Senior Administrative Assistant (MES)
वरिष्ठ प्रशासनिक सहायक (एमईएस)
Pay Level 4 clerical post via SSC CGL in the Military Engineer Services — office work in cantonment engineering offices.
Military Engineer Services (MES) · Ministry of Defence
Exam
SSC CGL
Qualification
Graduate
Age limit
18–27 years
Transfers
Anywhere in India
Work hours
Regular office hours
Probation
2 years
Estimated in-hand / month
₹44,500
Gross ₹48,780 · CTC ≈ ₹6.5 lakh/yr
Where are you posted?
Senior Administrative Assistant (MES) · 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
- Processing contractors' bills and works files
- Maintaining staff records, pay and leave cases
- Drafting letters and maintaining registers
- Handling stores and contract documentation
- Typing and e-office work for the section
A typical day
You work in the office of a Garrison Engineer or Commander Works Engineer inside a military station. The files are about building and maintaining defence housing, roads, water and power: tenders, contractor payments and staff matters. The work is routine clerical work with fixed timings, in a clean and orderly cantonment environment.
Promotion path
Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.
Senior Administrative Assistant (MES) (joining)
Pay Level 4
₹42,000–₹50,000 in-hand
Office Superintendent
8–12 years · Level 6 · via dpc
₹57,000–₹67,000 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 from a recognised university. 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
- ✓ Calm office job in well-kept military stations
- ✓ Fixed hours
- ✓ Canteen and station facilities
The hard parts
- – Level 4 pay
- – Transfers to remote cantonments are possible
- – Slow promotion
Postings
MES offices in military stations and cantonments across India, grouped by command. Transfers happen within a command and occasionally beyond, including to remote stations.
Questions people ask
What is the in-hand salary of Senior Administrative Assistant (MES)?+
Senior Administrative Assistant (MES) 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 Senior Administrative Assistant (MES)?+
Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. 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 Senior Administrative Assistant (MES)?+
SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission).
Is this a defence (uniformed) job?+
No. MES staff are defence civilians: central government employees paid from defence estimates, without uniform or military service conditions.
Compare with similar posts
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टैक्स असिस्टेंट
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Junior Engineer (Civil), CPWD
कनिष्ठ अभियंता (सिविल), सीपीडब्ल्यूडी
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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
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Sources
This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.