1. Indian Railway Basic Pay & Grade Pay Chart (7th CPC)
The railway pay scale is structured according to the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Pay Matrix. The matrix replaced the old railway grade pay chart with a simplified "Pay Level" system. Here is the complete railway level wise basic pay chart from Level 1 to Level 18:
| Pay Level | Old Grade Pay (6th CPC) | Starting Basic Pay (₹) | Category / Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 1800 GP | ₹18,000 | Group D (Trackman, Pointsman, Porter) |
| Level 2 | 1900 GP | ₹19,900 | Jr. Clerk, Tech-III, Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) |
| Level 3 | 2000 GP | ₹21,700 | Commercial cum Ticket Clerk |
| Level 4 | 2400 GP | ₹25,500 | Tech-II, Traffic Assistant |
| Level 5 | 2800 GP | ₹29,200 | Sr. Clerk, Goods Train Manager (Guard) |
| Level 6 | 4200 GP | ₹35,400 | Station Master, Master Craftsman (MCM) |
| Level 7 | 4600 GP | ₹44,900 | Chief Loco Inspector (CLI), Senior Supervisors |
| Level 8 | 4800 GP | ₹47,600 | Group B Officers (Entry Level) |
| Level 10 | 5400 GP | ₹56,100 | Group A Officers (UPSC Entry: IRMS, IRSME, etc.) |
| Level 12 | 7600 GP | ₹78,800 | Deputy HODs / Sr. Divisional Officers |
| Level 14 | 10000 GP | ₹1,44,200 | Chief Project Managers (CPM), ADRMs |
| Level 16 | — | ₹2,05,400 | General Manager (GM) |
| Level 18 | — | ₹2,50,000 | Chairman Railway Board (Highest Pay) |
Note: The "Grade Pay" terminology was technically discontinued in the 7th CPC but remains widely used colloquially. All basic pay figures are subject to Dearness Allowance (DA) and HRA.
2. Salary of Popular Railway Posts (MCM, Train Manager, CLI)
Users frequently search for the salary of railway employee based on specific designations. Here is a breakdown of the most inquired operational roles:
- Master Craftsman (MCM): The mcm in railway salary falls under Pay Level 6. The railway mcm salary starts with a basic pay of ₹35,400 (which corresponds to the old 4200 Grade Pay). With allowances, their gross monthly salary easily exceeds ₹60,000.
- Train Manager (Guard): The train manager grade pay starts at 2800 GP (Level 5). The starting basic pay is ₹29,200. With the lucrative Kilometrage Allowance (KMA), a Goods Train Manager often takes home over ₹65,000 per month.
- Shunting Master: The shunting master in railway salary per month depends on the grade. A Shunting Master-I is placed in Level 6 (4200 GP) earning a basic of ₹35,400, while a Shunting Master-II is in Level 4 (2400 GP) earning ₹25,500 basic.
- Chief Loco Inspector (CLI): The cli grade pay in railway is highly lucrative. CLIs are placed in Level 7 (4600 GP) with a starting basic pay of ₹44,900. Including running allowances, their gross salary often crosses ₹1 Lakh per month.
- Assistant Operations Manager (AOM): The salary of aom in railway per month is structured under Group B or Junior Scale Group A (Level 8 or 10). Starting at ₹47,600 or ₹56,100 basic, their gross salary is typically between ₹90,000 and ₹1.1 Lakh.
3. Railway Group A & B Officer Rank List and Salary
The administrative control of Indian Railways is managed by Gazetted Officers in Group A and Group B.
- Railway Group A Post Name List and Salary: Group A officers are recruited via UPSC (IRMS). The entry-level posts include Assistant Divisional Engineer (ADEN), Assistant Operations Manager (AOM), and Assistant Personnel Officer (APO). Their starting railway grade a salary is Level 10 (₹56,100 Basic). As they get promoted, they reach ranks like Divisional Railway Manager (DRM, Level 14, ₹1,44,200 Basic) and Principal Chief Engineer (PCE, Level 15).
- Railway Group B Posts and Salary: Group B officers are generally promoted from Group C supervisory staff. The railway group b post name list and salary includes roles like Assistant Engineer (AEN), Assistant Commercial Manager (ACM), and Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO). The railway group b salary per month starts at Level 8 (₹47,600 Basic).
- Railway GM Salary: The pay level of gm in railway is Level 16. The gm salary in railway is a fixed basic pay of ₹2,05,400, plus DA, making it one of the highest paying roles in the government sector.
4. 8th Pay Commission Projections for Railway Employees
With the 8th Pay Commission expectations rising for 2026-2027, the projected salaries for key roles are expected to grow significantly due to a potential fitment factor increase.
| Railway Post Profile | Current 7th CPC Basic (₹) | Projected 8th CPC Basic (1.92x Fitment) (₹) | Projected 8th CPC Basic (2.86x Fitment) (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goods Train Manager / Guard | ₹29,200 | ₹56,100 | ₹83,500 |
| Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) | ₹19,900 | ₹38,200 | ₹56,900 |
| Master Craftsman (MCM) | ₹35,400 | ₹68,000 | ₹1,01,200 |
If implemented, the train manager salary after 8th pay commission could see its basic pay soar to ₹83,500, drastically increasing their gross pay.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Rohit Kushwaha
Software Engineer & Creator of mysalarycalculator.in
I'm Rohit Kushwaha, a Software Engineer with 3+ years of experience in developing web applications and digital solutions. By combining technology with practical financial tools, I built mysalarycalculator.in to help Indian professionals easily understand their salary, taxes, EPF, gratuity, and take-home income.
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