Career Options After 12th Commerce

Commerce students leave secondary school with various career paths to choose from. Discover your career options after 12th commerce and learn about some of the highest-paying commerce jobs available.

What is the commerce stream?

As learners enter higher secondary school, they can choose between three streams of study: humanities, science, and commerce. 

Students who choose to study the commerce stream are introduced to the business world through courses on accountancy, business studies, and economics. This allows students to explore the different business areas and decide which career path might be best for them. 

High-paying commerce jobs

If you’re looking for a high-paying job after 12th commerce, you can discover plenty of options that pay above the average annual national wage of ₹8,63,312 [1]. Since experts expect India’s financial sector to grow at an annual growth rate of 14.02 percent between 2022 and 2027, the job outlook for commerce students should remain positive over the next several years [2]. 

If you are interested in a career path in commerce, here are 10 of the highest-paying commerce jobs and what you need to know to qualify for each position.

1. Investment banker 

Average annual IN salary: ₹20,09,419 [3]

Typical education: Roughly 42 percent of investment bankers hold a master’s degree, while 44 percent hold a bachelor’s degree [3]. You may opt for a bachelor’s degree in finance, banking, a related field, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Financial Management, or a PG certificate in Investment Banking.

An investment banker helps companies, individuals, or government entities raise capital. In this role, you may also guide financial matters like investments, mergers, and acquisitions. 

Three common investment banker interview questions:

• Explain three investment banking financial statements.

• Can you describe a fairness opinion and its significance?

• What are a few reasons a company would issue debt instead of equity?

2. Business consultant

Average annual IN salary: ₹11,57,118 [4]

Typical education: About 78 percent of business consultants hold a bachelor’s degree [4]. Other options include bachelor’s degrees in business administration or economics, an MBA,  or a master’s in financial management. 

A business consultant is hired to assess a company’s existing business strategies and identify areas for improvement. Frequently working with new businesses, they help their clients achieve their goals of cutting costs, increasing profits, recruiting employees, and securing partners and funds.

Three common business consultant interview questions:

• How would you handle your employer’s reluctance to implement your recommendations?

• How do you incorporate a company’s culture into your process?

• What is typically your first step to increase profit at a company?

3. Financial analyst

Average annual IN salary: ₹16,23,604 [5]

Typical education: 55 percent of financial analysts hold a bachelor’s degree, and 36 percent hold a master’s degree [5]. Degree options include bachelor’s degrees in finance or economics, an MBA, or a master’s degree in commerce or financial analysis.

A financial analyst tracks the performance of stocks, bonds, and other investments to provide clients with recommendations and guide them in their financial decisions. 

Three common financial analyst interview questions:

• What are some of the uses of financial modelling?

• How would you approach a large amount of data?

• What is a cash flow statement?

4. Product manager

Average annual IN salary: ₹31,87,199 [6]

Typical education: 48 percent of product managers hold a bachelor’s degree, and 46 percent hold a master’s degree [6]. Other options include bachelor’s degrees in business management, business administration, or business studies.

A product manager oversees a product development team and remains involved in every aspect of the product life cycle, including development, pricing, and marketing. They often collaborate with and manage professionals in other fields, such as engineering, marketing, and sales. 

Three common product manager interview questions:

• Describe the attributes that make a product’s design stand out.

• Name our company’s top competitors.

• What is a product life cycle? 

5. Actuary

Average annual IN salary: ₹24,24,418 [7]

Typical education: 53 percent of actuaries hold a bachelor’s degree [7]. Other degree options include a bachelor’s in actuarial science or a master’s in actuarial science.

Actuaries use data analytics to predict the financial impact of future events. This is particularly useful to insurance companies and employee benefits providers, but it also helps other types of businesses manage cyber and climate risks.

Three common actuary interview questions:

• How would you describe an actuary’s role? 

• What actuarial software are you familiar with?

• What are actuarial life tables?

6. Chartered accountant

Average annual  IN salary: ₹13,61,465 [8]

Typical education: 46 percent of chartered accountants hold a bachelor’s degree [8]. Other degree options include a bachelor’s in accounting or a master’s degree in accountancy or accounting and finance. You can also take a chartered accountant course from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

A chartered accountant handles tax and budget management, fund allocation, financial auditing, and more for businesses, government entities, and individuals.

Three common chartered accountant interview questions:

• How can a chartered accountant help a company grow?

• How would you improve our accounting processes?

• Describe the different types of accounting.

7. Marketing manager

Average annual IN salary: ₹29,85,590 [9]

Typical education: 57% of marketing managers hold bachelor’s degrees [9]. Other options include a bachelor’s degree in marketing or marketing management, a master’s in marketing, or an MBA.

A marketing manager creates marketing strategies and oversees the design and implementation of marketing campaigns. In this role, you track the performance of a campaign and find ways to improve performance when necessary. Marketing managers may also coordinate a marketing team's efforts or work alongside outside advertising agencies.

Three common marketing manager interview questions:

• Explain the “P’s” of marketing and why they matter. 

• How do you approach creating a customer journey map, and why is it important?

• Which analytics platforms are you familiar with?

8. Cost accountant

Average annual IN salary: ₹13,56,742 [10]

Typical education: 57 percent of cost accountants hold a bachelor’s degree [10]. Other options include a bachelor’s in accounting or finance or an MBA. You can also take a course in cost accounting offered through The Institute of Cost Accountants of India.

Cost accountants specialise in value creation and business strategy and work across many industries, including government, education, banking, and finance. They track and analyse a business's expenses and provide reports and recommendations for cost control. 

Three common cost accountant interview questions: 

• When is cost accounting used instead of financial accounting?

• What are the objectives of a cost accountant?

• Explain net incremental cash flow.

9. Certified public accountant

Average annual IN Salary: ₹14,71,280 [11]

Typical education: 57 percent of certified public accountants hold a bachelor’s degree [11]. Other options include a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or an MBA in Accounting. 

A CPA might work in various settings and positions, such as internal auditor, finance director, or corporate comptroller for small businesses, governmental organisations, etc. In this role, your responsibilities include financial analysis and planning, auditing, tax management and consulting, and more. 

Three common certified public accountant interview questions:

• Name some of the most common mistakes you’ve witnessed in accounting.

• What accounting software are you familiar with?

• Explain the difference between accounts payable and accounts receivable. 

10. Market research analyst

Average annual IN salary: ₹15,13,789 [12]

Typical education: 46 percent of market research analysts hold a bachelor’s degree [12]. Other options include a bachelor’s degree in marketing or statistics or a PG diploma in marketing management.

To predict the sales of a product or service, a market research analyst studies market conditions, consumer behaviour, and competitor performance. Based on their findings, they make pricing, marketing, and product improvement recommendations. 

Three common market research analyst interview questions:

• How would you improve our marketing strategies?

• Describe your research methods.

• What is your first step in predicting the sales of a product?

*Salary data is from SalaryExpert as of December 2024 and may vary based on location, education, and other factors. It is always helpful to get a full range of salary data from multiple sources during your job search. 

Next steps

As you prepare to enter higher education or land the perfect job, an online course might help sharpen your skills and demonstrate your dedication to becoming the best business leader you can be. Consider a course offered on Coursera, such as Yale University’s Financial Markets or the University of Illinois’ Introduction to Finance: The Basics.

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