IAS Salary: Grade-wise Officer Pay Scale, Allowances

IAS officers' salary is governed by their grades. The grades are assigned to the IAS officers based on their number of years in the service. The IAS officers are regularly upgraded to the upper grade based on their years of experience. Sometimes they are promoted based on their performance. The grades of the IAS officers are summarised below:

The salary of an IAS officer is not very significant when compared to similar positions in the private sector but it is the authority associated with the position which makes all the difference. After the 7th pay commission recommendation, the salary of IAS officers was increased significantly but still, it is meagre in comparison to the private sector. IAS officers are the top officers of the Indian administrative structure. IAS officers are at the top of the bureaucratic pyramid.

Perks of IAS Officer

The Government of India implemented the recommendations of the 7th pay commission in 2016. Though the Central Government accepted the 7th Pay Commission recommendations but with some modifications. All the IAS officers selected do not hold the post of the Cabinet Secretary but the candidates who top the IAS exam got the opportunity to become the Cabinet Secretary.

See here: IAS vs IPS

The IAS Salary structure is divided into eight grades. Each grade has a fixed basic pay and grade pay. This component of the IAS Salary is fixed throughout the grade. The IAS salary comprises the basic pay, grade pay, Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Medical Allowance and Conveyance Allowance. 

Dearness Allowance (DA)

The DA depends on the city of posting and it differs from city to city. DA is the most important component of IAS salary and it is increased by the government from time to time. It is increased up to 103% of the basic salary. The Union government periodically revise the DA for the employees and sometimes merge it with the basic salary. The state government follow the suit in most cases and the 

House Rent Allowance (HRA)

HRA ranges from 8% to 24% of the basic salary. The pay structure as devised by the 7th pay commission does not provide the detail of the salary but provides clear information regarding the maximum and minimum salary of IAS officers within a grade. The payscale is further supported by Grade Pay, DA, HRD and several other benefits. 

See here: IPS Salary and allowances

The salary of an IAS officer is further explained as per the number of service years and the Pay Level as follows.

Now we will describe each grade.

Junior Scale Grade

Junior Scale is the first grade assigned to the IAS probationers. The post included in the junior grade are:

• Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs)
• Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs)
• Sub-Collector (After completion of Two- years of Completion)

The post differed from state to state and depends on the state nomenclature of the administrative structure.

Also Read: UPSC Exam Timing 2025

Senior Time Scale Grade

Senior Time Scale is the second in the line and assigned to the IAS officers who have completed 5 years of service. The posts included in the senior time scale grade are

• District Magistrate (DM)
• Collector 
• Joint Secretary of a Government Ministry

Junior Administrative Grade

Junior Administrative Grade is the next in line and as the name suggest, it is assigned to the IAS officers who complete 9 years in the services and becomes a member of the administrative group in the state bureaucracy. Some posts included in this grade are as follows.

• Special Secretary to the Government of India 
• Head of Various Government Departments in the state government

Selection Grade

The selection grade is assigned to the IAS officers who complete 12 to 15 years in service. This is the most opportune time for the IAS officer. At this stage, he plays a very important role in policy decisions.

• Secretary to a Ministry
• Director in a field organisation

Super Time Scale

This grade is assigned to the IAS officers when they complete 17 to 20 years in the service. The officers don’t follow a regular posting because the postings depend on the will of state governments. Besides, the state cadre strength also plays its role here. The most important posts included in this grade is

• Principal Secretary

Above Super Time Scale

This grade is assigned after 20 years of service. After 20 years of service, the IAS officer keeps getting the grades and the salary increases with the grade, but the posting depends on the will of the government. The records and performance play a very important role in the posting. The post also varies in this grade. 

Apex Scale

The Apex scale is the second top grade in India and only second to the Cabinet Secretary Grade. The officers were assigned to this grade only after they achieved success in their previous postings. The posting in this grade depends on the performance and the will of the government. Some posts included in this grade are as follows

• Chief Secretary of States
• Union Secretaries in charge of various ministries of the Government of India such as the Home Secretary, Finance Secretary

Cabinet Secretary Grade

This is the apex of the pyramid of IAS salary grades in India. Cabinet Secretary is the top officer of India. The IAS officer for this post is hand-picked by the Prime Minister of India and he can choose from a list of officers provided to him by the Ministry of Personnel.

One of the most important parts in relation to the IAS salary is that the salary is decided and fixed by the Union Government of India, but it is paid from the State funds. The state to which the IAS officer is assigned pays the salary and the other benefits.

See here: Designations and post occupied by IAS officers

Moreover, they are obliged to keep the salaries of the state officers in check with the salary of an IAS officer of the same seniority. This remains a matter of discord between the small states and the Central government. Though IAS Salary is one of the motivational factors for some of the IAS aspirants the majority of candidates consider it secondary in comparison to the power of doing good to society, prestige and status. The higher number of applications in the IAS exam is one of the results of the fact that the IAS is the highest-paying generalist job in the nation. 

Also Read: UPSC 2025 Interview Questions

See Here: How to prepare for IAS exam?

IAS officers get a decent salary and above it, they get allowances for all the major expenses done in a month. In addition, the IAS enjoys various facilities provided to the posts. 

The Power of an IAS officer depends upon its place of posting and the department assigned. The IAS posted as a District Magistrate will have more powers in comparison to the IAS posted as director of Civil Supplies or dairy production. Though the salary of an IAS officer remains the same except for some of the allowances paid during the field postings.

The candidates can see here important questions related to IAS salary.