Career Options After 12th Commerce - Eligibility & Expected Salary

Career Options After 12th Commerce - Eligibility & Expected Salary

Updated on May 16, 2025 09:38 AM IST

Commerce is a versatile stream that caters to almost all types of aptitudes and skills. If you are a business-oriented person, you can explore a wide range of commerce stream career options, regardless of your proficiency in maths. Many students worry about career options after 12th commerce, but the truth is that if you have the right skill and mindset, you can earn well in any line of business-oriented work you choose.

Career Options After 12th Commerce - Eligibility & Expected Salary
Career Options After 12th Commerce - Eligibility & Expected Salary

Commerce is taking the world by storm, largely because we are in the era of start-ups and entrepreneurship. And as a commerce student, you develop an excellent eye for detail, creativity, problem-solving ability, and communication skills. If your skill set matches these qualities or you aspire to build them, you must consider the following unique career options in commerce. Let’s explore some of the top commerce stream career options, along with the required educational qualifications and potential salary scale.

Career options after 12th Commerce

Commerce Career Options

Qualifications Required

Chartered Accountant

UG in Accounting (or directly begin CA foundation course after 12th)

Risk Management Analyst

UG in Maths and Commerce-related courses

Retail Manager

UG in BBA, B. Com, or any other relevant field

Personal Financial Advisor

UG in Maths, Economics, or Finance

Business Analyst

UG in Business Administration, Finance, or Accounting.

Digital Marketer

UG in BBA or B. Com

Investment Banker

UG in Economics, B. Com, or any other relevant field

Certified Public Accountant

UG in B. Com or any other relevant field

Actuary

UG in Economics, Maths, or Statistics

Company Secretary

CSEET Exam

ICSI intermediate

ICSI final


Let us now take an in-depth view of commerce career options after 12th:

1. Chartered Accountant

Chartered Accountancy is one of the popular commerce stream career options after 12th grade. A CA is an accountant certified by a statutory body, qualifying them to manage a company's accounting and tax-related matters. These include tax returns, audits of financial statements, business practices, and record keeping.

There are three phases you must successfully complete to become a CA. The first step is the foundation course, which you can appear for after completing the 12th. However, if you complete your graduation, you are not required to take the foundation course. Then the next stage is the intermediate level. Once you clear the intermediate exams, you become eligible for CA internships. After interning for 2 to 2.5 years, you can appear for the final exam.

Becoming a CA is a five-year journey that requires extensive commitment and dedication. Due to its high demand and high salary potential, Chartered Accountancy is often considered the best job after 12 commerce.

Salary: Rs 1.7 Lakh - 19.2 Lakhs

(Salary source: Ambitionbox)

Read more: Best Tips to get hired after completing CA

2. Risk Management Analyst

To be an effective Risk Management Analyst, you must have strong supervision, observation, research, and coordination skills. In such commerce stream career options, risk managers ensure that their client or company complies with regulations and efficiently manages both human and monetary resources. When a company is under a potential threat, a risk management analyst is hired to find strategies to mitigate it.

If you are prevention-oriented and always ready with a contingency plan, then this is one of the best career opportunities after 12th commerce. After graduation, you can start with entry-level jobs such as Insurance Risk Surveyor, Data Analyst, Financial Risk Analyst, and gradually work your way up to becoming a Risk Management Analyst.

Salary: Rs 2.5 Lakhs - 23 Lakhs

(Salary source: Ambitionbox)

3. Personal Financial Advisor

Among the various commerce stream career options, becoming a financial advisor is a highly rewarding career path. A personal financial advisor is responsible for guiding clients or employers on investments, taxes, insurance, stocks, money management, and achieving long-term financial goals. If you have an analytical mind, excellent problem-solving skills, and enjoy guiding others to make better financial decisions, this can be one of the best career options after commerce.

While some organisations do not require a specific certification in the field, gaining a certificate in financial advisory can be highly beneficial. Students can explore FINRA, SEBI, and similar institutions to learn about these certifications.

Salary: Rs 1 Lakh to 8 Lakhs

(Salary source: Ambitionbox)

Read more:

4. Investment Banker

Investment bankers are financial advisors to businesses and, in some cases, even governments. In such commerce stream career options, professionals help clients to raise funds by issuing shares and bonds, negotiating the acquisition of a rival business, or arranging the sale of the business itself. To pursue this path, you must be highly detail-oriented, proficient in MS Office, a good team player, and open to taking directions efficiently. Most importantly, you must be willing to dedicate a significant amount of time, often more than 80 hours a week.

While an MBA or CA is often a preferred qualification in Investment banking, it is not strictly required. For aspirants looking for career options for commerce students, this field offers extensive career opportunities. You can kickstart your career journey by joining any of the entry-level jobs, like a data analyst and work your way up.

Salary: Rs 3 Lakhs - 45 Lakhs

(Salary source: Ambitionbox)

5. Actuary

Actuaries are business professionals responsible for managing financial risks to help protect the organisation's plans and safeguard against potential losses. In this commerce stream career options, professionals apply statistical techniques and mathematical skills to help companies and clients formulate policies to minimise risk-related costs.

To pursue these career options after commerce, you need specialised mathematical knowledge, strong project management and problem-solving skills, as well as interpersonal communication, and computer skills. This includes proficiency in developing spreadsheets, working with databases, handling data operations, and using programming languages. These skills are necessary for exploring career options for commerce students.

Becoming an actuary will require you to obtain a bachelor's degree to get started. While many institutions offer specific courses in actuarial science, you can also opt for courses in business, mathematics, or economics.

Salary: Rs 4 Lakhs - 28.8 Lakhs

(Salary source: Ambitionbox)

Read more:

6. Digital Marketer

As a Digital Marketing professional, your role includes creating and uploading content to your organisation's website, developing and executing email marketing campaigns, and accurately analysing customer data and reports. Beyond this, such commerce stream career options require you to use quantitative analysis to identify gaps in the advertising or branding strategies and suggest improvements to boost performance in social and marketing channels.

This is a highly versatile profession because you can try out various job profiles while staying within this domain. You can explore jobs that involve SEO Management, Content Marketing Specialisation or Social Media Management. For these commerce career options, it’s important to stay updated on current societal trends and norms of your target audience to engage effectively.

Salary: Rs 1.2 Lakh - 9.7 Lakhs

(Salary source: Ambitionbox)


The commerce stream career options available after 12th are both diverse and promising, but it is crucial to have a clear vision and defined future goals. The first step in making such a wise and calculated career decision is to explore unique career options in commerce and to align your skills and interests with the right path. These career options after commerce offer great future-proof opportunities with a higher salary scale and stability. To ensure job satisfaction and better work-life balance, your efforts should be focused on building a career where success is not just considered by salary range but also by personal well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I decide if commerce is the right stream for me?

If you feel that the commercial world excites you if numbers and marketing strategies are something that keeps you occupied, then commerce is the right stream for you.

2. Is it possible to do well in commerce if my maths is bad?

Yes, building a career in commerce maths is not necessary. There are careers like a digital marketer, human resources administrator, etc that require an in-depth understanding of organizational structures and consumer behavior instead of maths.

3. Can I join Civil services after doing commerce?

Yes, irrespective of what your subjects in graduation or 12th standard were, you can appear for UPSC and state administration exams.

4. What is the highest post in commerce?

Chartered Accountant (CA) and Investment Banker are two of the best career options after 12th commerce.

5. Does the law have commerce-related practice as well?

Yes, if you feel that you have aptitude and interest in both commerce and law then you have the option of having the best of both worlds by going for corporate law.

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