How Much Do TNPSC Jobs Pay?
From VAO to Deputy Collector — Basic Pay, Gross salary, and in-hand salary for Group 1, 2, 2A, 4 posts, all on one page. See how much each post pays and pick what fits you.
At a glance
The lowest Basic Pay in Group 4 is Forest Watcher at ₹16,600. In Group 1, Deputy Collector's Basic Pay is ₹56,100. In between sit VAO, Group 2A, and Group 2 posts — each one listed below.
In-Hand Salary by Post (lowest city tier)
Post-Wise Salary Comparison
The figures below are based on the Tamil Nadu government's official Pay Matrix (Revised Pay Rules, 2017) and the Pay Level stated in TNPSC notifications for each post. Gross and in-hand figures are this site's own approximate calculation using the current DA rate (60%) — see the "How we calculated this" section below for the full breakdown.
| Group | Post | Pay Level | Basic Pay (₹) | Gross (₹) | In-hand (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 4 | Forest Watcher | 3 | 16,600 | 28,700 - 32,000 | 25,900 - 29,200 |
| Group 4 | Forest Guard | 5 | 18,200 | 31,400 - 35,100 | 28,300 - 32,000 |
| Group 4 | Field Assistant | 6 | 18,500 | 31,950 - 35,650 | 28,800 - 32,500 |
| Group 4 | VAO / Junior Assistant / Typist | 8 | 19,500 | 33,650 - 37,550 | 30,300 - 34,200 |
| Group 4 | Steno-Typist Grade III | 10 | 20,600 | 35,500 - 39,600 | 32,000 - 36,100 |
| Group 2A | Assistant (Secretariat / Finance / TNPSC) | 9 | 20,000 | 34,500 - 38,500 | 31,100 - 35,100 |
| Group 2A | Senior Revenue Inspector / Junior Accountant | 10 | 20,600 | 35,500 - 39,600 | 32,000 - 36,100 |
| Group 2A | Supervisor / Jr. Superintendent (Agri Marketing) | 11 | 35,400 | 60,700 - 67,800 | 54,800 - 61,900 |
| Group 2A | Senior Inspector (Co-op) / Audit Inspector | 12 | 35,600 | 61,000 - 68,100 | 55,100 - 62,200 |
| Group 2 | Special Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | 16 | 36,400 | 62,400 - 69,700 | 56,400 - 63,600 |
| Group 2 | Assistant Inspector / Dy. Commercial Tax Officer / Sub Registrar Gr-II | 18 | 36,900 | 63,200 - 70,600 | 57,100 - 64,500 |
| Group 1 | Deputy Collector / Dy. Superintendent of Police / Asst. Commissioner (CT) | 22 | 56,100 | 95,900 - 1,07,100 | 86,700 - 97,900 |
We'll add verified Pay Level data for Group 3 (Station Fire Officer and other Combined Civil Services Exam-III posts) soon.
How We Calculated Gross and In-hand Salary
Government salary isn't a single number — it's four parts added together. Here's the VAO example:
- Basic Pay (Level 8, starting cell)
- ₹19,500
- + DA (Dearness Allowance, currently 60%)
- ₹11,700
- + HRA (10%-30% depending on city category)
- ₹1,950 - ₹5,850
- + Other minor allowances (Medical, Special Pay etc.)
- ₹500 (approx.)
- = Gross salary
- ₹33,650 - ₹37,550
- − NPS deduction (10% of Basic+DA)
- ₹3,120
- − Professional Tax
- ₹200 (approx.)
- = In-hand salary
- ₹30,300 - ₹34,200
The HRA difference comes down to city category — 30% in a big city like Chennai, around 20% in municipal corporations, and 10% in smaller towns/villages. That's why Gross salary for the same post is shown as a range rather than one fixed number.
How Salary Grows With Promotion
Salary rises in two ways:
- Annual increment — you move one cell forward in the Pay Matrix every year. Salary rises automatically even without a change in post.
- Promotion — your Pay Level rises when you move to the next post through seniority and departmental exams. For example, a VAO can be promoted to Revenue Inspector, then Deputy Tahsildar, then Tahsildar — each promotion raises both Pay Level and salary.
We'll add exact Pay Level figures for promotion posts (Revenue Inspector, Deputy Tahsildar, Tahsildar) once verified — we don't want to publish numbers we're not sure of.
How Much Can You Save Each Month?
Getting the salary is one thing — how much you can actually save each month depends on your living situation. Below are two common scenarios, using VAO's in-hand salary (₹30,300 - ₹34,200) as the base:
- Living with family, commuting to work (no rent)
- After food, travel, and personal expenses — you can save roughly ₹18,000 - ₹22,000 a month
- Living alone in a rented place
- After rent (₹4,000-7,000), food, and travel — you can save roughly ₹10,000 - ₹14,000 a month
This is our own approximate estimate — actual expenses vary from person to person. For higher Pay Level posts (Group 2, Group 2A, Group 1), you can scale this same calculation proportionally.
Next Steps
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the monthly salary of a VAO?
The VAO post is at Pay Level 8 — Basic Pay starts at ₹19,500. Adding DA (60%) and HRA, Gross salary works out to roughly ₹33,650-₹37,550. After NPS deduction, in-hand salary comes to roughly ₹30,000-₹34,000.
Which TNPSC Group 4 post pays the most?
Among Group 4 posts, Steno-Typist Grade III has the highest Basic Pay (₹20,600, Level 10). VAO, Junior Assistant, and Typist posts are at Level 8 (₹19,500) — the next tier.
What's the difference between Basic Pay and in-hand salary?
Basic Pay is the base wage fixed by the government. Add DA and HRA to that and you get Gross salary. Subtract NPS deduction and Professional Tax from Gross and you get the in-hand salary.
How does salary grow in a TNPSC job?
Two ways — an automatic annual increment, and a Pay Level rise when you're promoted through seniority or departmental exams.
What is the Basic Pay of Group 1 officers?
Posts like Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Category I), and Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes) are at Pay Level 22 — Basic Pay starts at ₹56,100.
Where does this salary data come from?
Basic Pay and Pay Level figures are taken from the Tamil Nadu government's Revised Pay Rules, 2017 (G.O.Ms.No.303, Finance Pay Cell Department) Pay Matrix table, and the latest official TNPSC notifications for each post. Gross and in-hand figures are this site's own approximate calculation using the current DA rate (60%).