Quick Answer: A RAW agent salary in 2026 ranges from about ₹74,000 to ₹1.12 lakh in hand per month for field-level officers. Deputy Field Officers start at Pay Level 7 (basic ₹44,900) and Senior Field Officers at Level 10 (basic ₹56,100), plus DA, HRA and a 20% Special Security Allowance.
The RAW agent salary is one of the most searched government pay topics in India, mainly because so little about RAW is public. RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) is India’s external intelligence agency and works under the Cabinet Secretariat. Its staff are paid under the 7th Pay Commission pay matrix, just like other central government employees, but they also get an extra security allowance because of the sensitive nature of the job.
RAW does not publish a separate salary chart. The figures below are built from Cabinet Secretariat recruitment notifications, the 7th CPC pay matrix and the current DA rate of 60%.
Note: Figures are based on official pay rules and recruitment notices and may change with DA revisions.
RAW Agent Salary Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Research and Analysis Wing (under Cabinet Secretariat) |
| Common entry posts | Deputy Field Officer, Senior Field Officer, RAS officer |
| Pay level (entry) | Level 6 to Level 10 |
| Basic pay | ₹35,400 to ₹56,100 |
| Gross salary per month | ₹80,000 to ₹1.3 lakh |
| In-hand salary per month | ₹74,000 to ₹1.12 lakh (approx.) |
| Annual package | ₹9.6 lakh to ₹15.5 lakh |
| Special allowance | 20% Special Security Allowance on basic pay |
| Top post salary | Secretary (Research): ₹2,25,000 basic (Level 17) |
Who Is a “RAW Agent”? (Important Before You Read the Numbers)
The word “RAW agent” is used loosely. In reality, there are two very different groups:
- RAW officers and staff – regular central government employees (Field Officers, Research and Analysis Service officers, technical staff, MTS). They get a fixed salary under the pay matrix. This article covers their pay.
- Field sources or informants – people abroad who pass information to RAW. They are not government employees and have no pay scale. Any payment to them is secret and case-based, so no reliable figure exists.
When people search “RAW agent salary”, they almost always mean the first group.
RAW Agent Pay Scale & Pay Level (7th Pay Commission)
RAW posts follow the 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrix. Recent Cabinet Secretariat recruitment notices give a clear picture of the entry levels.
| Post (Cabinet Secretariat / RAW) | Group | Pay Level | Basic Pay Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) | C | Level 1 | ₹18,000 – ₹56,900 |
| Deputy Field Officer (General) | B | Level 6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 |
| Deputy Field Officer (Technical) | B | Level 7 | ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 |
| Senior Field Officer (Technical) | A (Gazetted) | Level 10 | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 |
| Research and Analysis Service (RAS) officer | A | Level 10 onwards | ₹56,100 and above |
| Secretary (Research) – RAW Chief | Apex | Level 17 | ₹2,25,000 (fixed) |
The Senior Field Officer (Technical) post is filled through GATE scores, and the 2026 notification for 25 such posts quoted total monthly emoluments of around ₹1.3 lakh. The Deputy Field Officer (Technical) post, also filled through GATE, starts at about ₹99,000 gross per month including allowances.
RAW Agent Salary Per Month – In-Hand Calculation
The tables below assume a posting in Delhi (X-class city), where most RAW headquarters staff work. DA is taken at 60%, the current rate effective from January 2026.
Senior Field Officer / RAS Officer (Level 10)
| Component | Amount (₹/month) |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | 56,100 |
| Dearness Allowance (60%) | 33,660 |
| HRA (30%, X city) | 16,830 |
| Transport Allowance (₹7,200 + DA) | 11,520 |
| Special Security Allowance (20%) | 11,220 |
| Gross Salary | 1,29,330 |
| NPS (10% of basic + DA) | − 8,976 |
| CGHS | − 650 |
| CGEGIS | − 120 |
| Income tax (approx., new regime) | − 6,800 |
| In-Hand Salary | ≈ 1,12,700 |
Deputy Field Officer – Technical (Level 7)
| Component | Amount (₹/month) |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | 44,900 |
| Dearness Allowance (60%) | 26,940 |
| HRA (30%) | 13,470 |
| Transport Allowance (₹3,600 + DA) | 5,760 |
| Special Security Allowance (20%) | 8,980 |
| Gross Salary | 1,00,050 |
| NPS | − 7,184 |
| CGHS + CGEGIS | − 710 |
| Income tax | Nil (covered by rebate after deductions) |
| In-Hand Salary | ≈ 92,000 |
Deputy Field Officer – General (Level 6)
| Component | Amount (₹/month) |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | 35,400 |
| DA (60%) | 21,240 |
| HRA (30%) | 10,620 |
| Transport Allowance | 5,760 |
| Special Security Allowance (20%) | 7,080 |
| Gross Salary | 80,100 |
| NPS + CGHS + CGEGIS | − 6,174 |
| In-Hand Salary | ≈ 73,900 |
For a Level 1 MTS in Delhi, gross pay works out to about ₹39,960 and in-hand to about ₹36,800 per month.
In a Y-class city, HRA falls to 20%, so in-hand pay drops by roughly ₹3,500–₹5,600 a month depending on the level.
Allowances & Benefits for RAW Officers
- Special Security Allowance (SSA): 20% of basic pay, as stated in recent Cabinet Secretariat notifications. Older notices (around 2010) mentioned 15%.
- Dearness Allowance: Currently 60% of basic pay. The July 2026 revision has not been announced yet; it is widely expected to be around 3%, but treat that as a projection until the Cabinet approves it.
- House Rent Allowance: 30%, 20% or 10% of basic pay for X, Y and Z cities. Officers in government quarters do not get HRA.
- Transport Allowance: ₹7,200 + DA for Level 9 and above; ₹3,600 + DA for Levels 3–8 in major cities.
- Foreign posting allowance: Officers sent to Indian missions abroad get a foreign allowance under MEA rules, paid in foreign currency. This can raise total earnings well above domestic pay, but the amount depends on the country and is not published.
- Medical: CGHS cover for the officer and family.
- Pension: NPS (or the Unified Pension Scheme option for eligible staff), plus gratuity.
- Leave: Earned leave, half-pay leave, child care leave and LTC as per central rules.
- Training stipend: Full pay during basic and advanced intelligence training.
About the “two months’ extra pay” claim: Many websites say RAW officers get two months’ extra salary every year. No official order confirming this is publicly available, so we have not included it in the calculation.
RAW Agent Salary After Promotion / Career Growth
Group A officers in RAW follow the standard central government ladder. Timelines below are approximate and depend on vacancies and performance.
| Rank (Equivalent) | Pay Level | Starting Basic Pay | Approx. Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Field Officer / Entry RAS | 10 | ₹56,100 | Entry |
| Under Secretary level | 11 | ₹67,700 | 4–5 years |
| Deputy Secretary level | 12 | ₹78,800 | 9–10 years |
| Director level | 13 | ₹1,23,100 | 13–14 years |
| Joint Secretary level | 14 | ₹1,44,200 | 16–18 years |
| Additional Secretary level | 15 | ₹1,82,200 | 25+ years |
| Special Secretary level | 16 | ₹2,05,400 | 30+ years |
| Secretary (Research) – RAW Chief | 17 | ₹2,25,000 | Top post |
Group B staff such as Deputy Field Officers move up to Field Officer and Senior Field Officer grades over time, and also get financial upgrades under MACP if promotions are delayed.
The RAW chief is usually a senior IPS officer appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, though RAW has its own cadre, the Research and Analysis Service.
Job Profile & Duties
- Collecting intelligence on foreign governments, militaries and terror groups
- Analysing information and preparing reports for the Prime Minister’s Office and the National Security Council
- Counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence work outside India
- Technical intelligence: signals, cyber, communication monitoring (technical cadre)
- Working undercover in Indian missions abroad
- Strict secrecy: officers usually cannot disclose their work, even to family
Eligibility & Selection Process
RAW does not run open “RAW agent” recruitment. There are three main routes:
- Civil Services / Group A services: Officers from the UPSC Civil Services Examination (mainly IPS) and other Group A services join through deputation or the RAS cadre.
- GATE-based technical posts: The Cabinet Secretariat recruits Senior Field Officers (Technical) and Deputy Field Officers (Technical) using valid GATE scores in subjects like Computer Science, Electronics, Data Science, AI and Mathematics. Age limit for DFO (Technical) is generally 30 years, with usual relaxations.
- Deputation / specialist entry: Officers from the armed forces, police and central departments, plus linguists, economists and finance experts, may be taken in.
Beware of fake ads offering “RAW agent jobs” for a fee. Genuine Cabinet Secretariat posts appear in Employment News and official government channels.
RAW Agent Salary vs Similar Posts
| Post | Pay Level | Basic Pay | Special Allowance | Approx. In-Hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAW Senior Field Officer | 10 | ₹56,100 | 20% SSA | ₹1.12 lakh |
| RAW Deputy Field Officer (Tech) | 7 | ₹44,900 | 20% SSA | ₹92,000 |
| IB ACIO Grade II | 7 | ₹44,900 | 20% SSA | ₹90,000–92,000 |
| IPS (entry) | 10 | ₹56,100 | None | ₹1.0 lakh |
| Sub-Inspector (Delhi Police) | 6 | ₹35,400 | None | ₹65,000–68,000 |
| SSC GD Constable | 3 | ₹21,700 | None | ₹38,000–42,000 |
The Special Security Allowance is the main reason RAW and IB staff earn more than other officers on the same pay level.
FAQs
What is the salary of a RAW agent per month?
A RAW officer at field level earns about ₹74,000 to ₹1.12 lakh in hand per month in 2026, depending on the pay level and posting city. Gross pay ranges from about ₹80,000 to ₹1.3 lakh.
RAW agent ki salary kitni hoti hai?
RAW mein Deputy Field Officer ki shuruaati in-hand salary lagbhag ₹74,000–₹92,000 aur Senior Field Officer ki lagbhag ₹1.12 lakh prati mahina hoti hai, jisme 20% security allowance bhi shamil hai.
What is the salary of the RAW chief?
The Secretary (Research), who heads RAW, is at Pay Level 17 with a fixed basic pay of ₹2,25,000 per month, plus DA and other allowances.
Do RAW agents get extra allowance?
Yes. RAW staff get a Special Security Allowance of 20% of basic pay on top of DA, HRA and TA, as per recent Cabinet Secretariat notifications.
Do RAW officers get more salary when posted abroad?
Yes. Officers posted in Indian embassies get a foreign allowance under MEA rules, paid in foreign currency. The amount varies by country and is not officially published.
Is RAW salary higher than IPS salary?
At the same pay level, a RAW officer usually takes home more because of the 20% security allowance. An IPS officer and a RAW Senior Field Officer both start at Level 10 (₹56,100 basic).
How can I become a RAW agent after 12th?
There is no direct RAW entry after 12th. You need at least a graduation degree. Common routes are UPSC Civil Services, GATE-based Cabinet Secretariat technical posts, or joining the police or armed forces and later going on deputation.
Will the 8th Pay Commission increase RAW salary?
Yes, RAW staff are covered by central pay commissions. The 8th Pay Commission was constituted in November 2025 and is still at the consultation stage, so revised pay figures are not yet final.
Final Thoughts
RAW salary follows the same 7th CPC pay matrix as other central jobs, but the 20% Special Security Allowance and foreign postings make it one of the better-paying intelligence careers in India. A technical graduate joining through GATE can earn close to ₹1 lakh gross from the first month. The bigger rewards, though, are career growth up to Level 17 and the chance to serve the country in a very unique role.
Also read CMA Salary in India 2026: Per Month, Fresher Pay & Government Jobs
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