SSC CGL 2026 salary & posts — pay level, in-hand, department
SSC CGL (SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGL)) fills 9 posts across 9 departments or services in groups B, C. The table below lists each post with its department, group and pay level and an approximate monthly in-hand figure, taken from the same verified data as the SSC CGL guide.
Pay levels run from Level 4 · ₹25,500–81,100 up to Level 8 · ₹47,600–1,51,100, so the post you finally get matters as much as clearing the exam. The 2026 cycle lists 12,256 vacancies and an application fee of ₹100 (women, SC, ST, ESM and PwD candidates are exempt).
✓ Data verified 29 Sept 2026
Posts, department, group and pay level
| Post | Department | Group | Pay level | Approx. in-hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) | Indian Audit & Accounts Dept (C&AG) | B | Level 8 · ₹47,600–1,51,100 | ≈ ₹75–85k/month |
| Assistant Section Officer (ASO) | CSS (various ministries) / MEA / other | B | Level 7 · ₹44,900–1,42,400 | ≈ ₹65–75k/month |
| Income Tax Inspector | CBDT | B | Level 7 · ₹44,900–1,42,400 | ≈ ₹65–75k/month |
| Inspector (Central Excise / Preventive Officer / Examiner) | CBIC | B | Level 7 · ₹44,900–1,42,400 | ≈ ₹60–72k/month |
| Sub-Inspector | CBI | B | Level 7 · ₹44,900–1,42,400 | ≈ ₹60–72k/month |
| Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | MoSPI (NSSO) | B | Level 6 · ₹35,400–1,12,400 | ≈ ₹48–58k/month |
| Auditor | C&AG / CGDA / CGA offices | C | Level 5 · ₹29,200–92,300 | ≈ ₹36–44k/month |
| Accountant / Junior Accountant | C&AG / CGA / other offices | C | Level 5 · ₹29,200–92,300 | ≈ ₹36–44k/month |
| Tax Assistant | CBDT / CBIC | C | Level 4 · ₹25,500–81,100 | ≈ ₹32–40k/month |
Posts grouped by pay level
| Pay level | Posts |
|---|---|
| Level 8 · ₹47,600–1,51,100 | Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) |
| Level 7 · ₹44,900–1,42,400 | Assistant Section Officer (ASO) · Income Tax Inspector · Inspector (Central Excise / Preventive Officer / Examiner) · Sub-Inspector |
| Level 6 · ₹35,400–1,12,400 | Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) |
| Level 5 · ₹29,200–92,300 | Auditor · Accountant / Junior Accountant |
| Level 4 · ₹25,500–81,100 | Tax Assistant |
Special requirements and notes by post
- Assistant Audit Officer (AAO):
Desirable: CA/CS/CMA/MBA-Fin/M.Com
- Assistant Section Officer (ASO):
MEA ASO involves foreign postings
- Income Tax Inspector:
Mix of field assessment and desk work
- Inspector (Central Excise / Preventive Officer / Examiner):
PO/Inspector roles can involve anti-evasion field duty
- Sub-Inspector:
CBI physical/medical standards apply
- Junior Statistical Officer (JSO):
Needs Statistics in degree; sits Paper 2
What pay level and in-hand salary mean
Pay level. Central government posts are placed on a pay matrix. A line such as "Level 2 · ₹19,900–63,200" says which row of the matrix the post sits in, followed by the entry pay and the top of the pay band as printed in the notification. The entry figure is the basic pay you start on; it is not what reaches your bank account.
Basic pay versus in-hand. In-hand (take-home) salary is basic pay plus allowances such as dearness allowance, house rent allowance and travel allowance, minus deductions. Allowances such as house rent and travel vary with the class of city you are posted in, which is why the same post can pay differently in different places.
Why the in-hand figures here are approximate. The in-hand column is a rough monthly estimate, not a guarantee; where it is blank the data only gives the official pay level.
Group. The group letter or label is how the post is classified in the notification. Posts in the same group can still sit at different pay levels, so always read the pay level column, not the group alone.
Always confirm with the notification. Pay levels, vacancies and department lists can change between cycles. The official notification is the final word.
Choosing between posts
Look at pay level first, then at the department and the nature of the job (desk, field or physical). Check any special requirements listed above before you rank posts, because a post you do not qualify for cannot be a fallback.
Before you decide, confirm that you meet the age and education rules on the SSC CGL eligibility page, and see how the stages are scored on the SSC CGL exam pattern page. The CGL posts and preference builder lets you rank posts for your own date of birth and category.
SSC CGL salary & posts — FAQs
Which posts are covered in SSC CGL and what is the pay level of each?
Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) — Level 8 · ₹47,600–1,51,100; Assistant Section Officer (ASO) — Level 7 · ₹44,900–1,42,400; Income Tax Inspector — Level 7 · ₹44,900–1,42,400; Inspector (Central Excise / Preventive Officer / Examiner) — Level 7 · ₹44,900–1,42,400; Sub-Inspector — Level 7 · ₹44,900–1,42,400; Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) — Level 6 · ₹35,400–1,12,400; Auditor — Level 5 · ₹29,200–92,300; Accountant / Junior Accountant — Level 5 · ₹29,200–92,300; Tax Assistant — Level 4 · ₹25,500–81,100.
Which SSC CGL post has the highest pay level?
Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) (Level 8 · ₹47,600–1,51,100), going by the pay levels listed in the data on this page.
What is the approximate in-hand salary in SSC CGL?
Assistant Audit Officer (AAO): ≈ ₹75–85k/month; Assistant Section Officer (ASO): ≈ ₹65–75k/month; Income Tax Inspector: ≈ ₹65–75k/month; Inspector (Central Excise / Preventive Officer / Examiner): ≈ ₹60–72k/month; Sub-Inspector: ≈ ₹60–72k/month; Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): ≈ ₹48–58k/month; Auditor: ≈ ₹36–44k/month; Accountant / Junior Accountant: ≈ ₹36–44k/month; Tax Assistant: ≈ ₹32–40k/month. These are estimates; your actual take-home depends on the city you are posted in and your deductions.
Which posts are considered the best in CGL?
By pay and profile: AAO (Level 8) > ASO in CSS / Income Tax Inspector / CBDT-CBIC Inspectors / SI CBI (Level 7) > JSO (Level 6) > Auditor/Accountant (Level 5) > Tax Assistant (Level 4). 'Best' depends on posting city, field vs desk work, and transfer frequency — Inspector posts get more field duty; CSS ASO is Delhi-desk heavy.