Many individuals across the country foster the dream of becoming IAS (Indian Administrative Services) officers. This may be partly attributed to the prestige and respect that is associated with this position in our country. Of course, the salary and the perks that come with this job role are also commendable. But what exactly is the Perks and Salary of an IAS Officer? In this blog post, we will try to give you a better idea of this. Furthermore, we will discuss the different perks, benefits, and allowances that these officers get. Are you interested in learning more about the salary and additional bonuses that an IAS officer in our country receives?
IAS Officer Salary
- Starting Range – INR 56,100 per month (does not include HRA, TA, DA, etc.)
- Maximum Salary – INR 2,50,000
- Common Position and Salary – District Magistrate (INR 1,18,500)
It is important to note that as the tenure for which the IAS officer serves increases, their pay level and salary also increase. Therefore, the basic salary of the lowest rank posts like SDM, Undersecretary, and Assistant Secretary is minimum, i.e., INR 56,100. On the contrary, the salary of the officer with the highest position (i.e., Cabinet Secretary of India) is INR 2,50,000.
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Rank-Wise Salary of an IAS Officer
Now that you know the minimum and maximum IAS salary, let us explain the position-wise salary to you in the table below.
| IAS Rank Wise Post | Total Years of Service | IAS Pay Level | IAS Basic Pay |
| SDMUndersecretaryAssistant Secretary | 1 to 4 Years | 10 | INR 56,100 |
| ADMDeputy SecretaryUndersecretary | 5 to 8 Years | 11 | INR 67,700 |
| District MagistrateJoint SecretaryDeputy Secretary | 9 to 12 Years | 12 | INR 78,800 |
| District MagistrateDeputy SecretaryDirector | 13 to 16 Years | 13 | INR 1,18,500 |
| Divisional CommissionerSecretary-cum-CommissionerJoint Secretary | 16 to 24 Years | 14 | INR 1,44,200 |
| Divisional CommissionerPrincipal SecretaryAdditional Secretary | 24 to 29 Years | 15 | INR 1,82,200 |
| Additional Chief Secretary | 30 to 33 Years | 16 | INR 2,05,400 |
| Chief Secretary and Secretary | 34 to 36 Years | 17 | INR 2,25,000 |
| Cabinet Secretary of India | 37+ Years | 18 | INR 2,50,000 |
Let us also discuss the IAS grade pay as per post in the table below:
| Post | Grade Pay of IAS Officer |
| Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), SDO, or Sub-Collector (after two years of probation) | INR 5,400 |
| District Magistrate (DM) or Collector or a Joint Secretary of a Government Ministry | INR 6,600 |
| Special Secretary or the Head of Various Government Departments | INR 7,600 |
| Secretary to a Ministry | INR 8,700 |
| Principal Secretary of a Very Important Department of the Government | INR 8,700 |
| Varies | INR 12,000 |
| Chief Secretary of States, Union Secretaries in charge of various ministries of the Government of India | NA |
| Cabinet Secretary of India | NA |
Understanding the HR Allowances of an IAS Officer in India
Depending on the grade of the city in which an IAS officer works, their HRA allowances will be variable. All these allowances across the country are as per the rules of the 7th Pay Commission. Now, let us try to understand the IAS officer allowances as per the class of the city or site in which they are working:
- If an IAS officer is posted to one of the 8 Class X cities in India, their HRA allowance will be 24%. These cities include:
- Chennai
- Bangalore
- Hyderabad
- Delhi
- Mumbai
- Kolkata
- Ahmedabad
- Pune
- If an IAS officer gets a job in Class Y towns, they will get 16% HRA. There are almost 100 such towns that have a population of more than 5,00,000.
- Lastly, for Class Z officers (those who get a posting in rural areas), the IAS HRA allowance is 8%.
In addition to HRA or House Rent Allowance, an IAS officer also receives Dearness Allowance (DA) and Medical Allowance as a part of their salary. Other benefits that come in handy with this job role include transport allowance, mobile bills, house help benefits, pension, travel expenses, and lucrative retirement benefits.
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Additional Perks Offered to IAS Officers
There are numerous IAS officer facilities that you should know about if you also dream of becoming one in the future. Of course, the extent of these perks will vary with the rank and the post of the officer. The pointers discuss the perks of being an IAS officer in detail:
House Rent Allowances
As mentioned in the previous sections of this blog, an IAS officer will get HRA allowances as per the location of their posting (24% for Class X, 16% for Class Y, and 8% for Class Z).
Security
Certain posts in Indian Administrative Services also bring along a severe extent of risk. If that is the case, the officer receives top-notch security services from the government. This can be anywhere from a security guard for themselves and their families to STF commandos in the case of life threats.
Accommodations
IAS officers in our country also get the most excellent accommodation options for very minimal rent or no rent at all. These houses (or service quarters) are huge, and the best part about this benefit for IAS officers is that good servants, like maids, gardeners, security guards, butlers, cooks, etc., are also provided.
Bills
The government also bears the expenses of an IAS officer’s daily amenities, including phone, gas, electricity, water, etc., by paying total bills or subsidizing the amounts.
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Study Leaves
If an IAS officer wishes to expand their knowledge by studying further, the expenses of their education are also paid by the government. There is a restriction to this facility. Only the officers who have served for at least seven years will get study leaves to pursue education at foreign universities.
Added to these, there are many other perks of an IAS officer, like:
- Trips
- Job Security
- Transport
- Lifetime Pension
- Post-retirement Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do IAS officers get more salaries than IPS and IFS officers?
The salary range of an IAS officer is between INR 56,100 and INR 2,50,00. The salary range of an IPS officer is also the same, with the highest salary being that of the Director General of Police. On the other hand, the minimum salary range offered to IFS officers is INR 15,600 to INR 39,100. The highest post among IFS officers is Cabinet Secretary, with a maximum salary of INR 90,000.
2. Is it very difficult to become an IAS officer?
The entrance examination for becoming an IAS officer is extremely difficult and competitive. In fact, it is widely considered to be one of the most challenging entrance examinations in India. However, with the proper support and guidance and a lot of hard work, an aspirant can score above the cut-off marks and secure their position as an IAS officer.
3. What is the maximum salary I can get as an IAS officer?
The maximum salary of IAS officers is INR 2,50,000. This is given to individuals with the post of Cabinet Secretary of India who have served as an Indian Administrative Services officer for more than 37 years.
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4. Will my salary increase after serving as an IAS officer for 12 years?
Of course, as the tenure of service of an IAS officer goes on increasing, their rank and position will also get higher. This also means that there will be an increment in their salary. If you have served for almost 12 years, your salary will be INR 78,800. As you enter the 13th year of your service, your salary will be INR 1,18,500.
5. Is the 7th Pay Commission applicable to the salary of an IAS officer?
Yes. The salaries issued to an IAS officer by the government are according to the 7th Pay Commission norms.
6. How much salary does an IAS officer get during their training period?
When in training, an IAS officer usually receives a salary in the range of INR 35,000 to INR 55,000. This is a very lucrative sum, especially for the training period. The training for newbie IAS officers is conducted at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).
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