The 8th Pay Commission is bringing hope for a big salary hike, especially for Level-6 central government employees. With a likely increase in the fitment factor and updated allowances like HRA and TA, their monthly gross salary may rise from the current ₹60,000–₹70,000 to around ₹1.26 lakh. This expected boost will help employees handle rising living costs, improve their lifestyle, and increase savings. Here’s a simple breakdown of what Level-6 staff can expect in the upcoming pay structure.
8th Pay Commission: Level-6 Gross Salary Revealed
Central government employees across India are eagerly awaiting the 8th Pay Commission. With rising inflation and increasing cost of living, government employees are hopeful that the upcoming pay commission will significantly improve their take-home salary. Among them, Level-6 employees, who form a large portion of the middle segment workforce, are especially eager to know how their gross salary will change with the new pay structure.
In this article, we will break down the expected changes under the 8th Pay Commission for Level-6 employees, including the estimated basic pay, fitment factor, House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Transport Allowance (TA), and what their total gross salary could look like.
A Clear Look at the Level-6 Pay Matrix
Under the 7th Pay Commission, Level-6 employees are placed in the pay scale corresponding to a Grade Pay of ₹4,200. Their basic pay begins at ₹35,400 per month. This category typically includes clerical staff, junior section officers, and other Group ‘B’ personnel working in various central government departments.
As per the standard pay matrix, the basic pay increases annually with increments, but a major revision comes only with a new Pay Commission. That’s where the 8th Pay Commission becomes important.
What is the Fitment Factor?
The fitment factor is a number used to increase basic salary when a new pay commission is introduced. In the 7th Pay Commission, this factor was set at 2.57, meaning the old basic pay from the 6th Pay Commission was multiplied by 2.57 to get the revised salary.
For the 8th Pay Commission, it is widely expected that the fitment factor will be in the range of 2.5 to 3.0, depending on final recommendations and government approval. For our calculations, we will consider a likely fitment factor of 2.72, which represents a balanced increase based on current expectations and inflation trends.
Revised Basic Pay Under 8th Pay Commission
Let’s assume the fitment factor is finalized at 2.72. This would revise the basic pay of Level-6 employees as follows:
- Existing Basic Pay (7th CPC): ₹35,400
- Fitment Factor (Expected): 2.72
- Revised Basic Pay: ₹35,400 × 2.72 = ₹96,288
This new basic pay becomes the foundation for calculating other allowances such as HRA and TA.
House Rent Allowance (HRA) Structure
HRA is calculated as a percentage of basic pay, based on the city classification:
- X (Metro) Cities: 27% of Basic Pay
- Y (Tier-2) Cities: 18% of Basic Pay
- Z (Rural/Tier-3) Cities: 9% of Basic Pay
Based on the new basic pay of ₹96,288, here’s what HRA would look like:
- X Cities (27%): ₹25,997
- Y Cities (18%): ₹17,331
- Z Cities (9%): ₹8,666
Let’s continue with the X-city example for further calculations.
Transport Allowance (TA)
Transport Allowance is a fixed benefit that also varies depending on city class. Under the current rules, TA is generally:
- X Cities: ₹3,600 + applicable DA
- Y & Z Cities: ₹1,800 + applicable DA
Since the 8th Pay Commission may reset Dearness Allowance (DA) to 0% initially, we will only consider the base TA amount.
- TA (X City): ₹3,600
Gross Salary Estimate for Level-6 Employees
Let’s now calculate the total gross monthly salary for a Level-6 employee in an X-class city:
- Revised Basic Pay: ₹96,288
- HRA (27%): ₹25,997
- Transport Allowance: ₹3,600
- Gross Salary: ₹96,288 + ₹25,997 + ₹3,600 = ₹1,25,885
So, under the 8th Pay Commission, a Level-6 employee’s gross monthly salary may rise to approximately ₹1.26 lakh, if the fitment factor is set at 2.72 and HRA and TA remain unchanged in terms of percentage.
What About Other Deductions?
It’s important to remember that gross salary is not the take-home salary. From this amount, deductions like the following will apply:
- NPS (National Pension Scheme): 10% of basic pay
- CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme): Fixed based on pay level
- Income Tax: Based on slab applicable to total annual income
Assuming 10% NPS and other deductions, the net in-hand salary may be around ₹1.10 to ₹1.15 lakh per month, depending on individual tax declarations and benefits claimed.
Level-6 Salary Set to Nearly Double From ₹70K to ₹1.26 Lakh
The 8th Pay Commission is expected to bring much-needed relief to government employees, especially those in the middle pay levels like Level-6. With the projected fitment factor of 2.72 and standard allowance structures, the gross monthly salary of a Level-6 employee could go from ₹60,000–₹70,000 today to nearly ₹1.26 lakh — nearly double the current package.
This jump would not only help employees manage inflation but also improve lifestyle, savings, and investment capability. The final numbers will depend on the government’s approval, but the expectations are high, and the 8th Pay Commission might just be the financial booster that central employees are waiting for.
