Career Options In Science: Know How To Get There
“Is Science worthwhile for me?”
“Will I be studying all the time?”
“Will I lose my social life?”
“Do I need coaching from Class 11?”
“Will I be able to handle the pressure?”
These are some of the common questions students ask themselves before opting for science after 10th. The path may seem challenging, but career options in the science stream are vast and remunerative. In this article, we explore some of the different branches of science, top career options in science with salary, and how you can build a successful career in them after 12th.
Why Choose Science After 10th?
Science has played a huge role in human development throughout history. Students of Science have made a significant contribution to shaping our modern world, from understanding gravity to developing cutting-edge technology.
Science is one of the most popular streams available after 10th, which enables you to switch to other streams like Humanities or Commerce later in your career. But students from other disciplines cannot pursue core science careers. This flexibility is a huge advantage for science students, making it a smart and calculated career choice.
What Are the 4 Main Branches of Science?
Science has many disciplines, but they are broadly divided into four major branches:
Branch | Subjects | Degree Options |
Physical Sciences | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics | BSc or BTech in Physics, Chemistry |
Earth Sciences | Astronomy, Geology, Meteorology | BSc Geology, BTech in Earth Sciences |
Life Sciences | Biology, Botany, Zoology | MBBS, BSc Microbiology, BSc Biotech |
Applied Sciences | Engineering, Data Science, AI, ML | B.Tech in Engineering, B.Sc Data Science |
Best Career Options After 12th Science
The table given below contains a broad classification of science disciplines and related fields.
Physical/Natural Sciences | Earth Sciences | Life/Medical Sciences | Applied Sciences/Technology |
Physics | Astronomy | Anatomy | Engineering |
Mechanics | Meteorology | Botany | Data Analysis |
Electromagnetics | Geology | Biology | Machine Learning |
Thermodynamics | Oceanography | Zoology | Biomedical Engineering |
Kinetics | Glaciology | Neurobiology | |
Chemistry | Climatology | Marine Biology | |
Inorganic Chemistry | Structural Geology | Paleontology | |
Analytical Chemistry | Genetics | ||
Cell Biology |
(Note- Data has been collated by Team Careers360)
This table provides a brief overview of various science fields. Let’s now explore some of the top career options in the science stream with salary details:
Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) deal with creating smart machines and systems that mimic human intelligence and behaviour. For instance, machine learning is used by voice recognition systems like Siri and Alexa to properly understand human speech and provide intelligent responses.
Whether you use Google Search, Netflix, or Uber, every application you come across uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to make itself faster, more effective, and more personalised. Over 3 million jobs are expected to be created by AI in the coming few years. Therefore, this is one of the fastest-emerging fields in the domain of science and technology, and one of the most promising career options in science field.
Courses of study | B.Tech in Computer Engineering + M.Tech/Master’s in Machine Learning/AI, or equivalent |
Career options | Machine Learning Researcher, AI Engineer, Data Mining Analyst, Business Intelligence Developer, etc. |
Premier Institutes | IIT - Hyderabad/ Madras/ Roorkee (and various other locations), IISc - Bangalore, SRM Institute of Science & Technology - Chennai, etc. |
Average starting salary | Rs. 3.5 Lakhs - 30 Lakhs ( AI/ML Engineer) |
Top recruiters | Amazon AWS, Databricks, IBM, Prolifics, etc. |
(Salary source: Ambitionbox)
Food And Agricultural Science
Food and Agricultural Science is a vital domain for agriculture-based countries such as India. Food and agriculture jobs, often contrary to popular belief, are highly technological areas offering numerous career options in science stream for those interested in the study of soil and crop production, preservation techniques, and experimenting with food production.
This field also involves extensive research to improve both the quality and quantity of crops, dairy products, agricultural products, and food patterns.
Courses of study | BSc + MSc in Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulture, or, BTech + MTech in Agricultural Engineering, or equivalent. |
Career options | Agricultural Scientist, Horticulturist, Food Scientist, Aquaculturist, and so on. |
Top colleges | Punjab Agricultural University - Ludhiana, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences - Prayagraj, Banaras Hindu University - Varanasi, etc. |
Average starting salary |
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Top recruiters | NABARD, National Seeds Corporation, Food Corporation of India (FCI), National Dairy Development Board, etc. |
(Salary source: Glassdoor)
Environmental Science And Sustainable Development
Environmental pollution, especially in cities like Delhi, leads to a severe public health crisis every year. According to the WHO, pollution causes 1.6 to 2.5 million deaths annually in India. With global warming, resource depletion, and climate change making daily headlines, career options in science field like environmental science are more relevant than ever.
Environmental Sustainability Science is a discipline that focuses on understanding and protecting natural systems. For students who feel an innate sense of responsibility towards the environment and wish to tangibly contribute to saving it, environmental science could be one of the best career options in science stream.
Courses of study | BSc + MSc Environmental Science or BTech Environmental Engineering, or equivalent. |
Career options | Environmental Engineer, Conversation Hydrologist, Air Pollution Analyst, Natural Resource Manager, and so on. |
Top colleges | Bharathiar University - Coimbatore, University of Mysore - Mysore, University of Delhi - Delhi, Forest Research Institute - Dehradun, etc. |
Average starting salary | Environmental Scientist: Rs 1.6 Lakh - 8 Lakhs |
Top recruiters | AECOM, Kalpan Hydro Company, Goodrich Corporation, etc. |
(Salary source: Ambitionbox)
Astronomy And Astrophysics
Do you love astronomy, stargazing? Or are you a Big Bang Theory fan?
Astronomy and astrophysics are among the most exciting career options in science stream, involving the study of physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
One of its offshoots is astrophysics, which deals with the study of the chemical, physical, and dynamic properties of celestial objects. It also examines phenomena above and below the atmosphere. Additionally, there is cosmology, which investigates the origin and evolution of the universe.
Courses of study | BSc + MSc Astrophysics/Physics + PhD, or equivalent. |
Career options | Astronomer, Cosmologist, Astrophysicist, Scientist, and so on. |
Top colleges | Raman Research Institute - Bangalore, IISc - Bangalore, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP) - Bangalore, etc. |
Average starting salary | Astrophysicist : Rs 1 Lakh - 2 Lakh |
Top recruiters | Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Technology Information Forecasting & Assessment Control (TIFAC), etc. |
(Salary source: Glassdoor)
Bioengineering And Biomedical Engineering
This is an innovative career options in science with salary. This domain combines engineering skills with healthcare experience. Biomedical engineers, for example, provide solutions to various health conditions by utilising new technologies such as bio-instrumentation, biomaterials, biomechanics, etc. The real-world application of bioengineering can be seen in artificial organs, computer simulations, tissue engineering, medical imaging (such as MRIs and CT scans), engineered microbes, biomaterials, and even wearable technology (such as fitness trackers).
Courses of study | BTech + MTech in Biomedical Engineering or MBBS + MS or BSc (Biomechanics and Bioinstrumentation), or equivalent. |
Career options | Instrument Engineer, Biomedical Engineer, Researcher, Installation Engineer, and so on. |
Top colleges | IIT Madras, IIT Chennai, Manipal Institute of Technology - Manipal, VIT - Vellore, etc. |
Average starting salary | Biomedical Engineer: Rs. 1.6 Lakh - 6 Lakhs |
Top recruiters | Siemens Healthcare, Johnson and Johnson, GE Healthcare, Olympus Medical, etc. |
(Salary source: Ambitionbox)
Blockchain Development
The blockchain is a growing field among the best career options in science stream. This is an offshoot of data science, in which data is organised into blocks. Data blocks are then encrypted and linked using cryptography. Known for producing cryptocurrencies and other important statistical documents, this technology is very complex and modern. The development of blockchain technology requires a deep understanding of complex computer software, mathematics, statistics, and algorithms. It is, undoubtedly, one of the top career options in science field out there.
Courses of study | BTech Computer Engineering + Specialised course in Blockchain Development, or equivalent. |
Career options | Blockchain Software Developer, Blockchain Solution Architect, Ripple Developers, Smart Contract Developer, and so on. |
Top colleges | IIT - Kanpur, UPES - Dehradun, Srinivas University - Mangalore, etc. |
Average starting salary | Blockchain Developer Rs. 2.1 Lakhs - 18.5 Lakhs |
Top recruiters | Siemens Healthcare, Johnson and Johnson, GE Healthcare, Olympus Medical, etc. |
(Salary source: Ambitionbox)
With every passing day we witness new developments and transformations. This transformation is paving the way for several new career opportunities, especially for science stream students. Whether you choose AI, environmental science, biotechnology, or astrophysics, the career options in science with salary and relevance are expanding rapidly. You can take advantage of these changing trends and build a successful career in these emerging fields!
Yashodhra Arora is a Counselling Psychologist. She holds more than 10 years of hands-on experience in HR and behavioural and career counselling of high school students, in India and the USA.
