SSC MTS Salary: Pay Level, Allowances, Job Profile and Promotion

The basic pay is the same for both posts. It rises every year with the annual increment and with promotions.

• Basic pay - fixed by the pay level.
• Dearness Allowance (DA) - a percentage of basic pay, revised twice a year by the central government.
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) - depends on the city of posting. It has recently been 30%, 20% or 10% of basic pay for X, Y and Z class cities, if government housing is not taken.
• Transport Allowance - a fixed monthly amount that depends on the pay level and city.
• Deductions - mainly the pension contribution (NPS, with an option for the Unified Pension Scheme) and other small deductions as per rules.

So take-home pay differs from city to city, even at the same level. The 8th Pay Commission has been set up by the government; when its recommendations are put in place, these figures will change.

Multi-Tasking Staff work in central government offices across India. Typical duties include:

• Keeping files and records in order and moving them between sections.
• Photocopying, scanning and sending dak (official mail).
• Helping in general office work and upkeep of the section.
• Basic computer work in some offices, as assigned.

It is an office job with fixed hours, mostly with weekends off.

Havaldars work in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN). Their work can include:

• Helping officers during searches, seizures and checks.
• Guarding seized goods and offices.
• Field duties at ports, airports or border check posts, and office work.

The work is more field-based than MTS, which is why Havaldar posts have physical standards and a physical test.

These standards are from recent notices, with relaxation for some groups. The physical test is qualifying. Confirm the standards in the current notice.

• An MTS can move up to Lower Division Clerk through seniority and departmental exams, and later to UDC and higher posts.
• A Havaldar can be promoted within CBIC or CBN as per the rules of the department.
• Under the MACP scheme, central employees get financial upgrades after 10, 20 and 30 years of service if they do not get a regular promotion.
• Many MTS employees also prepare for SSC CHSL or CGL while in service to move to higher posts.

If you prefer a desk job, choose MTS. If you are fit and like field work with enforcement agencies, Havaldar is a good option.

Many candidates join at a lower level and then clear a higher SSC exam while in service, since the syllabus is similar.

MTS vacancies are spread across central ministries, departments and their offices all over India, and are often announced State-wise or region-wise. Your State or region choice in the form matters, because selection is made from the vacancies of that area.

Havaldar posts are in CBIC and CBN offices, which include customs offices at ports and airports and field units in several States.

1. Session 1 first - arithmetic and reasoning have no negative marking, so practise speed and attempt every question.
2. General Awareness - cover static GK, basic science and current affairs; it carries 75 marks in Session 2.
3. English - grammar, vocabulary and comprehension at Class 10 level.
4. Havaldar - start walking practice early and check height and chest.

Solve previous MTS papers and take full mocks every week in the last two months.

MTS and Havaldar share one computer-based exam with two sessions in recent cycles:

• Session 1 - numerical and mathematical ability, and reasoning; no negative marking.
• Session 2 - General Awareness and English; 1 mark cut for a wrong answer.

Havaldar candidates then take the physical test. See our SSC MTS exam guide for the full pattern and syllabus.

Central government employees who joined on or after 1 January 2004 are covered by the National Pension System (NPS). The employee contributes 10% of basic pay plus DA, and the government contributes 14%.

Since 1 April 2025, employees under NPS can choose the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), which gives an assured pension of 50% of the average basic pay of the last 12 months for those with 25 years of service, and a minimum pension for those with at least 10 years. Check the latest rules when you join.

• Class 10 certificate for date of birth and qualification.
• Caste, EWS or other category certificate in the central government format, where relevant.
• Domicile certificate where the notice asks for it (for example, State-wise vacancies).
• Photo identity proof and recent photographs, as asked at document verification.

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

1. Choosing Havaldar without checking physical standards.
2. Ignoring the age limit of each post.
3. Comparing only basic pay and forgetting city-based allowances.
4. Skipping Session 2 preparation - General Awareness and English decide many ranks.

For other SSC pay guides, see the SSC GD salary, SSC CHSL post list and salary and SSC CGL post list and salary pages.