After finishing 12th grade, students face problems in choosing the right course for themselves. Every student desires a stable future. We have founded and gathered the top high-salary courses after 12th grade in 2026 that will not only make your future fruitful but also teach you various skills that will help you earn a higher salary.
Whether you have completed your 12th from Science, Commerce, or Arts stream, various highest paying salary courses are available for you. Make a wide choice for yourself by checking your eligibility and interests. Let’s explore some of the top courses after 12th throughout this blog.
Here is the list of the top high-salary courses after the 12th of 2026, organized by stream for your convenience.
Bachelor of Engineering (B. Tech) or Bachelor of Engineering (BE) is a full-time course of 4 years with specialization in multiple fields. Students should have Physics, Chemistry, and Maths as their main subjects in 12th to choose engineering careers. Apart from the degree, students can also pursue diplomas like ITI or polytechnic to get a job in the engineering field.
Top Skills Needed:
Admission procedure: Most colleges offer direct admission to B. Tech courses, while for other colleges, students must fulfill the following things:
Engineering Salary In India 2026: The average salary that an engineer gets in India is approx INR 4,50,000 to 6,75,000 per year for freshers, depending on the college tier.
The world is going through a massive technological and infrastructure change. People need architects to design work areas, hotels, homes, and buildings. If you are interested in making buildings and designs, you should consider Architecture as a clear career path. B.Arch comes under the best high-salary courses after 12th.
Top Skills Needed:
Eligibility criteria: Students should have to choose Physics, Chemistry, and Maths in their 12th. Also, they need to score at least 50% in all their subjects to appear in any entrance exam (like NATA).
Architecture Salary In India 2026: A fresh architecture graduate typically starts with a salary package of INR 3 – 5 Lakhs per annum. With experience, the salary can exceed ₹10,00,000.
Another fascinating job profile is Commercial Pilot. In Commercial Pilot Training, you become a master of flying Aeroplanes. Due to people shifting rapidly from one place to another, the use of planes has increased, as has the job opportunities in the pilot section.
Top Skills Needed:
Commercial Pilot Salary in India 2026: The starting salary for a Commercial Pilot ranges between INR 15 – 24 Lakhs per annum, increasing significantly with flying hours and experience (up to 90 Lakhs for senior captains).
If computer fascinates you, BSc Computer Science is meant for you. This entire course of 3 years can help you explore the nuances of computers. It includes various things such as Database systems, C++, technical skills, and more.
Top Skills Needed:
BSC Computer Science Salary in India 2026: The salary package after completing this course is decent – you can get up to 3 to 6 LPA in the beginning, while it can go up to 25 LPA or more depending on your expertise.
Medical courses are the second option of the toppers after engineering. Candidates can become doctors, surgeons, or physicians. One of the elite medical jobs is MBBS. This takes around 4-5.5 years to complete. To become eligible, you must sit for the NEET entrance exam.
Top Skills Needed:
Eligibility: It is necessary to have Biology, Physics, and Chemistry in 12th. Candidates must be of Indian nationality to appear in entrance exams.
MBBS Salary In India 2026: After MBBS, a fresher can expect a salary between INR 6 – 12 Lakhs per annum, depending on the hospital and city. It is one of the highest-paid and most respected jobs.
In Pharmaceuticals courses (B. Pharma), students will learn about the chemical formation of medicines and the utility of drugs. Most Pharmaceutical courses are full-time (4 years).
Top Skills Needed:
Pharmaceuticals Salary In India 2026: Earliest INR 2 to 5 Lakhs per year.
Nursing courses can be the go-to career that you want to do. The course duration ranges from 3-4 years. The job profile requires managing pre- and post-operative care.
Top Skills Needed:
BSc in Nursing Salary in India 2026: After completing the course, you can expect INR 2.5 LPA – 4.5 LPA as a fresher.
We live in a time full of opportunities; however, the risk of being mentally hampered is also high. In such a scenario, if you opt for Psychology as a career option, you will secure your future well.
Top Skills Needed:
BSc in Psychology Salary in India 2026: Those who pursue psychology have the potential to earn up to 2-4 Lakhs per annum initially.
Business stream students can choose among multiple management courses like BBA, BMS, or Integrated MBA. After qualifying, students can apply for the position of manager or equivalent in private or corporate offices.
Top Skills Needed:
Management Salary In India 2026: Earliest Salary – 4 to 7 lakhs per annum depending on the college brand.
Most commerce students have a deep interest in accounts. An accountant doesn’t have any fewer job opportunities than engineers. Every organization needs an accountant.
Top Skills Needed:
Eligibility: Students should have commerce in their 12th class to pursue their career in accounting.
Accounts Salary In India: An entry-level accounting technician/graduate can expect to earn an average total compensation of approx ₹3.2 Lakhs per annum.
Law courses are very common these days. Students can become Corporate Lawyers, Litigators, or Legal Advisors after completing their education. Unlike medical and engineering, there is no condition to have a specific stream in the 12th.
Top Skills Needed:
Law Salary In India 2026: Earliest Salary – 3 to 5 lakhs per annum.
Hotel management is said to be an underrated job, but it has high potential. It is a 3-year full-time course. Regardless of any stream, it is necessary to score at least 50% marks in 12th.
Top Skills Needed:
Hotel Management Salary In India 2026:
Restaurant Manager: 2.7 – 8.7 Lakhs/year
Sous Chef: 2.9 – 10 Lakhs/year
If you have an interest in journalism and media, this career will provide you with new opportunities. Students who have recently passed their 12th class can be admitted to mass communication courses.
Top Skills Needed:
Mass Communication Salary In India 2026: Initial Average Salary Offered is between INR 3.5 to 4.5 Lakhs Per Annum.
Fashion design is a career option for the modern generation. Professionals will teach about the basics of fabric quality and design patterns. Fashion design is one of the top 10 high-salary courses after 12th.
Top Skills Needed:
Fashion Designing Salary In India 2026: The entry-level salary ranges from 1.5 to 3 lakhs per annum, going up to 10 lakhs with experience.
Students can pursue multiple full-time courses like B.Ed or D.El.Ed after graduation. To get a government teaching job, apply for entrance exams like NET, TET, and CTET.
Teaching Salary In India 2026: Average Annual Salary ranges from ₹2.5 Lakhs to ₹5 Lakhs for freshers.
To get into top colleges, keep an eye on these exams:
| Stream | Exam Name | Purpose | Tentative Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science (PCM) | JEE Main / Advanced | Engineering (IITs/NITs) | Jan & April 2026 |
| Science (PCB) | NEET UG | MBBS / BDS | May 2026 |
| Law | CLAT / AILET | National Law Universities | December 2026 |
| Design | NIFT / NID | Fashion & Design | Feb 2026 |
| General | CUET (UG) | Central Universities (DU, BHU) | May 2026 |
| Course | Approx Total Fees (INR) | Avg. Starting Salary (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| B.Tech (Engineering) | 4 – 15 Lakhs | 3.5 – 7 LPA |
| MBBS (Medical) | 1 – 50 Lakhs+ | 6 – 12 LPA |
| B.Arch (Architecture) | 2 – 8 Lakhs | 3 – 5 LPA |
| BBA/Management | 3 – 10 Lakhs | 3 – 6 LPA |
| Comm. Pilot | 30 – 50 Lakhs | 15 – 24 LPA |
The stream of science offers a wide range of courses for students after completing class 12 in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB). While admission to many popular courses requires NEET, many other high-salary courses do not:
Apart from all the above-mentioned high-salary courses after 12th, there are a few prestigious designations in government and private organizations for which students are sought after, such as IAS, IPS, Defence services, Scientists, and Researchers. You have no compulsion to pursue an engineering course to apply and crack the examination for these posts. All you need is knowledge of current affairs with sharp grasping power.
If you have recently qualified for your 12th examinations with good marks and want guidance to choose the correct path, you can choose any of the above degrees to get a high-paid job.
Which job has the highest salary after the 12th?
Popular professions include 1. Medical professionals (Doctors/Surgeons) 2. Commercial Pilots 3. Software Engineers 4. Chartered Accountants.
Which science course has high salary?
Best professional courses include 1. Biotechnology 2. Clinical research 3. Management 4. Computer science.
Which degree is best for high salary?
Degrees with high earning potential include B.Tech, MBBS, B.Arch, and MBA (Integrated).