FDA Salary in Karnataka 2026: Pay Scale, In-Hand Salary, Allowances & Promotion

Quick Answer: The FDA salary in Karnataka starts at a basic pay of ₹44,425 per month in the pay scale ₹44,425–₹83,700, as per the Karnataka 2024 Revised Pay Scales (7th State Pay Commission). With 15.75% DA and HRA, a new First Division Assistant gets about ₹54,750–₹60,300 gross and ₹47,500–₹53,000 in hand per month.

The First Division Assistant (FDA) is one of the most popular Group C jobs in Karnataka for graduates. It sits one step above the Second Division Assistant (SDA) post and is filled in almost every state department, from Revenue and Treasury to Education and Health.

If you are preparing for the KEA or KPSC FDA exam, this guide gives you the exact FDA salary in Karnataka for 2026: the revised pay scale, a line-by-line in-hand calculation, city-wise pay, yearly increments and what you earn after promotion.

FDA Salary in Karnataka: Overview

Particular	Details
Post Name	First Division Assistant (FDA)
Employer	Government of Karnataka (various departments)
Recruiting Body	Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) / KPSC
Group	Group C
Pay Rules	Karnataka Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2024
Pay Scale	₹44,425 – ₹83,700
Starting Basic Pay	₹44,425
Current DA	15.75% of basic pay (from 1 January 2026)
Gross Salary	₹54,750 – ₹60,300 per month
In-Hand Salary	₹47,500 – ₹53,000 per month
Annual Package (Gross)	Around ₹6.6 lakh – ₹7.2 lakh

FDA Pay Scale in Karnataka (After 7th Pay Commission)

Karnataka does not use the central government’s Level 1–18 pay matrix. It follows its own Master Scale, and every post is given a fixed slice of it. The 7th State Pay Commission revision came into effect on 1 August 2024, with the minimum basic pay of state employees going up from ₹17,000 to ₹27,000.

Under this revision, the FDA pay scale was raised from ₹27,650–₹52,650 to ₹44,425–₹83,700. The full scale, as given in the latest KEA Assistant recruitment notification, is:

₹44,425 – 1,125 – 47,800 – 1,250 – 52,800 – 1,375 – 58,300 – 1,500 – 64,300 – 1,650 – 74,200 – 1,900 – 83,700

This means your basic pay grows by ₹1,125 every year at the start, and the yearly increment slowly rises to ₹1,900 in the higher stages.

Old vs New FDA Pay Scale

Pay Revision	FDA Pay Scale	Starting Basic
6th State Pay Commission (2018–July 2024)	₹27,650 – ₹52,650	₹27,650
7th State Pay Commission (from August 2024)	₹44,425 – ₹83,700	₹44,425

Many websites still show the old ₹27,650 scale. That figure is outdated. If you join as an FDA in 2026, your pay will be fixed at ₹44,425.

FDA Salary Per Month in Karnataka: In-Hand Calculation

Here is how the monthly salary of a newly joined FDA is calculated at the current DA rate of 15.75%. Karnataka pays HRA based on the city category where you are posted.

Component	Bengaluru (Category A)	Category B City	Category C (other towns)
Basic Pay	₹44,425	₹44,425	₹44,425
DA (15.75%)	₹6,997	₹6,997	₹6,997
HRA (20% / 15% / 7.5%)	₹8,885	₹6,664	₹3,332
Gross Salary	₹60,307	₹58,086	₹54,754
NPS (10% of Basic + DA)	– ₹5,142	– ₹5,142	– ₹5,142
KGID / Group Insurance (approx.)	– ₹1,500	– ₹1,500	– ₹1,500
Professional Tax	– ₹200	– ₹200	– ₹200
Health Scheme Contribution (approx.)	– ₹350	– ₹350	– ₹350
Approx. In-Hand Salary	₹53,115	₹50,894	₹47,562

Points to note:

• Category B cities include the larger urban areas outside Bengaluru, such as Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi and Kalaburagi. The exact list is set by the state’s HRA classification order.
• The KGID premium depends on your pay slab and policy. The figure above is a realistic average, not a fixed amount.
• Employees in Bengaluru also get a small City Compensatory Allowance, which is not included above.
• An FDA earning about ₹7.2 lakh a year usually pays no income tax under the new tax regime, thanks to the rebate on income up to ₹12 lakh.

Note: All figures are based on the Karnataka 2024 Revised Pay Scales and the latest DA order. They will change whenever the state revises DA.

Allowances and Benefits for FDA in Karnataka

Apart from basic pay, an FDA gets the regular benefits given to Karnataka state government employees:

• Dearness Allowance (DA): This is currently 15.75% of basic pay, effective from 1 January 2026. Under the new pay scales, DA started at a low base and is revised about twice a year. It went from 14.25% to 15.75% in the most recent order.
• House Rent Allowance (HRA): HRA is paid as a percentage of basic pay depending on city category. It is not given if you live in government quarters.
• City Compensatory Allowance (CCA): This is a small fixed amount for employees posted in Bengaluru.
• Medical facilities: Cashless treatment is available for you and your dependants under the state employees’ health scheme at empanelled hospitals.
• KGID insurance: This is the Karnataka Government Insurance Department life cover, which is compulsory for state employees.
• Pension (NPS): You contribute 10% of basic + DA, and the government adds its own share. Employees often demand the Old Pension Scheme, but for now new recruits come under NPS.
• Leave: You get earned leave, casual leave and half-pay leave, plus maternity leave (180 days) and paternity leave as per Karnataka Civil Services rules.
• Festival advance and loans: Advances are available for festivals, house building and vehicle purchase as per state rules.
• Job security: It is a permanent government job with fixed hours, which is a big reason many graduates prefer FDA over private jobs.

FDA Salary Growth: Year-Wise Basic Pay

Most articles skip this, but it matters a lot. Even without promotion, your basic pay goes up every year by the increment fixed in the pay scale. Here is how an FDA’s basic pay grows in the first 10 years:

Years of Service	Basic Pay	Approx. Gross (Bengaluru, 15.75% DA)
Joining	₹44,425	₹60,307
1 year	₹45,550	₹61,834
2 years	₹46,675	₹63,362
3 years	₹47,800	₹64,889
5 years	₹50,300	₹68,282
7 years	₹52,800	₹71,676
10 years	₹56,925	₹77,276
Maximum of scale	₹83,700	₹1,13,623

These numbers assume today’s DA. In reality, DA keeps rising, so the actual gross will be higher. Karnataka also gives automatic time-bound advancements to employees who are not promoted for long periods, so you do not get stuck at the top of the scale.

FDA Salary After Promotion: Career Growth

FDA is a strong entry point because promotions in Karnataka’s ministerial cadre are seniority-based. The exact posts and timelines differ by department, but a typical path looks like this:

Post	Typical Timeline	Pay Level (Approx.)
Second Division Assistant (SDA)	Feeder post for FDA	₹34,100 – ₹67,600
First Division Assistant (FDA)	Entry via direct recruitment	₹44,425 – ₹83,700
Superintendent / Office Manager	6–10 years as FDA	Higher Group C scale (starting basic roughly ₹60,000+)
Gazetted Manager / Assistant Director grade	12–18 years	Group B scale
Tahsildar / Section Officer-level posts (in some departments)	18+ years	Group B / Group A scale

Promotion scales for senior posts vary by department and cadre rules; the ranges above are indicative.

In the Revenue Department, for example, FDAs can move up towards posts like Shirastedar and later Tahsildar Grade-2 through departmental promotions.

Job Profile of an FDA

An FDA handles the core office work of a government department. The main duties are:

• Maintaining files, registers and service records of staff
• Preparing salary bills, budget statements and accounts entries (especially in Treasury and accounts sections)
• Drafting letters, notes and replies to official correspondence
• Handling public applications and grievances at the department level
• Supervising SDAs and other Group C/D staff in the section
• Data entry and record-keeping on e-Office and HRMS systems

Eligibility and Selection Process

Educational qualification: You need a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. Knowledge of Kannada is required, and candidates who did not study Kannada as a subject must clear a Kannada language test.

Age limit: The minimum age is 18 years. The upper limit is generally 35 years for General Merit, 38 for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B and 40 for SC/ST/Category-1. Always check the specific notification, because relaxations can change.

Selection process:

1. Written exam with Paper 1 (General Knowledge) and Paper 2 (General Kannada, General English and Computer Knowledge)
2. Kannada language test (if applicable)
3. Document verification
4. Final merit list and department allotment

In recent years, the KEA has been conducting combined FDA/SDA recruitment for several boards, corporations and departments, while the KPSC handles recruitment for many core state departments.

FDA vs SDA Salary in Karnataka (and Similar Posts)

Post	Pay Scale / Level	Starting Basic	Approx. In-Hand (Per Month)
SDA (Karnataka)	₹34,100 – ₹67,600	₹34,100	₹36,500 – ₹40,500
FDA (Karnataka)	₹44,425 – ₹83,700	₹44,425	₹47,500 – ₹53,000
LDC (Central Govt, Level 2)	₹19,900 – ₹63,200	₹19,900	₹33,000 – ₹37,000
UDC (Central Govt, Level 4)	₹25,500 – ₹81,100	₹25,500	₹43,000 – ₹49,000

An FDA earns about ₹10,000–₹12,000 more per month than an SDA at joining. The FDA’s starting basic is much higher than a central government clerk’s, but the central DA rate (60%) is far higher than Karnataka’s DA (15.75%). That is why the final in-hand pay of an FDA and a central UDC ends up quite close.

FAQs on FDA Salary in Karnataka

What is the FDA salary in Karnataka per month in 2026?
A new First Division Assistant gets a basic pay of ₹44,425. After adding DA and HRA and cutting NPS and other deductions, the in-hand salary is about ₹47,500 to ₹53,000 per month, depending on the city of posting.

What is the FDA pay scale in Karnataka after the 7th Pay Commission?
The revised FDA pay scale is ₹44,425–₹83,700, effective from 1 August 2024. The earlier scale was ₹27,650–₹52,650.

Which pay level is FDA in Karnataka?
Karnataka does not use the central pay level system. FDA is a Group C post placed in the ₹44,425–₹83,700 standard scale of the state’s Master Scale.

What is the difference between FDA and SDA salary in Karnataka?
SDA’s pay scale is ₹34,100–₹67,600 and FDA’s is ₹44,425–₹83,700. The difference in basic pay at joining is ₹10,325. FDA also needs a degree, while SDA needs PUC.

How much is the annual increment for FDA in Karnataka?
The increment starts at ₹1,125 per year and rises in stages to ₹1,250, ₹1,375, ₹1,500, ₹1,650 and finally ₹1,900 as you move up the scale.

What is the current DA for Karnataka government employees?
The DA is 15.75% of basic pay from 1 January 2026. It is calculated on the new (2024) pay scales, so it cannot be compared directly with the central government’s 60% DA.

Is FDA a Group B or Group C post in Karnataka?
FDA is a Group C (non-gazetted) post. After promotion to gazetted manager-level posts, an employee moves into Group B.

Will the 8th Pay Commission increase FDA salary in Karnataka?
No, not directly. The 8th Pay Commission is for central government employees. Karnataka revises its employees’ pay through its own State Pay Commission, so a future FDA pay hike will depend on the next Karnataka pay commission.

Final Thoughts

The FDA post offers one of the best salaries among graduate-level Group C jobs in Karnataka. You start at ₹44,425 basic, take home roughly ₹47,500–₹53,000 a month, and get regular increments plus DA hikes every year. With seniority-based promotions to Superintendent and gazetted posts, it is a solid long-term career in the state government.

Also read https://salaryinfoblog.com/rrb-ntpc-salary-per-month/