Deputy Collector vs IAS Officer
Side by side on pay, work, transfers and growth — so you can rank your preferences with confidence.
Pay level
Level 22 (starting pay ₹56,100)Pay Level 10
Starting in-hand
Basic ₹56,100₹92,000–₹1,02,000 in-hand
Group
Group A (Gazetted)Group A (Gazetted)
Exam
TNPSC Group 1UPSC CSE
Qualification
GraduateGraduate
Age limit
21–3421–32
Field work
mediummedium
Stress (1–5)
45
Transfers
statestate
First promotion
District Revenue Officer (About 8–12 years)Senior Time Scale (ADM / Deputy Secretary) (After 4 years)
Choose Deputy Collector if…
- ✓ Highest post in the state's Group I exam
- ✓ Route to the IAS by promotion
- ✓ Wide executive and magisterial authority
Choose IAS Officer if…
- ✓ Widest range of responsibility of any service, from districts to policy
- ✓ Time-bound promotions in the early years
- ✓ Real ability to fix problems for large numbers of people