Top 15 Career Options After MA in India in 2025: What To Do After MA?

A Master of Arts or an M.A. degree in India is among the most common higher education specializations. It often attracts undergraduates from different streams as well. It is quite well-reputed since this degree qualification indicates a mastery of the subject.  

The top paying career options after MA include roles like Archivist, Museum Curator and Professor where average yearly salary ranges between 9 lakhs to 14 lakhs.  A series of specializations are offered in an M.A. degree course leading to a variety of career options after MA. Some specializations are English, history, political science, psychology, economics, and sociology.  

Curious to know what to do after an MA? Read along to find the top 15 career options after MA that you can consider pursuing, along with salary insights.  

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What are the best career options after MA?  

After postgraduation in many social sciences and arts degrees, students often wonder what to do after MA.  With the job market in India expanding across diverse sectors, there’s no shortage of opportunities for MA graduates to build successful careers.  

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Let's explore the top 15 career options that MA graduates can consider:  

Source: Glassdoor, PayScale, Salary Expert 

Which MA specialization has the highest salary? 

After MA, the salary also depends on the subject or specialization you have. Some specializations naturally open doors to higher-paying roles because of the industries they connect with. 
Here’s a table presenting a comparison between salaries after different MA specializations:  

Source: Payscale 

What are the career options after MA in different subjects?  

Although you have a range of career options after MA, it also depends on your subject of specialization.  This is why it becomes important to explore subject-wise options in MA so that you have a better idea of what job roles your MA specialization can lead to.  

Let’s find out what career options after MA in subjects like English, sociology, history and political science you can explore. 

What are the career options after MA in English?  

With an MA in English, you become eligible for careers in writing, publishing, journalism and media. You may even take up the teaching route with added qualifications. 

Here are a few job roles after MA in English: 

Source: Glassdoor, Ambition Box 

What can you do after MA in History?  

After an MA in history, you develop analytical and research skills that are valuable across academia, cultural institutions, and public service. MA history graduates can find job roles in education, historical research and cultural industry. 

These are a few of the top job roles after MA in History: 

Source: Glassdoor, Ambition Box 

Know more about the MA History Salary in 2025 

What are the career options after MA in Political Science?  

An MA in Political Science makes you eligible for careers in governance, policy, research, and even media or consultancies, where interpreting national and global systems is key.  

These are some popular career options after MA in Political Science: 

Source: Glassdoor, Ambition Box 

Read more here: Scope of MA in Political Science 

What are the career options after MA Sociology?  

Studying sociology instills critical insights into human behavior and social systems among students. This is why after MA sociology, you can pursue roles in social research, policy, counselling and the development sector. 

Below are a few career options after MA sociology with earning potential: 

Source: Glassdoor, Ambition Box 

Curious to know more? Read this blog on Scope of MA Sociology 

Which government jobs are available after MA?  

After completing an MA, you can explore and try applying for a range of government jobs. There are government jobs in teaching, research, administration, or policy-related work, where your depth and subject expertise come in handy. Let’s know more about this. 

The top government jobs after MA in India are the following: 

• Assistant Section Officer 
• Assistant Audit Officer  
• IAS/IPS/IFS 
• Probation Officer 
• Post Graduate Teacher (PGT) 
• Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) 

Can you prepare for UPSC after MA?  

Yes, you can, and in fact, this is the choice for many MA students. An MA can give you a solid foundation for UPSC preparation, especially if your subject overlaps with the exam syllabus.  If you have studied subjects like Political Science, History, or Sociology, you’ll already be familiar with a lot of the concepts. On top of this, you will have advanced critical thinking skills after your MA degree. These factors will help you better prepare for UPSC after an MA. 

Which state government exams are suitable for MA graduates?  

In addition to central government exams, you are also suitable for several state government exams after your MA. The Indian states conduct their own public service commission exams for roles in administration, education, and social services. 

Here are few examples of state government exams in India: 

State Public Service Commission Exams (Group A & B posts) 

1. MPSC - Maharashtra Public Service Commission 
2. UPPSC - Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission 
3. TNPSC - Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission 
4. RPSC - Rajasthan Public Service Commission 
5. BPSC - Bihar Public Service Commission 

These exams are recruit for roles like Deputy Collector, Block Development Officer, Assistant Director, and Assistant Professor or Lecturer 

Subordinate Service Selection Commission (SSSC) Exams (Group B & C posts) 

1. DSSSB - Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board 
2. UKSSSC - Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission 
3. UPSSSC - Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission 
4. HSSC - Haryana Staff Selection Commission 
5. HPSSSB - Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission 

These exams usually offer roles like PGT/TGT School Teachers, Junior Assistants, Clerks, and departmental officers in education, archives, tourism, etc.  

Can you apply for UGC NET after MA? 

Yes, you’re eligible to apply for UGC NET after completing your MA, provided you have the required marks. This exam is a popular option for those who want to become Assistant Professors or pursue research through a Junior Research Fellowship. It’s a great path if you’re looking to stay in academics or want to build a career in higher education.  

Also check out the Best Career Options After BA 

Should you study further after MA?  

Deciding if you should study further after MA is a decision you should make solely based on your larger career goals. Continuing your education after an MA will help you get into teaching, research and specialized fields. Going further after a postgraduate degree is often the choice for people who want to pursue research roles. So, if that is something you want to pursue, you can study further after MA. 

Should you pursue MPhil or PhD after MA?  

Firstly, according to the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), the MPhil degree has been discontinued in India to allow students to go for a PhD after a Master’s.  

So, if you want to explore MPhil degrees, you will have to look into studying abroad. You can directly go for a PhD after an MA in India, as per the new rules by the University Grants Commission.  

Can you do MBA after MA?  

Yes, you can. People from all kinds of academic backgrounds, including arts and humanities, go on to do an MBA. If you're thinking about moving into business, management, or even starting something of your own, an MBA can give you the practical knowledge and industry skills you might not have picked up during your MA. Just make sure you're clear on why you're doing it. It’s a big investment, so it should match your career direction. 

Is UGC NET mandatory after MA for teaching?  

Yes, if you want to teach at the university or college level, you need to clear the UGC NET exam in India. The UGC NET exam makes you eligible for Assistant Professor roles in government as well as private colleges and universities.  

But if you're aiming to teach at the school level, this exam isn’t needed. For teaching at the school level, you need to crack exams like CTET or the state TETs along with having a Bachelor of Education degree or any other relevant teaching qualification, for example Diploma in Elementary Education. 

Conclusion 

India offers a diverse range of job opportunities after MA, which students can leverage to align with their preferred area of specialization. Gone are the days when humanities and liberal arts had limited career scope in India.

This is why MA programs are changing to suit the demands of a changing labor market making graduates more job-ready in 2025. Given the interdisciplinary nature of arts subjects, you should also make it a point to upgrade yourself with up-and-coming skills to stay ahead of the competition.
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