IAS Salary

The basic per month salary of an IAS officer starts at Rs.56,100 (TA, DA, and HRA are extra) and can go on to reach Rs. 2,50,000 for a Cabinet Secretary.

A career in the Indian Administrative Service is one of the most sought-after professions in India. Every year, lakhs of people take the UPSC Civil Services Exam but only a handful clear the exam, and an even smaller number cut Indian Administrative Service officers.

There are a lot of things that attract youngsters in the country towards a life in the civil service. Apart from the pride and honour that comes with being a career civil servant or diplomat, the IAS salary and benefits that come along with the responsibilities and powers are also a factor.

Salary Structure of IAS Officers and IAS Career Path – 7th Pay Commission

The new pay structure has dispensed with the system of ‘Pay Grades for Civil Services’ and introduced ‘Consolidated Pay Levels’ in the 7th Central Pay Commission. Now the IAS pay scale is decided only on the ‘Basic Pay’ along with TA, DA, and HRA.

IAS Salary in India:

Pay Level	Basic Pay(INR)	Number of years required in service	Post
			District Administration	State Secretariat	Central Secretariat
10	56100	1-4	Sub-Divisional Magistrate	Undersecretary	Assistant Secretary
11	67,700	5-8	Additional District Magistrate	Deputy Secretary	Undersecretary
12	78,800	9-12	District Magistrate	Joint Secretary	Deputy Secretary
13	1,18,500	13-16	District Magistrate	Special Secretary-cum-Director	Director
14	1,44,200	16-24	Divisional Commissioner	Secretary-cum-Commissioner	Joint Secretary
15	1,82,200	25-30	Divisional Commissioner	Principal Secretary	Additional Secretary
16	2,05,400	30-33	No Equivalent Rank	Additional Chief Secretary	No Equivalent Rank
17	2,25,000	34-36	No Equivalent Rank	Chief Secretary	Secretary
18	2,50,000	37+ years	No Equivalent Rank	No Equivalent Rank	Cabinet Secretary of India

The salaries of all IAS officers start at the same level and then increase with their tenure and promotions.

The next table answers the question that what is the salary of an IAS officer per month at the entry-level and the monthly salary of IAS officer at the apex level:

Level	Basic Pay	Total IAS Salary
Entry-level (starting salary)	56100	56100 – 132000
Maximum Pay (cabinet secretary level)	250000	250000

The old pay structure according to the 6th Central Pay Commission was as follows:

Grade	Pay Scale	Grade Pay of IAS officer	Number of years required in service	Post
Junior or Lower Time Scale	15600 – 39100	5400	—	Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), SDO, or Sub-Collector (after 2 years of probation)
Senior Time Scale	15600 – 39100	6600	5	District Magistrate (DM) or Collector or a Joint Secretary of a Government Ministry
Junior Administrative	15600 – 39100	7600	9	Special Secretary or the Head of Various Government Departments
Selection Grade	37400 – 67000	8700	12 – 15	Secretary to a Ministry
Super Time Scale	37400 – 67000	8700	17 – 20	Principal Secretary of a Very Important Department of the Government
Above Super Time Scale	37400 – 67000	12000	Varies	Varies
Apex Scale	80000 (Fixed)	NA	Varies	Chief Secretary of States, Union Secretaries in charge of various ministries of Government of India
Cabinet Secretary Grade	90000 (Fixed)	NA	Varies	Cabinet Secretary of India

There is a difference in the grade of pay of IAS officers from junior grade to above super time scale. At the Cabinet Secretary level, it is fixed. The Dearness Allowance (DA) for IAS officers is revised on a half-yearly basis depending on the inflation index. DA for IAS officers increases each year.

Youngsters should remember that the IAS pay scale in India should not be the only criterion for them to join the services. The civil service is an opportunity to serve the nation and make a positive impact on the lives of the people of the country. Your chief motivation should be the desire to work for the country and make life better for many people.