of an organization and makes plans to maximize profits.

To become a Chartered Financial Analyst the candidate must complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and appear for the CFA exams.

The average salary of a Chartered Financial Analyst is INR 12 Lakhs per annum and the salary may increase up to 20 lakhs with the experience of the candidate.

6. Actuary

An Actuary is one of the top career options for Commerce after 12th. The job of an Actuary is to analyze the Financial consequences or risks of businesses and conduct research to understand the cause of risks.

An Actuary must have good arithmetics statistical and analytical skills. Interested candidates must complete the graduation program in Commerce/Maths/Statistics and appear for the Actuarial Common Entrance Test (ACET).

The average salary of an Actuary in India is INR  10 lakhs per annum and this salary may go up to 50 lakhs per annum depending upon experience.

7. Bank Probationary Officer

The Bank Probationary Officer has been one of the in-demand career options in the Commerce field for a long time. The work responsibilities of a Bank Probationary officer are managing cash flows, loans, and mortgages.

The Probationary Officer supervises customer complaints and the working of the subordinates. After completing graduation in Commerce/Finance from a recognized Institute, the candidate must appear for the Bank PO exams.

It is one of the most secured and lucrative career options.

The starting salary of a bank probationary officer is INR 4 Lakhs per annum which may rise up to INR 7 Lakhs per annum with years of service. Besides this, there are several benefits and allowances entitled to a Bank Probationary Officer.

8. Business Accountant

Business Accountant is one of the top career options for Commerce after 12th. The work responsibilities of a Business Accountant is working in taxation and Finance. He/she is also responsible for managing the compliance and reporting.

A Business Accountant must have knowledge of SAP and Advanced Excel and also gain expertise as a tax analyst. Interested candidates must pursue their graduation in Commerce or related disciplines and also complete a Diploma in taxation.

The average salary of a Business Accountant in India is INR 7 Lakhs per annum.

9. Cost and Management Accountant

CMA is an interesting career option for students who have completed their Class 12 in the Commerce stream. A Cost and Management Accountant is a professional who is well versed in the areas of business strategy, financial reporting, and regulatory framework of an organization.

Being a CMA is one of the top career options for Commerce after 12th and candidates must oversee the profit management and also participate in the managerial decision-making process of the company. Students can become a CMA after completing the foundation course in Chartered Accountancy.

The average salary of a Cost and Management Accountant is INR 9 Lakhs per annum and candidates with an experience of 10 years can earn a salary of INR 20 lakhs per annum.

10. Bachelor of Computer Applications

The 3-year BCA course is also a good career option for Commerce students once they complete their Class 12 Board exams. The Bachelor of Computer Applications program is suitable for candidates who are keen to work on the latest computer technologies, networking, and developing applications.

BCA is an undergraduate course that the students can pursue after completing their 12th with Commerce. The job profiles of a BCA candidate include Network Engineer, Data Scientist, Computer programmer, System Architect, etc.

The average salary of a BCA candidate is INR 5 Lakhs per annum and an experienced candidate can get up to INR 11 Lakhs per annum.

11. Digital Marketer

Digital Marketing is one of the tops opted professions in the present times. With a boom in the digital economy, the job scopes of a Digital marketer have increased manifolds. The job role of a Digital Marketer is to promote a business and generate revenue using platforms like social media marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Content Marketing, and Advertising.

Candidates who have completed their Class 12 Board with Commerce must complete the Graduation and opt for Digital Marketing Certification programs.

The average salary of a Digital Marketer is INR 5 Lakh per annum while candidates with 5 to 9 years of experience can earn a salary of INR 10 Lakhs per annum.

12. Retail Manager

A Retail Manager is one of the top career options for Commerce after 12th and is considered one of the top paying jobs. The main responsibilities of a Retail Manager are to supervise the operations of a store and monitor the financial performance of the store.

A Retail Manager also interacts with the employees and the customers to maintain the overall revenue generation of the store. To become a Retail Manager, candidates must complete their B.Com/equivalent degree and also do an MBA in Retail Management.

The average pay scale of a Retail Manager is INR 2.79 Lakhs per annum and candidates with more than 10 years of experience in Retail Management can earn a salary of INR 12 lakhs per annum.

13. Stock Broker

Candidates who are interested in sales and Finance can become a Stock Broker as it is among the top career options for Commerce after the 12th. The job role of a Stock Broker is to manage the finances of the clients and also give advice on possible investment opportunities.

Stock Brokers have expertise in analyzing the Financial markets and submitting financial reports to clients. Candidates must complete their graduation in Commerce or Finance and appear for the Stock Exchange Entrance exams.

A post-graduation in Commerce or an MBA is preferable for students who want to become Stock Brokers.

The starting salary of a Stock Broker is INR 3 Lakhs per annum while an experienced Stock Broker can earn a salary of INR 6 Lakhs per annum.

14. Tax Consultant

A Tax Consultant is one of the best career options for Commerce after 12th. The work area of a Tax Consultant is to advise the clients on the best investment policies that will maximize returns. A tax Consultant also has knowledge of the various taxation laws and helps individuals to file tax returns correctly.

A Tax Consultant must have Mathematical and critical thinking skills. An individual can become a Tax Consultant after completing graduation in Commerce. Candidates with a post-graduation degree are preferred as Tax Consultants.

The starting salary of a Tax Consultant is INR 3.5 Lakhs per annum and the salary may go up to INR 10 Lakh per annum for experienced candidates.

15. Journalist

Candidates who are interested in telling stories of people, culture, places, and cuisines can select journalism as among the top career options for Commerce after the 12th. Interested students can opt for the Bachelor's Degree in Journalism after completing the Class 12 Boards in the Commerce stream.

Interested students can also do a Master's Degree in Journalism. The job areas of a Journalist include television, newspapers, and Publishing houses.

The average annual salary of a journalist is INR 3 lakhs per annum. The salary of a journalist may increase to INR 7.5 Lakhs per annum based on the experience of the candidate.

16. Internal Auditor

Candidates can become Internal Auditors after completing their Graduation in Commerce. A Master Degree in Commerce or Finance is preferable for an Internal Auditor. The work responsibilities of an Internal Auditor is to maintain the business operations and ensure accuracy in accounting.

An Internal Auditor of an organization supervises the financial regulation of a company, compliance with the necessary regulations, and development of annual plans for the company.

The average salary of an Internal Auditor is INR 6 Lakhs per annum and the salary increases with the number of years of experience of the candidate. An experienced Internal Auditor can earn up to INR 10 Lakhs per annum.

17. Cost Accountant

A Cost Accountant must have skills in Mathematics and Statistics and the work responsibilities of a Cost Accountant are to manage the cost standards for inventory and labor of a company.

A Cost Accountant also maintains the Cost Ledger of the company and estimates the productivity of products and services of the organization.

Candidates who have completed a B.Com degree can join the Certified Management Accountant program which has a duration of 6 to 8 months. An ACCA course of the duration of 2 years is also preferable for a career as a Cost Accountant.

The average salary of a Cost Accountant is INR 5 Lakhs per annum. A Senior Cost Accountant can get a payroll of INR 20 lakhs per annum depending upon the years of experience.

18. Civil Services

Among the best career options for Commerce after 12th is appearing for the Civil Services exam. Candidates who want to join the prestigious job and serve the country can appear for the UPSC conducted Civil Services exam.

The Civil Services are recruited for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and the Indian Police Service (IPS). The main job of the Civil Service candidates is to formulate the laws and policies on behalf of the Government.

The Civil Service exam consists of the Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Candidates who have completed their 12th in Commerce and Graduation in any stream can appear for the UPSC exams. It is a well-paid job and is one of the prestigious career options.