Top 25 Career Options In Arts That You Should Know in 2025
By Kamal Jacob
Updated on Aug 07, 2025 | 11 min read | 584.33K+ views
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By Kamal Jacob
Updated on Aug 07, 2025 | 11 min read | 584.33K+ views
Share:
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Did You Know? The employability rate for Bachelor of Arts graduates in India has increased from 47.1% to 54% in 2025. |
Deciding what to do after 12th arts high school is a very important decision in life which can be quite overwhelming sometimes as there are lot of options for you to choose from. But you can simplify your choice by aligning your career path with your interests and inclinations.
The most popular career options after 12 arts are in law, psychology, journalism, digital marketing, design, teaching, fashion, management, social work, civil services, animation and more.
In this article, we shall take a look at the top career options in arts, so that you have a range of options to assess and choose your desired path. So, if you too are wondering what to do after 12th arts, read along to find what diverse options await you!
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In today's modern world, the arts stream is not only for traditional teaching career, but it also offers a lot of career opportunities in different fields such as psychology, digital marketing, media and other creative options.
So let’s explore the top career options in arts which can be life changing for you!
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Many students and their parents always think about what lies ahead after 12th in the arts stream. Fortunately students from the arts background have a wide range of career options to choose from according to their interests and future goals.
Here are the Top Career Options After 12th Arts:
Career Option |
Top Job |
Avg Annual Salary |
Law | Corporate Lawyer | INR 10L |
Journalism | Journalist | INR 4.2L |
Hotel Management | Front Office Manager | INR 6L |
Fashion Designing | Fashion Designer | INR 4.5L |
Psychology | Counseling Psychologist | INR 4.2L |
Sourced By: Ambition Box
Note: The average annual salaries mentioned in the table are approximate and may vary as per the employer, experience and location.
Pursuing top courses after 12th arts can help you to build a solid base for your successful future career. Check out some of the high-value courses that offer various career opportunities for you in multiple industries.
Also Read: Top 40 Career Options After BBA
Students who don't like maths should not limit their potential for getting higher paying jobs in India. Many career options in arts field require analytical and creative skills, not mathematics.
Some of the top non-maths jobs for arts students are mentioned below:
Job Role | Industry | Average Annual Salary |
Content Writer | Media, Marketing | INR 4L |
Social Worker | NGOs, Government | INR 3L |
Graphic Designer | Tech, Advertising | INR 4.5L |
HR Executive | Corporates | INR 3.5L |
Event Manager | Hospitality, Media | INR 5.8L |
Sourced By: Ambition Box
Arts stream is not a backup option anymore! It offers top career options for 12th students that have long-term value and industry relevance in various fields.
Here are some reasons for strong career growth potential in arts stream:
Fact: According to the India Skills Report, 58% of recruiters value communication and creative thinking which are the key strengths of arts students. |
Those days are gone when the arts stream only offers low-paying job roles. Today, arts students can access to high-paying and in-demand careers in fields like law, digital media, and user experience design.
Explore the top career options in arts that are both lucrative and future-ready for you!
Arts students can really earn well in jobs that value creativity, communication, critical thinking, and strategy. Many of these job roles don’t require any technical degrees but do reward domain expertise, professional experience, and skill development.
Top High-Paying Jobs for Arts Students:
Career Option |
Avg. Annual Salary |
Legal Advisor | INR 6.2L |
UX/UI Designer | INR 7.5L |
Advertising Manager | INR 9L |
Economist (after MA) | INR 16L |
Senior News Reporter | INR 8.6L |
Sourced By: Ambition Box
As more and more industries are shifting towards digital and creative solutions, arts graduates are able to find new career opportunities in fast-growing sectors.
Here are the top emerging career trends for arts graduates in 2025:
Do You Know? According to Statista, digital advertising in India is projected to grow to well over INR 540 billion by 2026, creating massive scope for careers in digital marketing. |
Digital marketing and graphic design are one of the booming fields for the arts students from where they can begin their career journey. These fields require their employees to have strong creativity and communication skills rather than having in-depth technical knowledge.
Career Scope at a Glance:
Top Job Role |
Avg. Annual Salary |
Digital Marketing Executive | INR 3.2L |
Graphic Designer | INR 4.4L |
Content Strategist | INR 8L |
Social Media Manager | INR 5.6L |
Visual Designer | INR 7.4L |
Sourced By: Ambition Box
Students who want to start their career without a long academic journey can pursue skill based careers. These careers consider your talent, dedication and interest in work to get you hired.
Top Skill-Based Careers options in Arts stream:
Fact: India’s media and entertainment sector is expected to grow by 7.2% in 2025, reaching INR 2.7 trillion, and INR 3.1 trillion by 2027 at a 7% CAGR. |
Due to the rise in the demand for creative careers in the country, arts students have strong job prospects in writing, design, psychology, law, and other passion-driven fields. If you’re looking for career options in arts that align with your interests and creativity, the job possibilities are never ending for you.
Today’s job market highly values communication skills, critical thinking, and creativity which are the main strengths of the arts graduates. Careers in arts and humanities allow you to express your skills and creativity to the fullest, whether you have interest in storytelling, design, or cultural analysis.
Some of the top creative career options for the arts students are mentioned below in the table:
Career Option |
Avg. Annual Salary |
Key Skills Required |
Visual Artist | INR 4.8L | Drawing, Painting, Creative Expression |
Interior Designer | INR 4.3L | Space Planning, Aesthetics, CAD |
Graphic Designer | INR 4.4L | Adobe Suite, Creativity |
Art Director | INR 10L | Visual Storytelling, Team Management |
TV Producer | INR 7L | Direction, Editing, Scriptwriting |
Sourced By: Ambition Box
Arts students have exciting career opportunities in fields like law, psychology, and design. These fields value creativity, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of human behavior which arts students have developed throughout their education.
Here are the popular job options in law, psychology or design field:
Field | Course Required | Top Job Options |
Law | BA LLB (5 years) after 12th + LLB (3 years) after BA |
Corporate Lawyer, Legal Advisor, Civil Judge |
Psychology | BA in Psychology + MA / M.Phil for clinical practice | Counsellor, Clinical Psychologist, Researcher |
Design | Bachelor’s in Design / Certificate Courses (UI/UX, Interior, Fashion, etc.) | UX/UI Designer, Interior Designer, Fashion Designer |
Starting a creative career doesn’t always require you to have a formal degree. Many creative fields prefer skill, experience, and passion for the work especially in writing and interior designing.
Below we have mentioned the essential steps to start your career in writing and interior designing:
Also Read: How to Start Content Writing?
After completing your Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree you can explore a wide variety of professions across various industries such as education, media, public service, design, and more.
With this degree you can pursue any career path that aligns with your passion, whether it's in creative arts, research, communication, or administration.
After earning a BA, arts graduates can explore job opportunities in both the private and public sectors.
Career options in arts span fields such as:
Once you’ve completed your BA degree then your next move should depend on your interests and future goals.
Some of the most popular next moves include:
Journalism and mass communication is a dynamic field with growing demand in the digital age. Students who pursue a BA in Journalism or Mass Communication can continue their higher studies with a masters degree or postgraduate diploma that can help students to get into diverse job markets across print, broadcast, and digital platforms.
Top roles in this field include:
Government jobs are one of the most demanding and respected career options for arts students in India. Students from the arts field can work in civil services, teaching, defense and many other sectors. With the proper education and exam preparation, students can build a strong and successful career in government jobs.
Arts students who have completed their 12th need to clear the exams conducted by bodies like SSC (Staff Selection Commission) or State Public Service Commissions to pursue various Group C and D government jobs in departments like railways, defense, clerical services, and police.
Popular government job roles after 12th arts include:
Students with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree have great chances of getting a government job. They can work with central and state governments, especially in administrative, defense, and education sectors.
Some of the best government job options after BA in arts are listed below:
At upGrad, we offer specialized courses that are specifically designed to help you gain in-depth, practical knowledge in fields like Digital Marketing, Business Administration, and more.
Here are some of our popular courses you may like:
If you’re unsure about higher education after 12th arts, you may book a free 1:1 counseling session with us, and we will help you out.
You can also visit your nearest upGrad center for in-person guidance and support in selecting the right course to achieve your career goals.
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Kamal Jacob is a seasoned Online Marketing Consultant with deep expertise in SEO, Web Analytics, and Content/Technical Strategy. With over 184 published articles, Kamal has played a key role in educat...
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