Auctioneer
Conducts auctions — public sales where goods go to the person who offers the highest price.
Overview
An auction is a public sale where goods are sold to the person who offers the highest price. And an auctioneer is the person who conducts the auction.
Where they work
- Auction Houses
- Government-regulated Online Auctioning Platforms
- Art Galleries
- Courts
Work environment
Part-time work and contractual jobs may be available. You are likely to work 5 to 6 days a week 8 to 9 hours every day.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You are good at working independently
- You like to lead
- You can comfortably talk with all kinds of people
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
- 1Complete 10+2 in any stream.
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree (BA/LLB/BSc) in any subject.
- 3Master's degree in Art History/Business Administration/Law.
- 4Ph.D. in Art History/Business Administration/Law.
- 5If you intend to work for art galleries then you will need a degree in Fine Arts.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
Institutes which offer courses in Fine Arts. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra
- University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Panjab University, Chandigarh
- Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, Gujarat
- Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, West Bengal
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka
- Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab
- Chandigarh University, Chandigarh
- National Institute of Medical Sciences University, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Amity University, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- KL University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
- Adamas University, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Noida International University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Assistant Auctioneer
- 2Joint Auctioneer
- 3Auctioneer
Related careers to explore
Art Dealer
Buys and sells works of art, acting as the middleman between artists and collectors or galleries.
Salesman/Sales Representative
Sells products, services and subscriptions and builds lasting customer relationships.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Arts, Commerce.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to leading.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Mallika Sagar — A specialist in modern and contemporary Indian art. She is an auctioneer at the Pundole's Auction House in Mumbai. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has roped in her as the auctioneer for the Women's Premier League 2023 auction. After completing her major in Art History from Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia, she began her career at Christie's in 2001, being its first woman auctioneer of Indian origin.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 707 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.erieri.com/salary/job/auctioneer/india
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
The card's description reads "An auctioneer is a public sale…"; it is given here as "An auction is a public sale", which is what the sentence means.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.