Do you know which profession has the highest salary in India? The professions which fall under this question are the ones that are well-known and are boosting the digital economy of India.
Traditional professions, including Doctors, Engineers, Civil Services, Chartered Accountants, Lawyers, Merchant Navy, are still renowned and are in demand and are among the highest paying jobs in India. Other than these, with evolving technologies and management resources, professions like Software Developers, AI, and ML, business analysts, cybersecurity professionals are gaining popularity and grabbing the best salaries.
These professions are highly dependent on the kind of skills you teach yourself and the experience you earn. The mentioned professions’ salary depends on various needs such as qualifications, experiences, and, most importantly, skills you are equipped with within today’s scenario.
You have to keep in mind numerous factors while searching for a job, such as flexibility, reliability, legitimacy, wages, experience required, certification, online or offline job, involvement, and much more. With such trends, it is evident that you, as a young budding professional, get confused and make wrong choices while choosing your career.
To avoid such a hustle in your mind, this blog will give you a brief knowledge about some of the most earning jobs in India, including the qualifications required, salary insights, latest scenarios, future scope, and skills requirements. It is not wrong to say that these jobs are evolving year to year and provide various opportunities to learn and earn.
Here is the list of the top 10 jobs in India that are considered highly paid professions in India.
Civil Services
Indian Civil Service is a dream job for many citizens in the country. It is considered one of the most successful professions in our nation, especially for those who want to serve the nation. Civil services are one of the oldest jobs offered Indian Government and are the backbone of the Indian system and will continue to do so. Multiple aspirants give UPSC every year, although these exams comprise limited seats that can provide jobs to a few talented minds.
Salary
Civil services are undoubtedly one of the highest-paying jobs in India. The starting salary of these services is 70-80k per month. The jobs under Civil Services consist of various benefits and perks for their employees.
Qualification
There is no qualification barrier. You must have an undergraduate degree from any stream. Any degree from arts, commerce, and science will help you to sit in such exams.
Exams To Qualify
You have to appear for UPSC exams which consist of three rounds – Prelims, Mains and Interview. If you crack these three rounds successfully, you will be offered jobs under the recognized and renowned sectors. To clear these competitive exams, you require a great deal of dedication, patience, and time.
Skills Required
● Ethics
● Responsiveness and resilience
● Commitment for work
● Ensuring excellence in the work
● Principle of utilitarianism
● Maximum of compassion
● Transparency
● Legal and rational action
● National Interest
Industry
Civil Servants can be seen in various departments and Industries. IAS, IPS, IFS are some of the highest prestigious jobs that come under civil services. These professions are the posts in which salary is highest in India. Various public departments also recruit based on UPSC results.
Doctors
The pandemic has shown us the importance of doctors and their profession. This profession is highly renowned and gives you a chance to serve people.
Salary
The pay scale of doctors is quite unpredictable. A general practice doctor earns around 7LPA. This pay scale increases with the number of years you invest in your practice. Various doctors acquire an average package of 1million per year. The highest package in India of doctors even differs from city to city.
Metropolitan cities fetch you a higher package when compared to rural areas. The package might differ if you work as a government doctor, working for private hospitals, or having your clinic. This makes it crystal clear that being a doctor is one of the highest-paying jobs in India.
Qualifications And Exams
MBBS is a necessary degree for this profession, and students need to appear for NEET Examinations to get admission to medical colleges. However, there are limited seats in medical colleges for this degree across the country. To grab this, you need dedication, regular hours of studying, patience, and perseverance.
Skills Required
1. Patience
2. Compassion
3. Concentration
4. Emotional strength
5. Quick thinking
6. An eye for detail
Industry
In our country, the healthcare industry is built by both Government and private sectors. The credit goes to the instant technological and medical growth, leading to the rise of affordable and quality healthcare services. Healthcare offers one of the highest-paying jobs in India.
Software Developer
Software developers and engineers are the old bees in this list. They have built a grand position on this list from the last few decades. With evolving technologies and ongoing research, this profession continues to be a favorite of all.
Salary
The average salary of a software developer in India is Rs 5-8 lac per annum. A software engineer having experience of about 0 to 3 years can earn 3.6 lakh rupees per year on average. However, that’s not all, and the starting salary can go up to 10 lakh per year if you are well-versed with the latest skills which complement today’s requirements. Hence, it is one of the highest-paying jobs in India.
Qualifications And Exams
You must have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or any related field if you wish to pursue your career in this profession. These days, it is a prevalent degree as many students pursue engineering after 10+2 (science stream).
For getting admitted into well-known engineering colleges, you must clear JEE MAINS and ADVANCE, which land you in IIITs, NITs, and IITs. In addition, various prominent private colleges conduct their separate exams such as BITSAT, SRMJEE, UPSEE, WBJEE, etc.
Skills Required
There are some particular skills required to become a software developer. Apart from the technical skills, there are several soft skills that every software developer needs.
● Detail-oriented skills
● Interpersonal skills
● Problem-solving skills.
● Analytical skills
● Communication skills
● Creativity Skills
Industry
There is considerable scope for software developers due to the fast-growing IT industries. Ample career options are available in the field of software engineering. Plenty of jobs are available in a software company for software engineers. There is also a need for software engineers in the public sector.
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Business management
Business Management or analysts are also one of the highest paying jobs in India. Helping a business or startup to maintain brand value is actually what business managers do. Startups and companies are an integral part of our country. Hence, the need for managers never goes off track. The demand for these professionals has increased because the pressure of firms to stand strong in the market among competitors has proliferated, which ultimately affects their performance.
Salary
Business managers are grabbing great packages of around 10-12 lakhs per annum yearly as freshers. Most earning jobs in India require colossal experience. Fortunately, MBA is a key that helps freshers grab huge packages in business management. It is one of the courses where you can be hired by various foreign companies directly from your college. This makes Business Management one of the highest paying jobs in India.
Qualifications And Exams
Firstly, you have to be an undergraduate from any stream. Many colleges across the country offer MBA or other business management courses, but they will not help you grab such high packages. Some of the most prestigious colleges for MBA in India are IIMs, IITs, Delhi University, JBIM, IIFT, SPJIMR, and XLRI.
The very first step to enter these colleges is the entrance exam. For this, you have to appear for exams like CAT and various other exams. These exams are considered the toughest to crack in India. It mainly consists of exams based on Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Based on the percentile, you can apply to various colleges, and they will admit you based on an interview.
Skills Required
● Technical skills
● Conceptual skills
● Interpersonal skills
Industry
Business managers are required by everyone today. They manage big brands, firms, companies, and Industries. They are the ones who are playing an important part in driving the country’s economy.
Cyber Security Professionals
Hacking is seen very commonly in our daily life. Several people on the web are trying to steal your data without you being aware of it. The cybersecurity department has also made many strict rules to prevent the act of hacking. If you are a technology enthusiast or a fresh cybersecurity engineering graduate, you can get into this field as a Cyber Security Engineer.
These days various individuals or firms are striving to steal data from various big companies and countries. They, later on, threaten them and, in return, are either priced with a huge amount or somehow get caught. To avoid such threats in the future, our country requires youth in the form of cybersecurity professionals who will provide security to our systems and details.
Salary
The pay scale of Cyber Security professionals in India is on an average of 7 lakhs per annum. This can rise to 20 lakhs per annum based on skills and qualifications, and experience. Ethical Hackers certified can earn up to an average salary of 20-25 lakhs per annum in India.
Qualifications And Exams
To become a cybersecurity professional, you have to earn a degree of undergrad in computer science, mathematics, statistics, or any other similar field. To earn this, either you should crack engineering exams or pursue a bachelor’s in statistics or maths from a well-renowned institute. Proper understanding and practical knowledge of the concept of cybersecurity will help you to grab one of the highest-paying jobs in India.
Skills Required
● Technical skills
● Management skills
● Grasping big picture
● Soft skills
● Implementation skills
Industry
Cybersecurity professionals are required and hired in every industry today. From medical industry to national industry, food chain industry to bank security, defense to firms everywhere, these professionals are in charge of data and sensitive information.
Data Scientists
A data scientist is an analytical data expert with technical skills and can solve complex problems. It is correct to say that these scientists are a package of a mathematician, computer scientist, and trend-spotter. You work within the technology and business world. You collect, analyze and interpret data to detect various solutions, which will help a business to improve its operations and get an image to establish the company over competitors.
Data science is among the most profitable career options around our country. In the technology-driven era, an organization needs a Data Scientist to analyze the performance of the data obtained from an online source.
Salary
Data scientists can expect to make an average of 8-10 lakhs per year. But that number can vary based on where a data scientist works or their years of experience. For example, a data scientist working at a company with up to 500 employees can expect to earn 12-15 lakhs per year, while a data scientist with 15+ years of experience can earn an average of 1 crore a year.
Qualifications
To become a data scientist, you have to earn a degree in engineering (with or without coding). To earn this, you have to crack engineering exams or pursue a bachelor’s. There is no predefined certification for being a data scientist. However, these qualifications will help you to grab one of the highest-paying jobs in India.
Skills Required
● Data cleaning and mining
● Visualisation of data
● Techniques for managing unstructured data
● R and Python are two examples of programming languages
● Learn how to use SQL databases
● Using Hadoop, Hive, and Pig as data resources
Industry
Data science is a relatively new and buzzing career option for you offering attractive packages. If you are considering taking data science as a career path, then the demand for data scientists is rising shortly, and you must train yourself accordingly. It is considered one of the highest-paid jobs in India. The reason for this is apparent, today everything is regarded as data, and experts in this science are required to manage that data precisely.
Data scientists can work in a variety of types of companies, including:
● Federal Government
● Computer systems design
● Research and development
● Colleges and universities
● Software companies
● Car companies
● Delivery companies
● Tech companies
Merchant Navy
The international shipping industry is responsible for carrying about 90 percent of the trade worldwide. This overseas trade is an essential aspect that contributes to the GDP of the country. Merchant Navy professionals are considered part of the ship crew responsible for managing commercial shipping operations.
It is a tough job as it requires going out in the sea for around 6–8 months in a year, making it one of the highest paying jobs in India. Merchant Navy professionals have to work away from their homes for many months. However, to compensate, many companies also provide a long holiday to their employees.
Merchant Navy professionals have to work in shifts. Therefore, if you want to start your career as a Merchant Navy officer, you should be prepared to work in adverse and harsh weather conditions.
Salary
The average salary of a Ship Captain in India is about ₹44,49,133 – ₹80,00,000 per annum. That is why it comes in the race of highest-paying jobs in India.
Qualifications
Merchant Navy professionals are often recruited as part of a training course that involves studying at a nautical college and gaining practical experience in the shipping industry. During this training process, the individual must work towards the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Certificate of Competency. In addition, if you want to start your career in this profession, you must take up science in the 12th standard and study some Marine Engineering courses.
Skills Required
● Effective Communication Skills
● Leadership
● Teamwork
● Self-control
Lawyers
Legal professionals are also considered highly paid in India and are the most in-demand today. Becoming a lawyer is among the best career choices for young people looking for the highest-paying jobs in India. Most of you might become a lawyer if you want to follow your passion.
The role of a lawyer is either to work for a government or private firm. They advise as well as represent their clients based on their specialization. The scope of being a lawyer is bright because, in a democratic country, lawyers play an important role in maintaining the peace and harmony of the country.
Salary
The income of lawyers or attorneys in India lies in a range of ₹4,38,501 -₹30,00,000 per annum based on the skill, experience, firm, category, etc. Therefore, it falls in the category of highest-paying jobs in India.
Qualifications And Exams
If you are thinking about becoming a lawyer, you must get a BA LLB degree, a 5-year course, and for that, you must try your best to get admitted to the top NLUs of the country through CLAT. Many other great law colleges conduct their exams to filter students. After this, it is essential to gain experience that will come to the rails by working or practicing with law firms, which will help you enhance your specialization and become the type of lawyer you want, for example, corporate, criminal, etc.
Skills Required
● Good Communication Skills
● Judgment
● Analytical Skills
● Research Skills
● Perseverance
● Creativity
● Logical Thinking Ability
● Public Speaking Skills
Industry
There is a vast scope for law students as they can join various private firms and can become legal advisors to help the company with legal decisions. You can also use your legal expertise in NGOs. Many large corporations and government organizations hire legal advisors for their business decisions.
Chartered Accountancy
Chartered accountancy is usually referred to as the core of all businesses. Every business, whether it is big or small, needs a chartered accountant. The duties of a chartered accountant involve taxation, accounting, auditing, and financial planning. It can be considered a challenging yet gratifying job.
Salary
It is also among the highest-paying jobs in India. Being a CA is a well-reputed profession, and a person can earn approximately 5,00,000 to 7,00,000 a month in this job. However, it requires immense dedication and is not for everyone.
Qualifications And Exams
Chartered Accountancy is conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The headquarters of the Institute of Chartered Accountants are in New Delhi, and it also has five regional offices in Chennai, Mumbai, Calcutta, Kanpur, and New Delhi. In addition, it has 81 branches under the mentioned regional centres.
Skills Required
● Analytical Skills
● Communication Skills
● Ability to Accept Failures
● Discipline, Diligence, and hard work
● Conceptual understanding
Industry
The career prospects after the completion of your chartered accountancy are also attractive. Chartered accountancy is the first step for an individual that leads to other careers such as finance, fund management, and investment consultancy.
Machine Learning Developer
An ML developer is an expert who uses data to train models. Then the models are used to automate the processes like classification of images, recognition of speech, and market forecast. The roles of ML developers may vary according to the projects; sometimes, conflation with the parts of a DS or (AI) engineer.
However, many times, conceptual overlap takes place. For example, machine learning is a subpart of AI which analyzes data to find the relationship between the given input and desired output. Machine learning is widely used by companies such as Facebook, Google, and others.
The scope of Machine developer looks bright and promising. There is a need for professionals who are trained in Deep Learning and AI jobs and match machine-learning requirements. If you want to be one of these professionals, structure yourself accordingly, get certified and industry-ready because the earlier you get your training started, the sooner you will be working in this exciting and rapidly changing field.
Salary
Experts in machine learning have proven valuable assets to companies, and their demand keeps rising each year. A certification or degree in machine learning can accelerate your career in exciting directions.
● Senior Level: 20-22 LPA
● Entry Level: 5-8 LPA
● Mid Level: 13-15 LPA
Qualifications And Exams
Students with a master’s degree in Economics or Social Science can also be ML professionals. The education required for this is as follows – Bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence, computer science, or any IT-related field OR Specialized in Machine Learning. You can either pursue engineering in IT-related branches by clarifying JEE MAINS and ADVANCE or from other recognized colleges.
Skills Required
● Computer Science knowledge and Programming
● Data analysis
● Problem-solving
● Probability and statistics
● Software Engineering and System Design
Industry
Machine Learning is now integrated across various industries such as transportation, healthcare, education, IT, BFSI, retail, etc. No one can deny that this is one of the most paid jobs in India. The implementation of ML technology has begun in India. Hence the AI and ML market is predicted to expand shortly.
Conclusion
The number of highest-paying jobs in India has increased rapidly in the last few years. Many industrialists and various firms are working to support employment in India, increasing the number of highest-paying jobs in India. Hence, with the right kind of preparation and skillset, you can kick-start your professional journey.
While the ideals, interests, skills, passion, and ambition are essential for anyone to chase a specific career path, the salary is a critical determining factor. The daily cost of living is increasing every year. Hence money becomes an essential factor for job search for freshers and professionals.
Different certifications, training, and skills will help a person to move on the path of their career. But, other than this, passion and willpower will lead you towards success. Genuine passion and self-discipline separate a person from the crowd. The above-mentioned jobs are excellent options for people who want to utilize their time, earn a good amount of money, and become better professionals.
This blog is originally published in SCIKEY