All careers
Technology
Software / Tech roles
Write software, ship products, or keep systems running — apps, websites, data pipelines, cloud, or security. The first job is often at an IT services firm, a product startup, or a campus placement; the work then specialises fast.
Typical exams
Salary outlook
Indicative: fresh graduates ₹3.5–8 LPA at typical IT firms; ₹12–30+ LPA from top product companies and tier-1 campuses. 5–8 years' experience commonly reaches ₹18–40 LPA. Verify on each college's placement report.
Indicative ranges. Actuals vary by city, employer, specialisation and years of experience.
Typical path in India
- 1Class 11–12: MPC (or equivalent) if you want B.Tech; strong maths still helps for B.Sc CS.
- 2Entrance: JEE Main for NITs/IIITs; JEE Advanced for IITs; BITSAT, VITEEE and state CETs as backups.
- 3Degree: B.Tech CSE / IT / AI-DS (4 years) or B.Sc Computer Science + a master’s later.
- 4During college: internships from 2nd year, GitHub/projects, one solid internship before placements.
- 5Optional later: GATE for M.Tech / PSUs, or a product-company switch after 1–2 years.
Skills that matter
- Programming and debugging (start with one language well)
- Data structures and problem-solving
- Clear written English for teams and documentation
- A portfolio of 2–3 finished projects beats a long certificate list
Who this fits
- You like building things you can test the same day
- You can sit with a hard problem without needing constant praise
- Maths does not scare you — even if you are not a topper
Watch-outs
- CSE seats at private colleges are expensive; ROI depends on placement reports, not brochures.
- Services-firm first jobs can be monotonous — plan skills you can take to a product role.
Where to study
Most software / tech roles pathways start in the Engineering stream.