IBPS Clerk Salary: Basic Pay, Allowances, Job Profile and Promotion

Under the 12th Bipartite Settlement, the clerical pay scale has been:

₹24,050 - 1,340 (3) - 28,070 - 1,650 (3) - 33,020 - 2,000 (4) - 41,020 - 2,340 (7) - 57,400 - 4,400 (1) - 61,800 - 2,680 (1) - 64,480

• A clerk starts at ₹24,050.
• The figure in brackets shows how many yearly increments of that amount are given at each stage.
• Some banks give extra increments to graduates at joining.

• Dearness Allowance (DA) - linked to the consumer price index and revised regularly, so it changes with inflation.
• Special Allowance - a fixed percentage of basic pay.
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) - depends on the city of posting.
• City Compensatory Allowance (CCA) - in larger cities.
• Medical aid, Leave Fare Concession (LFC) and other bank-specific allowances.

Bank salaries are not set by the Pay Commission. They follow bipartite settlements between banks and employee unions, so they change when a new settlement is signed.

• Medical benefits for the employee and family.
• Concessional loans for home and vehicle.
• Pension under the National Pension System, with the bank contributing 14% of basic pay plus DA.
• Leave Fare Concession and various types of leave.

• Working at the cash counter - deposits and withdrawals.
• Opening accounts, updating passbooks and handling KYC.
• Helping customers with cheques, drafts and transfers.
• Data entry and other back-office work.

The job is mostly in branches, with regular hours, though month-end and year-end can be busy.

• Clerks can take internal promotion exams to become Officers (JMGS-I) after a minimum period of service, as per bank rules.
• Some banks have special assistant and similar posts within the clerical cadre.
• Passing the JAIIB and CAIIB exams of the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance can bring extra increments and help in promotion.
• Many clerks also take the IBPS PO or SBI PO exam to become officers faster.

A clerk's job is usually more stable in location, while a PO earns more but faces more transfers and targets.

IBPS Clerk vacancies are announced State-wise. Candidates apply for one State and must know the local language of that State, which is checked through a language proficiency test. This means most clerks work close to home, which many candidates prefer.

1. Prelims - English, numerical ability and reasoning.
2. Mains - General and Financial Awareness, English, reasoning and computer aptitude, and quantitative aptitude. Final merit is based on mains marks.
3. Language proficiency test for the local language of the State.

Candidates need a graduation degree; the age limit has been 20 to 28 years. See our IBPS Clerk exam guide for the full pattern.

1. Speed - prelims sections are timed, so practise quick calculation and reasoning daily.
2. Financial awareness - read banking news, RBI policy and government schemes for the mains.
3. Computer aptitude - revise basics of hardware, software, internet and MS Office.
4. Mocks - take full mocks every week and analyse mistakes.

New clerks usually serve a probation of about six months, during which their work and conduct are watched before confirmation. Banks give short induction training on cash handling, accounts, KYC and the bank's software, followed by learning on the job in a branch.

Both follow the same industry clerical scale; perks differ a little between banks.

• Most clerks work in branches, dealing with customers every day.
• Postings are usually within the State, often close to home.
• Work hours are fairly regular, with extra load at month-end, year-end and during special drives.
• The job is stable and respected, and it is a good first step for a career in banking.

• Bank staff who joined after the pension cut-off date are covered by the National Pension System (NPS) - the employee pays 10% of basic pay plus DA and the bank adds 14%.
• Employees also get gratuity at retirement as per the rules, based on years of service and last pay.
• Leave encashment and other retirement benefits are given as per the bank's policy.

• City of posting - HRA and city compensatory allowance are higher in big cities.
• DA rate - it moves with inflation, so pay changes during the year.
• Bank - some allowances and increments differ from bank to bank.
• Deductions - NPS, professional tax where it applies, and income tax if your income crosses the limit.

• Class 10 certificate for date of birth.
• Graduation marksheets and degree.
• Caste, EWS, non-creamy layer or disability certificate in the format given in the notice, where relevant.
• Photo identity proof, photographs and signature, as asked at document verification.

Make sure your name and date of birth match across all documents.

1. Applying for a State without knowing its language.
2. Ignoring financial awareness in the mains.
3. Using old salary figures from before the 12th settlement.
4. Not planning for promotion exams after joining.

For other bank pay guides, see the IBPS PO salary and SBI PO salary pages.