Government jobPay Level 4Group CNon‑gazetted
Postal Assistant
डाक सहायक
Pay Level 4 counter and back-office post in post offices, filled through SSC CGL — savings, mail booking and customer service.
Department of Posts · Ministry of Communications · central government
In-hand pay at joining, per month
₹42,000–₹50,000
Lower in small towns, higher in metros. Work out your own city below.
- Exam
- SSC CGL
- Qualification
- Graduate
- Age limit
- 18–27 years
- Transfers
- Within the district
- Work hours
- Fixed counter hours plus closing work; six days a week
- Probation
- 2 years
Estimated in-hand / month
₹44,500
Gross ₹48,780 · CTC ≈ ₹6.5 lakh/yr
Where are you posted?
Postal Assistant · rates as of January 2026 (DA 60%). Excludes CGHS, GPF/insurance deductions and special allowances. Estimate only.
New to pay slips? Read how in-hand salary is worked out.
What you will actually do
- Booking speed post, registered letters and parcels at the counter
- Opening and operating savings accounts, recurring deposits and certificates
- Handling cash, stamps and daily accounts
- Processing postal life insurance premiums and claims
- Working as treasurer or sub-postmaster in small offices
A typical day
You sit at a counter from opening time, serving a queue of customers depositing money, sending parcels or asking about accounts, all on the department's software, which can be slow. After the counter closes you tally cash and vouchers; any shortage has to be made good by you. In a small sub-post office you may be the only clerk, also acting as postmaster.
Promotion path
Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.
Postal Assistant (joining)
Pay Level 4
₹42,000–₹50,000 in-hand
Lower Selection Grade (Sub-Postmaster / Supervisor)
8–12 years, or earlier by exam · Level 5 · via departmental exam
₹48,000–₹56,000 in-hand
Inspector of Posts
Through the limited departmental exam after about 5 years of service · Level 7 · via departmental exam
₹72,000–₹84,000 in-hand
Promotion timelines vary by cadre and vacancies. If not promoted, MACP gives a pay upgrade after 10, 20 and 30 years.
How to get in
Staff Selection Commission
- 1.Tier-I computer-based test
- 2.Tier-II computer-based test (including the data entry speed test)
- 3.Document verification
Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. The post moved from SSC CHSL to SSC CGL from the 2022 examination, so a degree is now required. Age 18–27. SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.
The good
- Posting close to home is usually possible
- Departmental exam can take you to Inspector of Posts
- Stable work with fixed hours
The hard parts
- Constant public dealing and cash responsibility
- Six-day week
- Staff shortages mean heavy counter load and savings targets
Postings
You are allotted a postal circle and then a division, which usually covers one or two districts. Postings rotate among head and sub-post offices within the division, including small-town offices.
Questions people ask
What is the in-hand salary of Postal Assistant?+
Postal Assistant is a Pay Level 4 post with a starting basic pay of ₹25,500. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹42,000–₹50,000 a month, depending on whether you are posted in a Z, Y or X class city.
What is the qualification and age limit for Postal Assistant?+
Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. The post moved from SSC CHSL to SSC CGL from the 2022 examination, so a degree is now required. Age: 18–27 years. Relaxation: SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.
Which exam do I need to clear for Postal Assistant?+
SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission).
Is Postal Assistant still recruited through CHSL?+
No. Since the 2022 cycle it has been part of SSC CGL and needs a degree.
Compare with similar posts
Sorting Assistant (Railway Mail Service)
छंटाई सहायक
Pay Level 4 post in the Railway Mail Service, filled through SSC CGL — sorting and dispatching mail, often in night shifts.
Inspector of Posts
डाक निरीक्षक
Pay Level 7 post in the Department of Posts via SSC CGL — managing and inspecting post offices across a postal sub-division.
Tax Assistant (CBDT / CBIC)
टैक्स असिस्टेंट
Pay Level 4 desk job in the Income Tax or GST/Customs department via SSC CGL — mostly office work, steady hours.
Books to prepare for SSC CGL
- See on Amazon
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations
R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
The standard practice book for arithmetic. Strong on volume of questions; weak on shortcuts, so pair it with solved papers.
- See on Amazon
SSC Mathematics Chapterwise Solved Papers
Kiran Prakashan
Thousands of actual SSC questions sorted by topic. The quickest way to see what is really asked.
- See on Amazon
Objective General English
S.P. Bakshi (Arihant)
Grammar rules with exam-style practice sets. Good for error spotting and sentence improvement.
All 7 books for SSC CGL, CPO and other graduate-level exams
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and does not affect which books we list.
Sources
- SSC CGL 2026 notice (official PDF)
- Staff Selection Commission — official website
- India Post — official website
This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.