SSC CHSL Salary 2026
SSC CHSL is your gateway to a permanent Group C Central Government job straight after Class 12 — clerical and data-entry posts across Union ministries, with pay under the 7th CPC Pay Matrix at Level 2 (LDC/JSA), Level 4 and Level 5 (DEO / DEO Grade A). At the current 2026 dearness-allowance rate of 60%, a fresh LDC/JSA in a metro takes home roughly ₹36,500 a month and a Level-5 DEO around ₹56,000 — with lifelong job security, medical cover and steady annual increments on top. Pay follows the 7th CPC Pay Matrix; in-hand pay across posts ranges from Approx. ₹31,800/month (LDC/JSA, Pay Level 2, non-metro Z-city) to ₹56,300/month (DEO, Pay Level 5, metro X-city) — computed at 60% DA (2026), income tax excluded. per month depending on the post, pay level and city.
SSC CHSL post-wise salary
Entry basic pay and approximate in-hand salary for each SSC CHSL post. In-hand figures include typical allowances and assume a metro / higher-HRA city; smaller-city pay is a little lower.
| Post | Pay level | Basic pay | In-hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA)Group C. Entry basic ₹19,900. Highest number of CHSL vacancies. CGHS ₹250 (L1-5), TA slab ₹1,350 metro / ₹900 other. | Pay Level 2 | ₹19,900 (scale ₹19,900–63,200) | Approx. ₹31,800 (Z-city) to ₹36,500 (metro X-city) per month |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) — Pay Level 4Group C. DEO posts exist at both Level 4 and Level 5 across departments (e.g. C&AG). TA slab ₹3,600 metro / ₹1,800 other. | Pay Level 4 | ₹25,500 (scale ₹25,500–81,100) | Approx. ₹41,900 (Z-city) to ₹49,900 (metro X-city) per month |
| Data Entry Operator (DEO) — Pay Level 5Group C. Higher DEO grade in some ministries (mainly C&AG / departmental). Same TA slab as Level 4. | Pay Level 5 | ₹29,200 (scale ₹29,200–92,300) | Approx. ₹47,600 (Z-city) to ₹56,300 (metro X-city) per month |
| Data Entry Operator, Grade 'A'Group C. Same pay level and in-hand as Level-4 DEO; distinct cadre with slightly different departmental duties. | Pay Level 4 | ₹25,500 (scale ₹25,500–81,100) | Approx. ₹41,900 (Z-city) to ₹49,900 (metro X-city) per month |
SSC CHSL salary slip — how in-hand pay is calculated
A worked monthly breakdown for Lower Division Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) — Pay Level 2 — Entry Basic ₹19,900 (Pay Level 2). DA @ 60% (eff. 01.01.2026). Metro / X-class city: HRA @ 30%, higher-TPTA Transport Allowance ₹1,350 + DA on TA. NPS employee share 10% of (Basic+DA). CGHS ₹250 (Levels 1-5). Income tax and professional tax excluded (not fixed departmental deductions).. Basic pay plus allowances make up the gross; after deductions you get your net in-hand.
| Basic Pay (Pay Level 2) | ₹19,900 |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) @ 60% of Basic | ₹11,940 |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) @ 30% (X-class city) | ₹5,970 |
| Transport Allowance (₹1,350 + 60% DA on TA) | ₹2,160 |
| Gross salary | ₹39,970 |
| NPS employee contribution @ 10% of (Basic + DA) | − ₹3,184 |
| CGHS (Pay Levels 1-5) | − ₹250 |
| Net in-hand | ₹36,536 |
Allowances & benefits
The in-hand salary is basic pay plus these allowances:
- Dearness Allowance (DA) — 60% of Basic Pay, effective 01.01.2026; revised twice a year.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA) — 30% / 20% / 10% of Basic for X / Y / Z class cities (the 30/20/10 slab applies as DA has crossed 50%).
- Transport Allowance (TA) — Pay Levels 1-2: ₹1,350 (higher-TPTA/metro cities) or ₹900 (other cities); Pay Levels 3-8: ₹3,600 (metro) or ₹1,800 (other); plus DA% is added on top of TA.
- Post/department-specific allowances such as Special Duty Allowance (for North-Eastern/UT postings), Dress/Uniform Allowance where applicable, and overtime where sanctioned.
- Children Education Allowance, Leave Travel Concession (LTC) and other standard central-government allowances as per eligibility.
Career growth & perks
- Permanent Central Government Group C job security.
- Pension under the National Pension System (NPS) — employee contributes 10% of Basic+DA, Government adds 14%.
- Medical cover under CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) / CS(MA) rules for self and dependents.
- Leave Travel Concession (LTC) for self and family, plus full paid leave (earned, casual, medical) and gazetted holidays.
- Annual increments (3% of basic each July), MACP upgradations, gratuity, and general provident/retirement benefits.
SSC CHSL job profile — what you actually do
Day-to-day duties for the main posts this exam recruits for.
Handles routine clerical and office work in ministries/departments: maintaining files and registers, data entry, drafting simple letters and noting, diarising and dispatching dak, typing, record-keeping, and general assistance to superior officers. Foundation-level administrative role in the Central Secretariat / attached offices.
Enters and processes data on computer systems, maintains and updates electronic records and databases, generates reports, verifies accuracy of entered data, and handles data-related documentation. Requires a minimum data-entry speed (8,000 key depressions per hour on computer as tested in the DEST). Grade 'A' handles similar data-entry work in specific departments (notably the office of the Comptroller & Auditor General).
Promotion & career growth
The typical promotion ladder from the entry SSC CHSL post:
- LDC / JSA (Pay Level 2) → Upper Division Clerk / Assistant (higher level) → Head Clerk / Assistant Section Officer → Section Officer, via departmental promotion and limited departmental competitive exams over time.
- DEO (Pay Level 4/5) → Senior Data Entry Operator / DEO Grade 'B','C','F' in the C&AG and other cadres → supervisory data-processing roles, through seniority and departmental exams.
- All cadres receive annual increments (3% of basic) on 1 July each year and MACP (Modified Assured Career Progression) financial upgradation at 10, 20 and 30 years of service if regular promotion is delayed.
SSC CHSL salary — FAQs
What is the in-hand salary for SSC CHSL 2026?
The in-hand salary for SSC CHSL ranges from Approx. ₹31,800/month (LDC/JSA, Pay Level 2, non-metro Z-city) to ₹56,300/month (DEO, Pay Level 5, metro X-city) — computed at 60% DA (2026), income tax excluded. per month depending on the post, pay level and city (which sets the HRA slab). SSC CHSL is your gateway to a permanent Group C Central Government job straight after Class 12 — clerical and data-entry posts across Union ministries, with pay under the 7th CPC Pay Matrix at Level 2 (LDC/JSA), Level 4 and Level 5 (DEO / DEO Grade A). At the current 2026 dearness-allowance rate of 60%, a fresh LDC/JSA in a metro takes home roughly ₹36,500 a month and a Level-5 DEO around ₹56,000 — with lifelong job security, medical cover and steady annual increments on top.
What is the pay scale / pay level for SSC CHSL?
SSC CHSL posts are paid under the 7th CPC Pay Matrix. The post-wise pay levels and entry basic pay are listed in the table above.
What allowances are paid in SSC CHSL jobs?
On top of basic pay, SSC CHSL employees receive Dearness Allowance (DA) — 60% of Basic Pay, effective 01.01.2026; revised twice a year., House Rent Allowance (HRA) — 30% / 20% / 10% of Basic for X / Y / Z class cities (the 30/20/10 slab applies as DA has crossed 50%)., Transport Allowance (TA) — Pay Levels 1-2: ₹1,350 (higher-TPTA/metro cities) or ₹900 (other cities); Pay Levels 3-8: ₹3,600 (metro) or ₹1,800 (other); plus DA% is added on top of TA., Post/department-specific allowances such as Special Duty Allowance (for North-Eastern/UT postings), Dress/Uniform Allowance where applicable, and overtime where sanctioned. and more. These allowances are what make the in-hand salary higher than the basic pay.
All in-hand figures are computed at 60% DA (effective 01.01.2026) for a metro / X-class city unless a Z-city floor is stated, and are indicative. Income tax and state professional tax are NOT included (they are not fixed departmental deductions and vary by individual). Actual HRA/TA depend on the exact posting city classification. Post-specific allowances are not shown where a department grants extras. The 2024 CHSL notification covers only LDC/JSA and DEO / DEO Grade 'A' — always confirm posts, pay levels and entry basic against the official SSC notification for the specific exam year you are applying for.
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