commerce vs science

Commerce vs Science: Explore Career Paths, Scope, and Salary in 2025

Published on March 30, 2025
|
7 Min read time
commerce vs science

Quick Summary

  • The article compares commerce and science streams in terms of subjects, career opportunities, and salary potential.
  • Science careers focus on medicine, engineering, and technology, while Commerce offers business, finance, and management roles.
  • The key to choosing the right stream is evaluating personal interests, skills, and future goals to align with the best career path.

Table of Contents

Commerce vs Science! Which stream to choose?

This is the most common query among 10th graders today. Most students remain perplexed regarding which stream to choose after 10th grade—science or Commerce. Although the career scope and growth opportunities are immense in both fields, certain factors must be analyzed before making the final decision.

Let’s dive into a comprehensive comparison of Commerce vs. Science, exploring the unique benefits, career opportunities, and how to make the best choice for your future. We will then provide a step-by-step comparison of science vs. commerce, which can help you make an informed decision about what to choose and why.

commerce vs science

Let us begin by understanding the subjects studied under each stream.

Commerce vs Science: Key Differences Explained

Let us get a brief comparison of the science and commerce stream.

StreamCommerceScience
SubjectsAccountancy, Economics, Business Studies, Mathematics  Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics  
Difficulty LevelModerateHigh
Best forBusiness and Management Career  Medical and Technical Career
BenefitsThe dynamic field of study, Numerous career optionsThe practical-based study, Tech-oriented stream
Popular CoursesBCom, BBA, CA, CS, CFAMBBS, B.Tech, B.E., B.Sc., BCA
Career ScopeInvestment Banker, Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, Product Manager, Marketing Manager  Surgeon, Software Engineer, Machine Learner, Database Administrator, Data Scientist
FeesLess ExpensiveMore Expensive

Commerce vs Science – Subject Knowledge

The subject knowledge in science and commerce covers a variety of disciplines. Let us have a look at the subjects under each stream:

Commerce:

Commerce is the study of trade, business activities, financial transactions, and economic principles that facilitate the exchange of goods and services. It plays a crucial role in the economy by connecting producers, consumers, and markets through various channels like banking, insurance, logistics, and marketing.

Commerce as an academic discipline covers subjects like Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, and Finance, helping students understand how businesses operate, manage finances, and comply with legal and tax regulations. It offers diverse career opportunities in fields like banking, finance, corporate law, entrepreneurship, and management, making it a vital stream for those interested in the world of business and trade. The core subjects of commerce are:

  • Accounts
  • Economics
  • Business Studies
  • Business Mathematics
  • Pure Mathematics

Related Article: Best Courses and Careers in Commerce Stream

Science:

Science encompasses the study of the world and its elements. It imparts knowledge from both theoretical and practical concepts. Science systematically studies the natural world through observation, experimentation, and analysis. Using evidence-based principles and logical reasoning, it seeks to explain the universe’s functioning, from microscopic cells to massive galaxies. The core subjects in science are:

  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Mathematics
  • Computer Science

Benefits of Choosing Science and Commerce Streams

The science and commerce streams offer specific benefits to students. Each stream offers multiple specialization fields, which helps students develop their careers in their area of interest. Let us now look at the benefits of choosing commerce and science.

Benefits of Science:

Science is one of the eminent disciplines, as it focuses on the natural phenomenon of the functioning of things, their characteristics, etc.  This stream involves studies based on experiments and observations. If you are genuinely curious about how things behave, science can be the appropriate option for you. Science offers the following benefits:

  • Science imparts more practical knowledge, making students highly efficient and increasing their employability.
  • Engineering, one of the most professing career options, can only be pursued if the student retains adequate scientific knowledge.
  • The rigorous changing climate can only be faced and reduced by professionals well-versed in Science and Technology.

Benefits of Commerce:

Commerce is considered to be the most dynamic field of study. It offers a plethora of career opportunities to students in various corporate sectors. If you are fond of numbers and driven towards business and economy, then choosing commerce can be a suitable option. Following are some of the benefits of choosing commerce:

  • Commerce develops management skills and business ethics, which help students to begin your start-ups.
  • Several certification programs are available as a career option for commerce students without mathematics.
  • Commerce provides excellent knowledge of the market and consumer, which helps students to work efficiently in the corporate world.
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Courses After 12th: Choosing Between Commerce and Science

Numerous courses at the diploma and post-graduate levels. Both the commerce and science stream offers a wide career scope. The courses available after class 12th from the science and commerce stream are:

Commerce Courses:

Here are some helpful resources for Commerce Students:

Courses after Science:

Career Scope & Salary: Commerce vs Science

The science and commerce streams are the most sought-after areas of study among Indian students. While the science stream focuses on the technical and medical aspects, the commerce stream is more inclined towards the corporate world. Following are the prospecting career opportunities offering the highest-paying jobs in the science and commerce field study:

Highest-Paying Jobs after Science:

  • Medical Surgeon – INR 25 LPA
  • Data Scientist – INR 20 LPA
  • Full-Stack Developer – INR 17 LPA
  • Biotechnologist – INR 6.4 LPA
  • Blockchain Developer – INR 21.5 LPA
  • Software Engineer – INR 14 LPA
  • Data Administrator – INR 22.1 LPA
  • Machine Learning Engineer – INR 22 LPA

Salary Source: Glassdoor

Highest-Paying Jobs after Commerce:

  • Chartered Accountant – INR 15 LPA
  • Chartered Financial Analyst – INR 15.4
  • Investment Banker – INR 33 LPA
  • Company Secretary – INR 17 LPA
  • Actuary – INR 11.9 LPA
  • Product Manager – INR 35 LPA
  • Marketing Manager – INR 23 LPA
  • Research Analyst – INR 8.5 LPA

Salary source: Ambitionbox

Skills Required To Study Science 

Science students require certain skills so that they can better understand all their subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology). Science is the subject of understanding scientific concepts, and to succeed in this field, students must develop these skills. 

Observing 

Observation skills are fundamental and must-have skills for science students. This skill helps students find and see everything in detail, and science is all about detailed observations and fine experiments. 

Classifying 

Classifying skills help science students to differentiate among various elements depending on their properties. This skill builds on the foundation of observation skills. 

Measuring 

Another skill required to study science well is the ability to measure accurately. From lab experiments to physics calculations, everything requires accurate measurements. 

Predicting 

This skill helps students spot the pattern from the events of previous experiments or current evidences. Which helps making an educated decision.  

Skills Required To Study Commerce 

Commerce is a stream which educates students about numbers, taxes and business. And if a student chooses to make a career in the commerce field they need to learn a few skills to be successful in their careers. 

Problem-Solving Skills 

Problem-solving skills help commerce students to understand complex questions better, understand them and find out solutions to problems.  

Analytical Skills 

Commerce includes topics like statistics, data and accounting numbers, to solve all these students need to analyse every detail. Learning analytical skills help students understand the data better and solve the questions. 

Communication Skills 

Communication skills are crucial for any student and when you enter the field of business, it becomes more important that you have the ability to communicate your thoughts and visions clearly in front of people.   

commerce vs science

Key Points of Difference Between Science vs Commerce 

Criteria 

Science  

Commerce 

Subjects 

Science includes subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Maths. In higher education courses, these subjects are divided into several sub-subjects. 

Commerce includes the subjects like Accounting, Economics, Business Studies, Maths, Taxes and Finance. 

Selection Criteria 

Students who score well in science subjects in 10th boards can easily choose science. 

Commerce doesn’t have such requirements, but students need to score well overall. Good maths can be a plus point. 

Difficulty Level 

Science requires more time and effort from students, and the difficulty level is high. 

Commerce is comparatively more manageable for students than science.  

Change of Stream 

Science students can quickly shift from science stream to commerce or arts. 

Commerce students can quickly shift to arts. 

Expenses 

Science UG/PG courses like B.Tech and BCA are quite expensive. 

Commerce students can choose affordable UG/PG courses like B.Com, BBA etc. 

Career Options 

After doing science, career options like engineering, machine learning, and medicine get opened. 

Commerce students can choose career roles in Banking, Accounting, and Business. 

What to Choose and Why? Commerce or Science?

Now that we have discussed science vs. commerce in detail, we come back to the question of what to choose and why.

Well, the answer to this question depends on you. Both fields of study – Science and Commerce, open up many career opportunities for you. Our article covers several aspects of both streams, which can help you better understand the structure and future scope of the science and commerce stream. Refer to our article, find out your area of interest, and make an informed decision.

Conclusion

Commerce and science present distinct avenues and career opportunities, each appealing to various interests and abilities. Science is centered around research, innovation, and technical skills, paving the way for medical, engineering, and technology careers. Conversely, commerce focuses on business, finance, and management, creating opportunities in areas such as accounting, marketing, and entrepreneurship. The decision between these two paths hinges on personal strengths, ambitions, and career aspirations. Rather than one being better than the other, both domains play a vital role in societal advancement. Ultimately, choosing the right path should resonate with one’s passions and long-term goals.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Q1. Is science or commerce is better for future?

Ans. This article has provided a detailed comparison of commerce vs science. After knowing the several factors of both streams, you have to determine where your interest lies. Identify your potential and your ultimate career goal to choose a stream. Both streams are highly rewarding in their own field of knowledge.

Q2. Which earns more commerce or science?

Ans. The career scope in both science and commerce streams is extremely wide. These offer several reputed job profiles with astounding salary packages. However, on a comparative basis science students tend to earn more than commerce students.

Q3. Commerce vs science which is easy?

Ans. Commerce is considered to be easier than science. Science comprises major technical and math-oriented subjects, which makes it tougher than commerce.

Q4. Does the commerce stream have maths? 

Ans. Yes, the commerce stream has maths. Some subjects, like Accounting, Statistics, Economy, etc., require mathematical skills. Although the maths used in commerce differs from solving physics problems, commerce students still need to have a good grasp of maths.

Q5. Commerce vs science which is best?

Both Commerce and Science have their advantages, and the best choice depends on a student’s interests and career goals. Science is ideal for engineering, medicine, and research careers, while Commerce is suited for business, finance, and management. If you enjoy numbers and business, choose Commerce; if you’re interested in technology and experiments, go for Science.

Q6. Which stream has more salary?

The salary potential depends on the career path rather than the stream itself. Science careers like medicine, engineering, and data science often offer higher salaries, especially in specialized fields like AI and biotechnology. However, Commerce careers in investment banking, CA, CFA, and entrepreneurship can also be highly lucrative.

Q7. Commerce vs science salary in india?

Science careers like medicine, engineering, and data science often have higher starting salaries, ranging from ₹4-20 LPA. However, Commerce fields like Chartered Accountant (CA), investment banking, and finance can also offer ₹6-40 LPA with experience. Both streams have high-paying opportunities depending on skills, specialization, and industry demand.

Q8. What are the high-pay job roles in commerce?

Some of the high-pay job roles in commerce are:
1. Chartered Accountant
2. Company Secretary (CS) 
3. Cost Accountant 
4. Investment Banker 
5. Financial Analyst 
6. Actuary
7. Certified Financial Analyst 
8. Retail Manager 
9. Budget Analyst 
10. Marketing Manager 

commerce vs scie

Authored by, Amay Mathur | Senior Editor

Amay Mathur is a business news reporter at Chegg.com. He previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. His areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. He is a Columbia University graduate.

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