IAS Salary 2024: Job Profile, Pay scale, Allowances & Other Benefits
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Indian Administration Services is undisputedly the most popular and sought-after civil service among the Indian masses. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the UPSC exam annually for 24 groups (groups A, B, and all India civil services). But IAS comes on the top in terms of popularity and desirability. The honor, pride, and power of being an IAS officer major factors in its desirability. But lucrative IAS salary is also a significant factor.
UPSC civil services exam isn’t only one of the hardest exams in India but in the whole world. Although hundreds of thousands of candidates appear for this exam every year. Only a handful of them pass the exam. This exam has three stages: prelims, main, and interview rounds. Candidates who pass all the rounds are recruited for different services according to their ranks and preferences. But IAS falls on the top.
This article discusses an IAS officer’s salary, pay scale, and other benefits. All the information in this article is as per the salary structure implied after the 7th Pay Commission recommendation.
IAS Salary Overview
Before we dive into the detailed analysis of IAS salary in India, let’s have an overview of the salary of an IAS officer per month in India:
| Salary Pay Commission | 7th Salary Pay Commission |
| IAS salary during the training period | ₹33,000–35,000 (depending on some factors) |
| Entry-level salary of IAS officer | ₹ 56,100 |
| IAS officer salary after 8 years of service | ₹78,800 monthly |
| Highest IAS salary per month | ₹2,50,000 (37+ years of experience) |
| Other benefits & Allowances | DA, HRA, Travel, Medical allowances, and other benefits |
IAS Officer Salary Structure 2024 [Revised]
Entry level salary of an IAS officer in India starts from pay level 10. Every candidate who clears the exam completes the training and joins the service is entitled to get an initial salary of ₹56,100. This is exclusive of any allowances. The per month basic salary (and allowances) increase gradually according to the promotion and experience. IAS salary in India starts from pay grade 10 and goes to pay grade 18. The following are the different pay scales as per the different pay grades, years of service, and ranks.
| Pay Grade | Basic Pay | Rank | Years of Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | ₹56100 | SDM, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary | 1-4 years |
| 11 | ₹67,700 | ADM, Deputy Secretary, Undersecretary | 5-8 years |
| 12 | ₹78,800 | District Magistrate, Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary | 9-12 years |
| 13 | ₹1,18,500 | District Magistrate, Deputy Secretary, Director | 13-16 years |
| 14 | 1,44,200 | Divisional Commissioner, Secretary-cum-Commissioner, Joint Secretary | 16-24 years |
| 15 | 1,82,200 | Divisional Commissioner, Principal Secretary, Additional Secretary | 25-30 years |
| 16 | 2,05,400 | Additional Chief Secretary | 30-33 years |
| 17 | 2,25,000 | Chief Secretary and Secretary | 34-36 years |
| 18 | 2,50,000 | Cabinet Secretary of India | 37+ years |
IAS Salary After 7th Pay Commission 2024
Before the 7th Pay Commission, IAS salaries were decided with the system of ‘Pay Grade for Civil Services.’ However after the application of consolidated pay levels in the 7th Pay Commission, IAS salaries will be decided based on the ‘basic pay.’ All the allowances will be exclusive of the basic pay and their rates will be based on the basic pay. For instance, the entry-level salary of an IAS officer will be ₹56,100 (basic pay) + allowances.
IAS Salary & Allowances 2024
There are two components of an IAS salary in India. First, basic pay, and second, allowances. The basic pay is based on the pay grade and the pay grade is based on rank and years of service. Further, all the allowances are based on basic pay. The higher the basic pay, the higher the allowances. The minimum (entry-level) basic pay for an IAS officer is ₹56,100 and the maximum (apex-level) basic pay is ₹2,50,000.
There are four allowances with the basic pay. HRA (house rent allowance), DA(dearness allowance), TA (travel allowance) and other allowances:
Dearness Allowance (DA)
DA is relative to the rate of inflation. It is calculated as per the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Level. The government revises the rate of DA every six months i.e January and July. Dearness allowance can increase up to 14% of the basic pay a year.
House Rent Allowance (HRA)
The rate of HRA is decided according to the city of residency of the IAS officer. HRA ranges between 8-24% according to the city in which the officer is posted. The commission has divided all the cities and rural areas into three classes i.e. X, Y, and Z.
- Class X – The top 8 cities of India fall under this class. These cities are Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Pune. IAS officers get 24% of their basic pay as HRA in these cities.
- Class Y – Around 100 towns (with 5 lacs or above population) fall under this class. HRA in these cities is 16% of the basic pay.
- Class Z – All the rural areas or towns below 5 lacs population fall under this class. HRA is 8% of the basic pay in class Z areas.
Travel Allowance (TA)
In case the IAS officer is not provided with a government vehicle, they are entitled to get TA. If they have a government transportation facility, they won’t get the travel allowance as a part of the IAS salary.
Other Allowances & Benefits
Apart from DA, HRA, and TA. an IAS officer also gets the following benefits along with their salaries:
- Residency
- Security
- Medical benefits
- Mobile/Telephone/Internet bills
- Study leaves etc.
Perks and Benefits of an IAS Officer 2024
Basic pay and allowances (DA, HRA, TA, and Medical allowance) are parts of salary under any profession (mostly). What makes an IAS job more attractive and distinct are the additional perks and benefits that an IAS officer enjoys. The following are the benefits that an IAS officer is entitled to get other than the IAS salary.
Perks & Benefits
- Residence: IAS officers are often given a residence to live in the same city in which they are posted. This is either on very low rent or free at all. Their residential setting is full-fledged and they get their cooks, maids, gardeners, and butlers.
- Security: IAS officers get armed bodyguards. This is due to the high profile and often dangerous nature of the job. Their families also get security. In case of threats, they get security from STF commandos.
- Transport: The government provides them with their fleet of vehicles and drivers for official work.
- Subsidized Accommodation: IAS officers enjoy subsidized accommodation at the government guest houses. They can also use the benefit to stay in their respective state Bhavan.
- Job Security: IAS is one of the most secure jobs. There is an extensive process of inquiry for terminating an IAS officer from their job.
- Subsidized Bills: Officers also enjoy subsidized water, electricity, phone and internet bills.
- Study Leaves: This benefit is rare to enjoy in any service. IAS officers can take an official leave of 2-4 years for pursuing studies. They can also enroll in a foreign university and the government will bear all the expenses that occurred during this time. However, the officers have to sign a bond with the government to commit several years to serve the government when they return. An IAS officer who has completed 7 years of service is entitled to get this benefit.
- Post-retirement benefits: IAS officers do not lose their value even after retirement. They are appointed to different commissions and tribunals. Also, private companies hire them for their invaluable experience. They also get a lifetime pension and other retirement benefits.
Also read: 10 Effective Tips for IAS Preparation at Home
IAS vs IPS Salary
IAS and IPS being competitively popular and most sought-after services have similar salary structures. The entry-level and apex-level salaries are the same for both, IAS and IPS. Apex-level IAS officers get a basic pay of ₹2,50,000 + allowances at Cabinet Secretary’s rank. Whereas apex-level IPS officers get the same basic pay and allowances as DGP rank.
IFS vs IAS Salary
Indian Forest Services (IFS) falls under the all-India civil services along with IAS and IPS. Forest in IFS should not be confused with jungle. IFS officers are posted in different countries to protect the national interest of the country. An IFS officer’s salary starts from ₹15,600 to 39,100 and goes up to ₹90,000. IFS officers posted in other countries get foreign allowances. It makes a significant difference in their overall salary.
For the latest information and updates on this exam, Read UPSC IAS Exam 2024
Recommended reading:
UPSC Exams 2024: Notification, Date, Result, Salary & Vacancy
UPSC IRS Exam- Exam Date, Syllabus, Eligibility and Salary
UPSC CSE 2024: Latest Updates, Exam dates, Admit card
FAQs
What is the starting salary of IAS?
The Staring IAS salary per month is ₹56,100 + allowances. The given amount is the basic pay only and HRA, DA, TA, and other benefits are given on it.
What is the salary of IAS per day?
The salary of an IAS officer per day depends on their monthly salary. We can divide whatever salary an IAS officer is getting by 30 (or by the number of days in a particular month) to get the per-day salary of an IAS officer.
What is the salary of IAS after 10 years?
The salary of an IAS officer per month in India is ₹78,800 + allowances after 10 years of service.
Is IAS rich?
Whether an IAS is rich or not depends on multiple factors. First, what is the threshold of being rich? Second, how an IAS officer save and invest their money? Third, how honestly they work. But in general, their standard of living is higher than common people’s. They get a good amount of IAS salary and other benefits that cut the cost of living. Hence, they get a higher opportunity to save and invest money as compared to other job professionals. But they are not as rich as businessmen can get.