What is a BCA Degree?
BCA, or Bachelor’s in Computer Applications, is a degree that mainly focuses on preparing students to design and develop software applications. It is a three-year program that covers various programming languages, networking, database management and web management. In this blog, we will discuss career opportunities after BCA, its scope and BCA starting salary in India
How to decide on the right career path after BCA?
Without any further qualifications, it is impossible to have a successful career path in BCA. A BCA course, an individual can earn up to 7 lakhs per annum only. However, to boost your career, it is important to pursue some specialised courses like a postgraduate degree in a specialised field that you are most interested in.
There are various high-paying career options after BCA, choose a path based on your personal interest and forte.
Scope in BCA: List of emerging jobs after BCA
Software Developer
A software developer works on designing, programming, building and maintaining various software using many different skills and tools. They write codes using programming languages like Python, Java, C++, etc, to build softwares. A software developer is required in almost every industry and therefore is always in demand.
Web Developer
A web developer is responsible for building and maintaining websites and applications using HTML, CSS and Java. They make sure that the website is running smoothly on the internet. Businesses these days are increasingly relying on online presence, and therefore, web developers are needed worldwide.
Data Analyst
Data analysts handle, filter and interpret a company’s data. The growing reliance of companies on data to make a more personalised experience for users has boosted the demand for this job role
AI/ML Engineer
These engineers design and develop AI models and software that can make decisions based on data and information. In recent years, the job has experienced unimaginable growth and is now one of the highest-paying jobs if an individual is equipped with all the relevant skills and tools.
Cybersecurity Analyst
A cybersecurity analyst secures a company’s data and protects systems from any cyberattacks. The increased dependence on digital sources has made this job in trend. It is an important job role for a company that highly relies on data and digital platforms.
BCA Salary Expectations: what salary can you expect as a BCA graduate?
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Data Scientist | 7-20 Lakhs per annum |
| AI/ML Engineer | 8-20 Lakhs per annum |
| Software Developer | 10-15 Lakhs per annum |
| Blockchain developer | 7-15 Lakhs per annum |
| Cyber security expert | 5-18 Lakhs per annum |
| Technical support professional | 7-10 lakhs per annum |
Further studies and certification options to enhance career prospects
After completing your bachelor’s in computer applications, pursuing a postgraduate degree (two-year program) like an MBA, MCA etc can enhance your portfolio.
Someone not interested in pursuing a master’s can also go for short-term certifications like that in various programming languages, digital marketing, mobile app development or cybersecurity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is a BCA degree tough?
A BCA degree is a basic course and is not a challenging course to pursue. It further opens a wide range of opportunities and career options for an individual. For someone interested in learning about computer applications, programming languages, etc, it is the right course to opt for.
2. What is the eligibility criteria to pursue BCA?
Candidates for any stream like science, arts or commerce with a minimum of 50% marks in the 12th class can pursue a BCA course. For reserved categories like SC/ST, candidates with 45% marks in their 12th standard are also eligible.
3. What is the average starting salary of a BCA graduate?
Ans. The average BCA salary in India can range between 3-7 lakhs per annum. However, it increases with experience and can go up to anywhere between 8-20 lakhs per annum.
4. How long does it take to build a successful career after completing BCA?
After completing a three-year degree in top BCA specialisations, a graduate can secure an average-earning job of between 8 and 20 lakhs. However, if one decides to pursue further studies, they can either pursue an MCA or an MBA, a two-year program in a specific specialisation, to boost their resume and earn more.
5. Do I need to pursue an MCA after BCA for a better career?
Pursuing an MCA after BCA can significantly improve your career prospects and provide you with a deeper understanding of computer applications opening doors to more advanced career opportunities in every industry.
6. What are further study options after a BCA course?
After a BCA course, there are plenty of master’s courses, some of which are: MCA, MBA, MSc (IT), MIM and many more. These post-graduate courses can open various job options after BCA.
