SSC CGL Salary 2026:
Post-Wise Pay Scale & In-Hand Salary
Pay Level Structures
SSC CGL posts are structured across Pay Levels 4 to 8 under the 7th Pay Commission.
- Pay Level 8: ₹47,600 to ₹1,51,100 (AAO)
- Pay Level 7: ₹44,900 to ₹1,42,400 (ASO, Inspectors)
- Pay Level 6: ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400 (Sub-Inspector, JSO)
- Pay Level 5/4: ₹29,200 to ₹92,300 (Auditor, Tax Assistant)
This is the official salary and structure guide updated for the SSC CGL 2026 session. Allowances and HRA structures reflect the latest Central Government revisions. For general timelines, refer to the SSC CGL 2026 Exam Pattern.
Calculate Your Exact SSC CGL Salary
Select your post, posting city, and configure the Dearness Allowance rate to estimate your take-home pay instantly.
Disclaimer: Estimate based on current DA/HRA rates and standard deduction assumptions. Actual in-hand salary varies by department, specific posting location, and individual tax choices.
SSC CGL Salary 2026 — Quick Overview
| Particulars | Salary Details |
|---|---|
| Pay Commission | 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) |
| Pay Level Range | Pay Level 4 to Pay Level 8 |
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹25,500 (Level 4) to ₹47,600 (Level 8) |
| Maximum Basic Pay | ₹1,51,100 (Level 8 maximum ceiling) |
| Key Allowances | Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (TA) |
| NPS Deduction | 10% of (Basic Pay + DA) mandatory employee deduction |
SSC CGL Pay Levels 2026 — Overview
Pay Scale: ₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100
Pay Scale: ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400
Pay Scale: ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400
Pay Scale: ₹29,200 – ₹92,300
Pay Scale: ₹25,500 – ₹81,100
| Pay Level | Pay Scale | Starting Basic Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Level 8 | ₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100 | ₹47,600 |
| Level 7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 | ₹44,900 |
| Level 6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 | ₹35,400 |
| Level 5 | ₹29,200 – ₹92,300 | ₹29,200 |
| Level 4 | ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 | ₹25,500 |
Post-Wise Pay Level Mapping
| Pay Level | Representative Posts |
|---|---|
| Level 8 | Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)Assistant Accounts Officer |
| Level 7 | Assistant Section OfficerIncome Tax InspectorCentral Excise InspectorPreventive OfficerExaminerAssistant Enforcement OfficerCBI Sub-InspectorInspector (Posts)Inspector (Narcotics) |
| Level 6 | Assistant/Superintendent (various ministries)Divisional AccountantNIA Sub-InspectorJunior Statistical OfficerStatistical Investigator Grade-II |
| Level 5 | AuditorAccountantJunior Accountant |
| Level 4 | Senior Secretariat Assistant/UDCTax Assistant (CBDT/CBIC)Sub-Inspector (Narcotics) |
How SSC CGL Salary Is Actually Built
Gross salary is never just the basic pay figure. It's assembled from four components, then reduced by standard deductions.
Fixed starting figure for the pay level
Cost-of-living adjustment, revised periodically, applied as a percentage of basic pay
Percentage of basic pay, varies by city classification (X/Y/Z)
Fixed amount plus DA, varies by pay level and city category
Basic Pay + DA + HRA + TA
Reduce gross to in-hand
Gross Salary − Deductions
| Component | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | Fixed starting figure for the pay level |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | Cost-of-living adjustment, revised periodically, applied as a percentage of basic pay |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | Percentage of basic pay, varies by city classification (X/Y/Z) |
| Transport Allowance (TA) | Fixed amount plus DA, varies by pay level and city category |
| Gross Salary | Basic Pay + DA + HRA + TA |
| Deductions (NPS, CGHS, CGEGIS) | Reduce gross to in-hand |
| In-Hand Salary | Gross Salary − Deductions |
City Categories and HRA
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune
~100 cities nationwide (5 lakh+ population)
Remaining locations & rural postings
| City Category | Examples | HRA Rate (current) |
|---|---|---|
| X (Metro) | Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune | 27% of basic pay |
| Y (Large towns) | ~100 cities nationwide (5 lakh+ population) | 18% of basic pay |
| Z (Other areas) | Remaining locations & rural postings | 9% of basic pay |
* HRA rates step up under the 7th CPC's built-in trigger once Dearness Allowance crosses defined thresholds, so this rate is not permanently fixed — it moves as DA is revised. The calculator above always applies the current rate; if you're reading a static table elsewhere, check its "last updated" date before trusting the percentage.
Transport Allowance
Pay Levels 4 through 8 (which covers every SSC CGL post) receive Transport Allowance under the same central-government slab: a higher fixed amount plus DA in designated higher-transport-allowance cities, and a lower fixed amount plus DA elsewhere.
Estimated Monthly Salary by Pay Level and City
(Illustrative figures using current DA and HRA rates. Your exact figure depends on posting department, city, and applicable deductions — use the calculator above for a precise estimate.)
| Pay Level | Basic Pay | Gross – X City | Gross – Y City | Gross – Z City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 8 | ₹47,600 | ~₹93,600 | ~₹86,300 | ~₹82,100 |
| Level 7 | ₹44,900 | ~₹88,800 | ~₹81,900 | ~₹77,800 |
| Level 6 | ₹35,400 | ~₹71,200 | ~₹65,100 | ~₹62,000 |
| Level 5 | ₹29,200 | ~₹59,700 | ~₹54,200 | ~₹51,600 |
| Level 4 | ₹25,500 | ~₹52,900 | ~₹47,700 | ~₹45,400 |
Approximate In-Hand Salary After Deductions
| Pay Level | In-Hand – X City | In-Hand – Y City | In-Hand – Z City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 8 | ~₹84,000 | ~₹77,500 | ~₹73,500 |
| Level 7 | ~₹80,900 | ~₹74,100 | ~₹70,000 |
| Level 6 | ~₹64,900 | ~₹58,800 | ~₹55,700 |
| Level 5 | ~₹54,600 | ~₹49,100 | ~₹46,500 |
| Level 4 | ~₹48,300 | ~₹43,200 | ~₹40,900 |
Deductions That Bring Gross Down to In-Hand
Retirement contribution, typically ~10% of basic pay + DA
Central Government Health Scheme contribution
Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme
Vary by ministry/department
| Deduction | Purpose |
|---|---|
| NPS (National Pension System) | Retirement contribution, typically ~10% of basic pay + DA |
| CGHS | Central Government Health Scheme contribution |
| CGEGIS | Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme |
| Other department-specific recoveries | Vary by ministry/department |
* This is why two posts with identical gross salary can show slightly different in-hand figures — deduction structures aren't perfectly uniform across departments.
Beyond the Monthly Number
Starting salary is only part of the picture. SSC CGL posts also carry:
- Annual increments within the pay matrix
- Periodic DA revisions that lift gross salary without a promotion
- Promotion-linked pay level jumps over a career
- Pension/NPS-linked retirement benefits
- Medical and leave benefits standard to central government service
A Level 4 posting today is not a permanent ceiling — pay progression over a 10-15 year career is a meaningful part of why these posts remain competitive even at the entry pay levels.
Related Pages
SSC CGL Syllabus 2026
Check Tier 1 & Tier 2 subject-wise topics, weights, and start tracking your preparation progress.
SSC CGL Exam Pattern
Understand the marks distribution, negative marking penalties, and new sectional lock timings.
SSC CGL Notification 2026
Review the official notification dates, vacancy trends, registration guides, and PDF documents.
Eligibility Criteria 2026
Verify detailed age limits, educational qualifications, relaxation terms, and physical standards.
Ready to land a high-paying SSC CGL post?
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Basic pay ranges from ₹25,500 to ₹47,600 depending on post and pay level, with gross monthly salary roughly ₹39,000-₹90,000 before deductions.