Science

Science career routes

If you took Physics, Chemistry, Maths or Biology in class 11. Browse the job routes researched so far, then open one for its pay ladder and entry requirements.

35 routes

Science

Agricultural Scientist / Agriculture Officer (B.Sc Hons Agriculture)

Study crops, soil, livestock and food systems in a four-year professional degree, then go into agricultural research, a bank's farm-lending desk, government extension work, or the seed and agri-input industry.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹3.0–7.0 LPA
How long
4 yr
Cost
₹40,000–9 lakh

Science

Allied Health Professional (Physiotherapy, Lab Technology, Radiography, Optometry)

The hands-on clinical work in a hospital that isn't done by a doctor or a nurse - moving injured joints, running lab tests, taking scans, testing eyes - through an entry route most students assume, wrongly, is NEET.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹2.5–6.0 LPA
How long
4.5 yr
Cost
₹50,000–6 lakh

Science

Architect (B.Arch)

Design buildings - houses, schools, offices, stations - and see them through from a drawing to a finished thing people walk into.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹2.5–6.0 LPA
How long
5 yr
Cost
₹1.5–25 lakh

Science

Armed Forces Officer (via NDA)

Join the Army, Navy or Air Force as an officer straight after class 12, leading soldiers, sailors or flying aircraft.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹10–15 LPA
How long
4 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

Assistant loco pilot and railway technician

You help operate trains or maintain railway equipment through a technical route.

Pay basis
Railway basic-pay illustration
Entry pay · first role
₹2.39 LPA
How long
2 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science · Commerce · Arts

Assistant professor and college lecturer

You teach a college subject and develop academic work in that field.

Pay basis
University gross example
Entry pay · first role
₹11.77–14.54 LPA
How long
5 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

AYUSH Doctor (BAMS Ayurveda / BHMS Homoeopathy)

Train as a licensed Ayurvedic or homoeopathic doctor through the same NEET-UG exam as MBBS - the route a huge number of NEET candidates end up on when the MBBS rank does not come.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹2.5–6.0 LPA
How long
5.5 yr
Cost
₹50,000–30 lakh

Science · Commerce · Arts

Central government officer through SSC CGL

A graduate recruitment exam leads to administrative, tax, audit and investigation posts.

Pay basis
Government gross example
Entry pay · first role
₹8.97–10.93 LPA
How long
3 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science · Commerce · Arts

Constable in central armed police forces

You perform uniformed security duties after recruitment open at school level.

Pay basis
Government gross example
Entry pay · first role
₹4.51–5.64 LPA
How long
0 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

Core Engineer (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical)

Design, build and keep running the physical things around you - machines, power grids, roads, bridges, factories and metro lines.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹3.0–8.0 LPA
How long
4 yr
Cost
₹6–25 lakh

Science · Commerce · Arts

Data analyst and data scientist

You use data, statistics and computing to answer practical questions.

Pay basis
Pay evidence incomplete
Entry pay · first role
Not established
How long
4 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

Dentist (BDS)

Diagnose and treat problems with teeth, gums and the mouth - fillings, extractions, braces, implants and surgery.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹1.5–5.0 LPA
How long
5 yr
Cost
₹50,000–40 lakh

Science

Doctor (MBBS)

Diagnose and treat illness and injury - the route that leads to being a physician, a surgeon or any medical specialist.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹6.0–12 LPA
How long
5.5 yr
Cost
₹50,000–1 crore

Science · Commerce · Arts

Government clerk and data-entry work after class 12

You handle records, correspondence or data entry in a public office.

Pay basis
Government gross example
Entry pay · first role
₹3.99–4.8 LPA
How long
0 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science · Commerce · Arts

Gramin Dak Sevak with India Post

You provide local postal services under a separate engagement system.

Pay basis
India Post starting allowance
Entry pay · first role
₹1.2–1.44 LPA
How long
0 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science · Commerce · Arts

Human resources professional

You work on hiring, development and employee relations.

Pay basis
HR programme: median CTC
Placement example
₹28 LPA
How long
5 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

Junior engineer in government departments

You apply engineering training to public works, equipment or maintenance.

Pay basis
Government gross example
Entry pay · first role
₹7.14–8.76 LPA
How long
3 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science · Commerce · Arts

Management consultant

You help organisations analyse problems and plan changes.

Pay basis
MBA cohort: fixed-cash median
Placement example
₹25.59 LPA
How long
5 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

Merchant Navy Officer

Drive and run the giant cargo ships that carry almost everything the world buys, spending months at a time at sea.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹6.0–12 LPA
How long
4 yr
Cost
₹1.5–5 lakh

Science

Nurse (B.Sc Nursing)

Deliver the day-to-day care that keeps hospital patients alive - the people who are actually at the bedside, all day and all night.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹2.5–5.0 LPA
How long
4 yr
Cost
₹20,000–10 lakh

Science · Commerce · Arts

Nursery and pre-primary teacher

You support young children through play, language, routines and early learning.

Pay basis
Delhi public-post basic-pay example
Entry pay · first role
₹4.25 LPA
How long
2 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science · Commerce · Arts

Officer at a financial regulator

You help supervise financial institutions, markets or development finance.

Pay basis
SEBI published starting package
Entry pay · first role
₹17.16–22.08 LPA
How long
5 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

Pharmacist (B.Pharm / Pharm.D)

Know medicines inside out - how they are made, what they do, what they must never be mixed with - and either make them, test them, or hand them to patients.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹2.0–5.0 LPA
How long
4 yr
Cost
₹40,000–10 lakh

Science · Commerce · Arts

Physical education teacher

You teach movement, fitness and sports safely, and organise school games.

Pay basis
Government gross example
Entry pay · first role
₹8.97–10.93 LPA
How long
4 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

Postgraduate teacher: science subjects

You teach a subject in classes 11–12 after subject study and teacher training.

Pay basis
Government gross example
Entry pay · first role
₹9.48–11.54 LPA
How long
7 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science · Commerce · Arts

Primary teacher: classes 1–5

You help younger pupils build reading, writing, numeracy and classroom skills.

Pay basis
Government gross example
Entry pay · first role
₹7.14–8.76 LPA
How long
2 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science · Commerce · Arts

Product manager

You coordinate what a product should do and how a team improves it.

Pay basis
MBA cohort: fixed-cash median
Placement example
₹28.51 LPA
How long
5 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

Quantitative analyst and trading researcher

You use mathematics and code to study financial decisions and trading.

Pay basis
Pay evidence incomplete
Entry pay · first role
Not established
How long
4 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science · Commerce · Arts

Railway Level 1 operational posts

You support track, station or maintenance operations in a railway unit.

Pay basis
Railway basic-pay illustration
Entry pay · first role
₹2.16 LPA
How long
0 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

Research Scientist (Pure Sciences)

Spend your working life finding out things nobody knows yet - in physics, chemistry, biology or maths - at a university or a national laboratory.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹4.0–8.0 LPA
How long
10 yr
Cost
₹30,000–3 lakh

Science

Software Engineer (B.Tech Computer Science)

Write the code behind the apps, websites, banking systems and games that people use every day.

Pay basis
Editorial estimates
Entry pay · first role
₹3.5–10 LPA
How long
4 yr
Cost
₹6–25 lakh

Science · Commerce · Arts

Station master and graduate railway posts

You help run railway operations or administration through graduate recruitment.

Pay basis
Railway basic-pay illustration
Entry pay · first role
₹4.25 LPA
How long
3 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

Trained graduate teacher: science and maths

You teach a subject in classes 6–10 after a relevant degree and teacher training.

Pay basis
Government gross example
Entry pay · first role
₹8.97–10.93 LPA
How long
5 yr
Cost
Not stated

Science

VLSI and chip design engineer

You design, test or verify the circuits used in electronic chips.

Pay basis
Pay evidence incomplete
Entry pay · first role
Not established
How long
4 yr
Cost
Not stated