Quick Answer: A railway clerk’s starting basic pay is ₹19,900 (Pay Level 2) for Junior Clerk cum Typist and Accounts Clerk, ₹21,700 (Level 3) for Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, and ₹29,200 (Level 5) for Senior Clerk. In-hand salary per month is roughly ₹32,000 to ₹56,500, depending on post and posting city.
Railway clerk salary is one of the most searched topics among 12th-pass and graduate job aspirants, mainly because Indian Railways recruits thousands of clerks every year through the RRB NTPC exam. The job offers a 7th Pay Commission salary, a steady increment every year, free railway passes and a clear promotion ladder.
In this guide, you’ll find the exact pay level of every railway clerk post, a line-by-line in-hand salary calculation at the current 60% DA, city-wise take-home pay, allowances, promotion path and how the job compares with similar posts.
Note: All figures are based on the 7th Pay Commission pay matrix, RRB NTPC notifications and the current central government DA rate. They may change with DA revisions.
Railway Clerk Salary Overview
“Railway clerk” is not a single post. Indian Railways has several clerical posts, recruited mainly through RRB NTPC (Undergraduate and Graduate levels). Here is a quick summary:
| Post | Recruited via | Pay Level | Basic Pay | Gross (Y city) | In-Hand (Y city) | Annual Package (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | RRB NTPC UG (12th) | Level 2 | ₹19,900 | ₹37,260 | ₹34,046 | ₹5 lakh |
| Accounts Clerk cum Typist | RRB NTPC UG (12th) | Level 2 | ₹19,900 | ₹37,260 | ₹34,046 | ₹5 lakh |
| Trains Clerk | RRB NTPC UG (12th) | Level 2 | ₹19,900 | ₹37,260 | ₹34,046 | ₹5 lakh |
| Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | RRB NTPC UG (12th) | Level 3 | ₹21,700 | ₹41,940 | ₹38,438 | ₹5.6 lakh |
| Senior Clerk cum Typist | RRB NTPC Graduate | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | ₹55,440 | ₹50,738 | ₹7.4 lakh |
| Junior Account Assistant cum Typist | RRB NTPC Graduate | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | ₹55,440 | ₹50,738 | ₹7.4 lakh |
The annual package includes gross pay plus the government’s 14% NPS contribution. Bonus and overtime-type allowances are extra.
Railway Clerk Pay Scale & Pay Level (7th Pay Commission)
Railway employees are paid under the 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrix. Each post sits at a fixed “Pay Level”, and the basic pay rises by about 3% every year through annual increments (given on 1 January or 1 July).
| Pay Level | Old Grade Pay | Starting Basic | Clerk Posts at This Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | ₹1,900 | ₹19,900 | Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Trains Clerk, Junior Time Keeper |
| Level 3 | ₹2,000 | ₹21,700 | Commercial cum Ticket Clerk |
| Level 5 | ₹2,800 | ₹29,200 | Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Account Assistant cum Typist, Senior Commercial cum Ticket Clerk |
How the basic pay grows with increments
| Year of Service | Level 2 Basic | Level 3 Basic | Level 5 Basic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joining | ₹19,900 | ₹21,700 | ₹29,200 |
| After 1 year | ₹20,500 | ₹22,400 | ₹30,100 |
| After 2 years | ₹21,100 | ₹23,100 | ₹31,000 |
| After 3 years | ₹21,700 | ₹23,800 | ₹31,900 |
| After 5 years | ₹23,100 | ₹25,200 | ₹33,800 |
So even without any promotion, a Junior Clerk’s basic pay crosses ₹23,000 within about five years.
Railway Clerk Salary Per Month – In-Hand Calculation
Here is how the monthly salary is actually worked out. The calculation uses the current DA of 60% (in force from 1 January 2026), HRA at 30%/20%/10% for X/Y/Z cities, and Transport Allowance as per pay level.
Junior Clerk cum Typist / Accounts Clerk (Level 2) – ₹19,900
| Component | X City | Y City | Z City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Pay | ₹19,900 | ₹19,900 | ₹19,900 |
| DA (60%) | ₹11,940 | ₹11,940 | ₹11,940 |
| HRA (30% / 20% / 10%) | ₹5,970 | ₹3,980 | ₹1,990 |
| Transport Allowance (incl. DA) | ₹2,160 | ₹1,440 | ₹1,440 |
| Gross Salary | ₹39,970 | ₹37,260 | ₹35,270 |
| NPS (10% of Basic + DA) | – ₹3,184 | – ₹3,184 | – ₹3,184 |
| CGEGIS | – ₹30 | – ₹30 | – ₹30 |
| In-Hand Salary | ₹36,756 | ₹34,046 | ₹32,056 |
Commercial cum Ticket Clerk (Level 3) – ₹21,700
| Component | X City | Y City | Z City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Pay | ₹21,700 | ₹21,700 | ₹21,700 |
| DA (60%) | ₹13,020 | ₹13,020 | ₹13,020 |
| HRA | ₹6,510 | ₹4,340 | ₹2,170 |
| Transport Allowance (incl. DA) | ₹5,760 | ₹2,880 | ₹2,880 |
| Gross Salary | ₹46,990 | ₹41,940 | ₹39,770 |
| NPS + CGEGIS | – ₹3,502 | – ₹3,502 | – ₹3,502 |
| In-Hand Salary | ₹43,488 | ₹38,438 | ₹36,268 |
Notice the big jump in Transport Allowance at Level 3. This is why a Commercial cum Ticket Clerk takes home roughly ₹4,000–₹6,700 more than a Junior Clerk, even though the basic pay gap is only ₹1,800.
Senior Clerk / Junior Account Assistant (Level 5) – ₹29,200
| Component | X City | Y City | Z City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Pay | ₹29,200 | ₹29,200 | ₹29,200 |
| DA (60%) | ₹17,520 | ₹17,520 | ₹17,520 |
| HRA | ₹8,760 | ₹5,840 | ₹2,920 |
| Transport Allowance (incl. DA) | ₹5,760 | ₹2,880 | ₹2,880 |
| Gross Salary | ₹61,240 | ₹55,440 | ₹52,520 |
| NPS + CGEGIS | – ₹4,702 | – ₹4,702 | – ₹4,702 |
| In-Hand Salary | ₹56,538 | ₹50,738 | ₹47,818 |
Important points:
- Employees who live in railway quarters don’t get HRA; a small licence fee is deducted instead.
- Professional tax (in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar) is deducted separately, usually ₹150–₹300 a month.
- Income tax is usually nil at the entry level under the new tax regime, since annual income stays within the rebate limit.
DA update: The July 2026 DA revision is still awaiting Cabinet approval. It is widely expected to take DA from 60% to 63%. Once notified, a railway clerk’s monthly pay will rise by roughly ₹600–₹900, with arrears paid from July 2026.
Allowances & Benefits of a Railway Clerk
Beyond basic pay, a railway clerk gets a wide set of allowances and perks:
- Dearness Allowance (DA): 60% of basic pay, revised twice a year.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA): 30% (X), 20% (Y) or 10% (Z) of basic pay, if not living in railway quarters.
- Transport Allowance: ₹1,350/₹900 for Level 2 and ₹3,600/₹1,800 for Level 3 and above, plus DA on it.
- Night Duty Allowance: For clerks working night shifts, such as ticket counters and train offices.
- Overtime Allowance: Payable where duty hours exceed the roster.
- Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB): Railway staff get a yearly bonus equal to 78 days’ wages before Durga Puja/Dussehra, capped at around ₹17,951 in recent years.
- Railway Passes & PTOs: Free travel passes every year for the employee and family, plus Privilege Ticket Orders at one-third fare.
- Medical Facility: Free treatment for self and dependants in railway hospitals and empanelled hospitals (UMID card).
- Pension: New joiners come under NPS, with an option for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). The government contributes 14% of basic + DA.
- Leave: 30 days earned leave, 20 days half-pay leave, 8 days casual leave yearly, plus maternity/paternity and child care leave.
- Children Education Allowance: About ₹2,812 per child per month (for up to two children), revised with DA.
- Railway Quarters: Subsidised housing near the place of posting, subject to availability.
City-Wise / State-Wise Railway Clerk Salary
Railway clerk pay is the same across India because it is a central government job. What changes is the HRA and Transport Allowance, based on the city where you are posted.
| City (State) | City Class | Junior Clerk In-Hand | CCTC In-Hand | Senior Clerk In-Hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai | X | ₹36,756 | ₹43,488 | ₹56,538 |
| Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad | X | ₹36,756 | ₹43,488 | ₹56,538 |
| Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi (UP) | Y | ₹34,046 | ₹38,438 | ₹50,738 |
| Patna (Bihar), Ranchi (Jharkhand) | Y | ₹34,046 | ₹38,438 | ₹50,738 |
| Jaipur (Rajasthan), Bhopal (MP) | Y | ₹34,046 | ₹38,438 | ₹50,738 |
| Guwahati (Assam), Bhubaneswar (Odisha) | Y | ₹34,046 | ₹38,438 | ₹50,738 |
| Smaller towns and rural stations | Z | ₹32,056 | ₹36,268 | ₹47,818 |
Transport Allowance at the higher rate applies only in notified big cities. Some Y cities may get the higher rate; check your division’s pay rules.
Railway Clerk Salary After Promotion / Career Growth
Promotions in railways come through seniority, selection, departmental exams (LDCE/GDCE) and the MACP scheme, which gives a financial upgrade at 10, 20 and 30 years of service if no promotion has come.
Clerical / Administration line
| Post | Pay Level | Starting Basic | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | Level 2 | ₹19,900 | Joining |
| Senior Clerk | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | 4–8 years |
| Head Clerk / Office Superintendent | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | 10–15 years |
| Chief Office Superintendent | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | 18–25 years |
| Group B Officer (via LDCE) | Level 8 | ₹47,600 | Through departmental exam |
Commercial line
| Post | Pay Level | Starting Basic |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | Level 3 | ₹21,700 |
| Senior Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | Level 5 | ₹29,200 |
| Head Commercial Clerk / Chief Booking Supervisor | Level 6 | ₹35,400 |
| Chief Commercial Inspector | Level 7 | ₹44,900 |
Accounts line
Accounts Clerks can move to Junior Account Assistant (Level 5), then to Senior Section Officer (Level 7) after clearing the departmental Appendix-3 exam, and later to Assistant Accounts Officer (Group B).
Timelines are typical and vary by zone, division and vacancy position.
Job Profile & Duties
- Junior Clerk cum Typist: Typing letters and notes, maintaining files and registers, data entry and general office work in railway divisions.
- Accounts Clerk cum Typist: Handling bills, payroll, salary records, vouchers and accounts-related typing.
- Commercial cum Ticket Clerk: Issuing reserved and unreserved tickets, handling booking counters, parcel and luggage booking, cash handling and passenger queries.
- Trains Clerk: Maintaining train movement records, wagon and goods records in yards and stations.
- Senior Clerk: Supervising junior staff, handling establishment matters, files and correspondence.
Ticket clerks usually work in shifts, including nights and holidays. Office clerks mostly work regular office hours.
Eligibility & Selection Process
| Detail | Undergraduate Clerk Posts | Graduate Clerk Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | 12th pass (50% marks for General; relaxed for SC/ST/PwBD/ex-servicemen) | Graduation from a recognised university |
| Age Limit | 18–33 years | 18–36 years |
| Typing Speed | 30 wpm English or 25 wpm Hindi (for typist posts) | Same, for typist posts |
Selection process: CBT-1 → CBT-2 → Typing Skill Test (qualifying, for typist posts only) → Document Verification → Medical Examination. The Commercial cum Ticket Clerk post does not need a typing test.
Railway Clerk Salary vs Similar Posts
| Post | Pay Level | Starting Basic | Approx. In-Hand (Y city) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Railway Group D (Level 1) | Level 1 | ₹18,000 | ₹31,000 |
| Railway Junior Clerk | Level 2 | ₹19,900 | ₹34,000 |
| SSC CHSL LDC/JSA | Level 2 | ₹19,900 | ₹34,000 |
| Railway Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | Level 3 | ₹21,700 | ₹38,400 |
| SSC GD Constable | Level 3 | ₹21,700 | ₹38,400 + risk perks |
| Railway Senior Clerk | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | ₹50,700 |
| Railway Station Master | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | ₹61,000 |
A railway clerk earns the same basic as an SSC CHSL LDC. The real edge of the railway job is the free travel passes, railway medical system and yearly productivity bonus.
FAQs
What is the salary of a railway clerk per month?
A railway clerk earns an in-hand salary of about ₹32,000 to ₹56,500 per month. Junior Clerk starts near ₹32,000–₹36,750, Commercial cum Ticket Clerk near ₹36,250–₹43,500, and Senior Clerk near ₹47,800–₹56,500, depending on the city.
What is the pay level of a railway Junior Clerk?
Junior Clerk cum Typist is placed at Pay Level 2 of the 7th Pay Commission, with a starting basic pay of ₹19,900.
Railway clerk ki salary kitni hai?
Railway clerk ki shuruati basic pay ₹19,900 se ₹29,200 tak hoti hai. Allowances jodkar in-hand salary lagbhag ₹32,000 se ₹56,500 per month banti hai.
Which railway clerk post has the highest salary?
Among 12th-pass posts, Commercial cum Ticket Clerk (Level 3, ₹21,700) pays the most. Among graduate clerk posts, Senior Clerk cum Typist and Junior Account Assistant (Level 5, ₹29,200) pay the most.
Do railway clerks get a pension?
New railway clerks are covered under NPS, with the option to switch to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). The government contributes 14% of basic pay plus DA to the pension account.
Is a typing test required for railway clerk?
Yes, for Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Senior Clerk and Junior Account Assistant. The test is qualifying only. Commercial cum Ticket Clerk and Trains Clerk do not need it.
Will the 8th Pay Commission increase railway clerk salary?
Yes, the 8th Pay Commission will revise pay for all railway employees, including clerks. The commission was set up in November 2025 and its report is expected by around May 2027. The revised pay is expected to apply from 1 January 2026, but final figures are not yet announced.
How long does it take a Junior Clerk to become Senior Clerk?
Usually 4 to 8 years, depending on vacancies, seniority and departmental exams in the division.
Final Thoughts
Railway clerk salary starts at ₹19,900 basic for 12th-pass posts and ₹29,200 for graduate posts, with take-home pay between roughly ₹32,000 and ₹56,500 per month. Add yearly increments, DA hikes, free railway passes, medical cover and a bonus every year, and it becomes one of the most stable government jobs for 12th-pass and graduate candidates. With the July 2026 DA hike and the 8th Pay Commission ahead, salaries are set to rise further.
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