IPS salary is one of the key attractions of the Indian Police Service, though much more than just a government job. They are responsible for maintaining law and order, preventing and controlling crime, supervising police operations, leading investigations and many other administrative & security responsibilities.
The salary of an ips officer comes under pay matrix by the government and this scale keeps increasing as the officer moves through grades and posts. The Junior Scale from Public Civil Services III (IPS) Pay Rules, 2016 starts at Pay Level 10 while senior grades run all the way through Levels 11,12,13,13A,14,15;16 and17. Where Level 10 starts at the first cell ₹56,100 and Level 17 apex scale, at ₹2,25,000.
But an officer does not only earn basic pay per month. Pay, posting, eligibility, deductions and other general rules from the government may have a great impact on gross and take home. In this guide, we will discuss IPS salary in India, Monthly IPS Salary 2023, Pay Scale Rank Wise Options, Allowances, Perks In Hand Salary and Career.
IPS Salary in India
IPS follows an All India Services pay structure. The IPS Pay Rules, 2016 prescribed the various service grades and pay-matrix levels. The Junior Scale officers are at Level 10, Senior Time Scale at Level 11, the Junior Administrative Grade at Level 12 and Selection Grade at Level 13. DIG is graded at Level 13A for the Super Time Scale, while IG is assigned Grades 14, with higher grades possessing Levels of 15, 16 and 17.
For an IPS officer directly recruited, the initial basic salary is usually ₹56100 at Pay Level 10. This is gross pay and not what the officer takes home, or the bank account figure.
IPS Salary Overview
| Salary Component | Details |
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹56,100 per month |
| Starting Pay Level | Level 10 |
| Junior Scale | Level 10 |
| Senior Time Scale | Level 11 |
| Junior Administrative Grade | Level 12 |
| Selection Grade | Level 13 |
| DIG | Level 13A |
| IG | Level 14 |
| ADGP | Level 15 |
| Higher Administrative Grade | Level 16 |
| Apex Scale | Level 17 |
| Apex Basic Pay | ₹2,25,000 per month |
IPS Salary Per Month
The IPS salary per month depends on the officer’s pay level, basic pay, allowances and deductions. For a newly appointed officer at Level 10, the basic pay starts at ₹56,100. The final monthly gross salary can be higher after applicable allowances are added.
For example, an IPS officer’s monthly salary can broadly consist of:
Basic Pay + Allowances = Gross Salary
After deductions:
Gross Salary − Applicable Deductions = In-Hand Salary
Therefore, it would be misleading to say that every IPS officer receives exactly the same monthly in-hand salary. The amount can change because of the officer’s seniority, posting location, accommodation arrangements, applicable allowances, taxes, retirement contributions and other deductions.
IPS Salary Structure
The IPS salary structure consists of basic pay and various allowances and benefits.
Basic Pay
Basic pay is the amount assigned to the officer’s level in the government pay matrix. Under the IPS Pay Rules, the first cell of Level 10 is ₹56,100.
Dearness Allowance
Dearness Allowance, or DA, is intended to provide relief against changes in the cost of living. The applicable DA rate can change through government orders, so it should not be treated as a permanent percentage.
House Rent Allowance
HRA may be applicable when an eligible government accommodation facility is not being used, subject to the applicable rules and conditions. The amount can vary according to the location and government regulations.
Transport Allowance
Eligible government employees may receive transport-related benefits according to the applicable rules.
Other Allowances
Depending on the assignment and eligibility, an IPS officer may receive other allowances or benefits. Officers on certain deputations can also receive specific allowances under applicable rules. The IPS Pay Rules, for example, contain provisions relating to Central Deputation on Tenure Allowance for eligible deputation postings.
IPS Salary by Rank
The IPS salary by rank is better understood through the official service grades and pay levels rather than assigning one fixed salary to every police title. The IPS Pay Rules specifically map Junior Scale to Level 10, Senior Time Scale to Level 11, JAG to Level 12, Selection Grade to Level 13, DIG to Level 13A, IG to Level 14, ADGP to Level 15, HAG+ to Level 16 and Apex Scale to Level 17.
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IPS Rank-Wise Pay Matrix
| IPS Rank / Grade | Pay Level | Starting Basic Pay |
| ASP / Junior Scale | Level 10 | ₹56,100 |
| Senior Time Scale | Level 11 | ₹67,700 |
| Junior Administrative Grade | Level 12 | ₹78,800 |
| Selection Grade | Level 13 | ₹1,18,500 |
| DIG | Level 13A | ₹1,31,100 |
| IG | Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 |
| ADGP | Level 15 | ₹1,82,200 |
| Higher Administrative Grade | Level 16 | ₹2,05,400 |
| DGP / Apex Scale | Level 17 | ₹2,25,000 |
IPS Officer Salary During Training
IPS officers undergo professional training before taking up their full range of field responsibilities. During probation, an IPS officer is paid according to the applicable service rules. The IPS Pay Rules contain specific provisions for the initial pay of direct recruits and state that the Junior Scale corresponds to Level 10.
Training salary should therefore not be confused with a separate, permanently fixed “IPS training salary.” The officer’s pay is governed by the applicable government rules, while allowances and facilities can depend on the circumstances of the posting or training assignment. After training and appointment to different grades or posts, salary progression follows the applicable pay matrix and promotion rules.
IPS Salary After Promotion
One of the biggest advantages of an IPS career is the opportunity for progression into higher grades. The IPS Pay Rules specify eligibility milestones for several grades. Subject to applicable conditions, an officer becomes eligible for Senior Time Scale after four years of service, Junior Administrative Grade after nine years, Selection Grade after thirteen years, DIG after fourteen years and IG after eighteen years. Appointment to certain higher grades is also subject to selection, vacancies and other prescribed conditions.
IPS Promotion and Salary Progression
| Career Stage | Pay Level | Starting Basic Pay |
| Junior Scale | Level 10 | ₹56,100 |
| Senior Time Scale | Level 11 | ₹67,700 |
| Junior Administrative Grade | Level 12 | ₹78,800 |
| Selection Grade | Level 13 | ₹1,18,500 |
| DIG | Level 13A | ₹1,31,100 |
| IG | Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 |
| ADGP | Level 15 | ₹1,82,200 |
| HAG+ | Level 16 | ₹2,05,400 |
| Apex Scale | Level 17 | ₹2,25,000 |
This table shows the starting cell of each applicable level, not the exact salary an officer will necessarily receive immediately after a particular number of years.
IPS Officer Allowances
The total earnings of an IPS officer can include several allowances in addition to basic pay. The exact amount depends on the prevailing government rules and the officer’s eligibility.
Important components can include:
- Dearness Allowance
- House Rent Allowance
- Transport Allowance
- Travelling Allowance
- Medical-related benefits
- Deputation-related allowances, where applicable
- Other assignment-specific allowances
Government rules can be revised over time, so current allowance rates should always be checked against the latest official notification. The Department of Expenditure maintains government orders relating to allowances such as HRA and transport allowance.
IPS Perks and Benefits
Apart from the IPS officer salary, the service can provide several official facilities and benefits depending on the officer’s post, location and entitlement.
These may include:
- Government accommodation, where eligible and available
- Official vehicle or transport facilities depending on the post
- Medical facilities under applicable government rules
- Travel-related benefits
- Leave benefits
- Retirement and pension-related benefits under applicable rules
- Official support staff depending on the assignment
- Security arrangements where required by the nature of the posting
It is important to distinguish between a salary benefit and an official facility. For example, government accommodation or an official vehicle should not simply be added to the monthly basic salary to calculate an IPS officer’s cash income.
IPS In-Hand Salary
The IPS in-hand salary is the amount that remains after applicable deductions from gross salary. A simplified calculation is:
Gross Salary − Deductions = In-Hand Salary
Possible deductions can include:
- Income tax
- Retirement-related contributions
- NPS-related deductions, where applicable
- Insurance or other government deductions
- Other authorized recoveries
This is why two IPS officers with the same basic pay can potentially have different amounts credited to their accounts. Similarly, an officer receiving government accommodation may have a different salary structure from an officer eligible for HRA, depending on the applicable rules. For this reason, online claims such as “every IPS officer gets exactly ₹1 lakh in hand” should be treated cautiously.
IPS Salary After 5 Years
An IPS officer’s salary after five years depends on the officer’s pay progression and applicable service rules. The IPS Pay Rules state that officers become eligible for the Senior Time Scale after four years of service, subject to the prescribed conditions. Therefore, an officer around the five-year stage may have progressed beyond the initial Junior Scale, but the exact pay depends on the officer’s circumstances and pay fixation.
The pay matrix also contains multiple cells within each level. For example, Level 10 progresses from ₹56,100 in the first cell to higher stages through annual increments under the applicable rules. Therefore, IPS salary after 5 years cannot be represented accurately by one universal figure.
Highest Salary of an IPS Officer
The highest basic pay specified in the IPS Pay Matrix is associated with Level 17, where the first and only listed cell is ₹2,25,000 per month.
This is basic pay, not the total value of every benefit or allowance.
The IPS Pay Rules identify Level 17 as the Apex Scale and specify the DGP Head of Police Force post at this level, filled by selection from DGP-level officers in Level 16.
Highest IPS Salary
| Particular | Amount |
| Apex Pay Level | Level 17 |
| Basic Pay | ₹2,25,000 per month |
| Annual Basic Pay | ₹27,00,000 |
| Allowances | Additional, where applicable |
| In-Hand Salary | Depends on deductions and applicable benefits |
The annual basic pay figure of ₹27 lakh is simply ₹2.25 lakh multiplied by 12. It does not represent total annual compensation.
IPS Salary After 7th Pay Commission
The IPS salary after the 7th Pay Commission is based on the revised pay matrix introduced through the IPS Pay Rules, 2016, which came into force from 1 January 2016. The revised IPS pay matrix replaced the earlier pay-band and grade-pay structure with levels.
For example:
| Pay Level | Starting Basic Pay |
| Level 10 | ₹56,100 |
| Level 11 | ₹67,700 |
| Level 12 | ₹78,800 |
| Level 13 | ₹1,18,500 |
| Level 13A | ₹1,31,100 |
| Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 |
| Level 15 | ₹1,82,200 |
| Level 16 | ₹2,05,400 |
| Level 17 | ₹2,25,000 |
These figures come from the official IPS Pay Rules, 2016 pay matrix. Because government allowances and other components can be revised separately, the basic-pay table should not be used as a current in-hand salary calculator.
IPS Salary vs IAS Salary
The IPS and IAS are both All India Services and follow government pay structures. Their salary progression therefore has substantial similarities, particularly at equivalent pay levels.
The IAS Pay Rules, 2016 also show Level 10 beginning at ₹56,100 and Level 17 at ₹2,25,000.
IPS vs IAS Salary
| Factor | IPS | IAS |
| Starting Pay Level | Level 10 | Level 10 |
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹56,100 | ₹56,100 |
| Pay Matrix | Government pay matrix | Government pay matrix |
| Higher Pay Levels | Up to Level 17 | Up to Level 18 in the IAS matrix |
| Allowances | Based on applicable rules | Based on applicable rules |
| Career Progression | Police and administrative leadership | Administrative leadership |
| Key Responsibilities | Law enforcement, security and policing | Administration, policy and governance |
The maximum levels are not identical in the two services. The IPS Pay Matrix reaches Level 17 at ₹2,25,000, while the IAS matrix includes Level 18 with ₹2,50,000 as its first cell.
Therefore, comparing only “salary” does not fully explain the difference between the two services.
IPS Career Growth and Promotion
The broad career progression of an IPS officer can be understood through the following sequence:
ASP → SP → DIG → IG → ADGP → DGP
However, the actual service structure is more detailed because officers move through prescribed grades such as Junior Scale, Senior Time Scale, Junior Administrative Grade, Selection Grade and Super Time Scale.
How to Become an IPS Officer
To become an IPS officer through the regular direct-recruitment route, candidates generally have to qualify through the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
The selection process includes:
- Civil Services Preliminary Examination
- Civil Services Main Examination
- Personality Test/Interview
- Final merit and service allocation
- Medical and other prescribed requirements
- Allocation to the Indian Police Service
- Professional training and probation
The IPS is a highly competitive service, and obtaining a place in the service depends on the examination result, eligibility, service preferences, vacancies and the applicable allocation process.
Conclusion
The IPS salary in India begins at a basic pay of ₹56,100/month in Level 10 and increases massively as an officer progresses through higher service grades. The official IPS salary grades go up to Level 17, wherein the apex basic monthly pay is ₹2,25,000.
But the basic pay forms only a part of the total remuneration paid to an IPS officer. The final monthly amount can depend on allowances, posting, accommodation, deductions and seniority depending on the nature of the assignment. That is why anybody looking for an IPS career, it makes more sense to compare basic pay, pay level, allowances, promotion and in-hand salary together instead of looking at one monthy figure only. The service brings together a semi government pay with a high degree of responsibility in policing, public safety, law enforcement and administration.
FAQs
1.What is the starting salary of an IPS officer?
The starting basic pay for an IPS officer in the Junior Scale is ₹56,100 per month at Level 10 under the IPS Pay Rules, 2016. Gross and in-hand salary can be higher or lower depending on allowances and deductions.
2.What is the monthly salary of an IPS officer?
An IPS officer’s monthly salary consists of basic pay plus applicable allowances, minus deductions. A newly appointed officer starts with a basic pay of ₹56,100 at Level 10, but the final monthly amount depends on the officer’s circumstances.
3.What is the in-hand salary of an IPS officer?
There is no single fixed IPS in-hand salary. It depends on basic pay, allowances, tax, retirement contributions and other applicable deductions.
4.What is the salary of an IPS officer after 10 years?
The salary after 10 years depends on pay progression, increments and the grade achieved. Officers become eligible for Junior Administrative Grade after nine years of service, subject to applicable conditions.
5.What is the salary of an SP in the IPS?
An SP’s pay can fall within different IPS pay levels depending on the post, seniority and cadre. It is therefore better to identify the applicable pay level rather than assign one fixed salary to every SP.
6.What is the salary of a DIG?
The IPS Pay Rules place the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Level 13A, whose first cell is ₹1,31,100 basic pay per month.
