PCM, PCB or PCMB after Class 10 — opening engineering, medicine, computing, life sciences, design and defence. Pick a career, check its entrance exam, then find coaching and colleges.
Science is chosen right after Class 10 — your combination decides which doors stay open at Class 12.
Each guide lists eligibility, entrance exam, fees, salary and the coaching and college finders for that career.
| Entrance exam | Leads to | Coaching | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEET-UG | MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, B.Sc Nursing | NEET coaching | Medical colleges |
| JEE Main · JEE Advanced | B.Tech — CSE, AI/ML, data science, mechanical, civil, electrical, electronics, aerospace, robotics, cyber security, biotech | JEE coaching | B.Tech colleges |
| CUET-UG | BCA, B.Sc biotech / microbiology / genetics / environmental science, forensic science (NFSU), agriculture (ICAR seats), nutrition | CUET coaching | Science colleges |
| IISER IAT | 5-year BS-MS for research careers (genetics, microbiology, biotechnology) | — | IISER & B.Sc colleges |
| UCEED · NID DAT · NIFT | B.Des — UI/UX and product design | — | Design colleges |
| State CETs (MHT-CET, KCET, GUJCET, TG/AP EAPCET, WBJEE) | B.Tech, B.Pharm, agriculture in state colleges | — | B.Pharm colleges |
| NDA & NA (UPSC) + SSB | Army, Navy and Air Force officer entry (PCM for Navy/Air Force) | — | — |
| No entrance — Class 12 merit / institute test | BPT, BOT, optometry, MLT, radiology, audiology (BASLP) | — | Allied-health colleges |
Sorted by the top of each guide's typical fresher range. Starting pay is only part of the picture — open a guide for fees, growth and job roles.
| # | Career | Typical starting salary | Duration | Who can join |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aerospace Engineering | ₹3–5 lakh per annum (LPA) private / ₹7–16 LPA govt-Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) | 4 years (8 semesters) | Science (PCM) |
| 2 | AI Engineer | ₹6–12 LPA general / ₹8–15 LPA GenAI | — | Science; other routes for all streams |
| 3 | Civil Engineering | ₹3–6 LPA private / ₹7–14 LPA PSU | 4 years (8 semesters) | Science (PCM) |
| 4 | Blockchain Developer | ₹5.5–12 LPA (verified range) | — | Science; other routes for all streams |
| 5 | Software Engineer | ₹3.5–7 LPA services / ₹6–12 LPA product | — | Science; other routes for all streams |
| 6 | Electrical Engineering | ₹3–5.5 LPA private / ₹6–12 LPA PSU | 4 years (8 semesters) | Science (PCM) |
| 7 | Machine Learning Engineer | ₹6–11 LPA | — | Science; other routes for all streams |
| 8 | Data Science | ₹5–10 LPA (Data Scientist) | — | Science or Commerce; some Arts routes |
| 9 | Cyber Security | ₹3.5–5 LPA (no cert) / ₹6–10 LPA (certified) | 4 years (B.Tech) or faster via certifications | Science; other routes for all streams |
| 10 | Web Developer | ₹3–6 LPA (up to ₹5–10 LPA) | — | Any stream |
| 11 | App Developer | ₹4–8 LPA | — | Any stream |
| 12 | CSE | ₹3.5–8 LPA (most colleges) | 4 years (8 semesters) | Science (PCM) |
| 13 | Cloud Engineer | ₹3.5–8 LPA | — | Science; other routes for all streams |
| 14 | IT Consultant | ₹3.5–8 LPA (varies hugely by firm tier) | — | Science; other routes for all streams |
| 15 | Mechanical Engineering | ₹3–5 LPA private / ₹6–8 LPA PSU | 4 years (8 semesters) | Science (PCM) |
| 16 | Electronics Engineering | ₹3–8 LPA (varies hugely by path) | 4 years (8 semesters) | Science (PCM) |
| 17 | Microbiology | ₹2–3.5 LPA (BSc) / ₹3.5–8 LPA (MSc) | 3 years (BSc) + optional 2-year MSc | Science (PCB) |
| 18 | DevOps Engineer | ₹3.5–7 LPA | — | Science; other routes for all streams |
| 19 | BHMS | ₹2.5–6.5 LPA | 5.5 years (incl. 1-year internship) | Science (PCB) |
| 20 | Actuarial Science | ₹4–6 LPA | ~5–8 yrs* | Any stream |
| 21 | UI/UX Designer | ₹3–6 LPA | — | Any stream |
| 22 | Environmental Science | ₹3–6 LPA | 3 years (BSc) + optional 2-year MSc | Science (PCB or PCM) |
| 23 | BCA | ₹2.5–6 LPA | 3 years (6 semesters) | Any stream |
| 24 | BDS | ₹2.5–6 LPA (employed) | 5 years (4 years + 1-year internship) | Science (PCB) |
| 25 | Agriculture Science | ₹3–5.5 LPA (private) / ₹5.8–12L (govt) | 4 years | Science (PCB or PCM) |
| 26 | BAMS | ₹3–5 LPA (employed) | 5.5 years (4.5 years + 1-year internship) | Science (PCB) |
| 27 | Occupational Therapy | ₹3–5 LPA | 4.5 years (incl. internship) | Science (PCB) |
| 28 | Audiology & Speech Therapy | ₹2.5–4 LPA (avg. ₹3–5 LPA) | 4 years (incl. 1-year internship) | Science (PCB or PCM) |
| 29 | Medical Laboratory Technology | ₹2–5 LPA | 3 years (BMLT) or 2 years (DMLT) | Science (PCB or PCM) |
| 30 | Forensic Science | ₹3–4.5 LPA | 3 years (BSc) + optional 2-year MSc | Science (PCB or PCM) |
| 31 | BPT | ₹2.5–4.5 LPA | 4.5 years (incl. 6-month–1-year internship) | Science (PCB) |
| 32 | B.Pharm | ₹2.5–4.5 LPA (varies hugely by sector) | 4 years | Science (PCB or PCM) |
| 33 | Genetics | ₹3–4 LPA (research/lab support) | 3 years (BSc) + optional 2-year MSc | Science (PCB or PCM) |
| 34 | Nursing | ₹2.5–4 LPA (India) | 4 years (BSc) / 3.5 years (GNM) / 2 years (ANM) | Science (PCB) |
| 35 | Optometry | ₹2.5–4 LPA | 4 years (incl. 1-year clinical internship) | Science (PCB) |
| 36 | Nutrition & Dietetics | ₹2.5–4 LPA (clinical, employed) | 3–4 years (BSc) + optional MSc | Science (PCB or PCM) |
| 37 | Biotechnology | ₹2.5–4 LPA (unspecialised BSc) | 3 years (BSc) or 4 years (BTech) | Science (PCB or PCM) |
| 38 | Radiology & Imaging Technology | ₹2–4 LPA | 3–4 years (BSc) or 2 years (Diploma) | Science (PCB or PCM) |
Figures are copied from each guide's quick facts and vary by college, city and employer. Careers without a single fresher range (for example where pay depends on specialisation) are not ranked here.
Compare careers across every stream by what matters most to you.
Study Physics, Chemistry and either Maths (PCM), Biology (PCB), or both (PCMB).
Engineering (JEE/CET), Medical (NEET), or a computing/emerging-tech degree (CUET/merit).
Or, for many tech and life-science degrees, get admitted directly on merit.
Move into a core branch, a research career, or a fast-growing emerging field like AI or biotech.