What is the salary of ADM in Kerala?

The District Collector/ADM (Additional District Magistrate) in Kerala is typically an IAS officer in the Selection Grade (Level 13). Their basic pay is ₹1,18,500, with a gross salary of around ₹1.85 to ₹2 lakh/month, including allowances. The in-hand salary is approximately ₹1.7 lakh per month, along with perks like accommodation, vehicle, and staff.

Kerala Administrative Service Salary

Kerala Administrative Service Salary for the Junior Time Scale ranges between INR 77,200-1,40,500 depending upon the post and seniority. For the Senior time scale which has posts like Additional District Magistrate & Deputy Collector (General), the salary varies depending upon the provisions of the Kerala State Government.

KAS full form is Kerala Administrative Service (KAS). It is the main administrative branch of the Government of Kerala, set up in 2018. The Kerala Public Service Commission holds exams to hire people for this service. The selection process includes three stages of exams, and then there's an 18-month training period. The goal is to create a group of public servants who can help manage government services in Kerala.

The selection of potential candidates is based on the Kerala Administrative Service Examination (Conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission). KAS is a governmental and civil service body of Kerala Public Service Commission.

There are 4 categories of officers under KAS:

Kerala Administrative Service Salary | KAS Pay Scale

Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) Salary Structure is governed by 7th Pay Commission. Salary packages are similar to other Group A services in the state. The amount varies based on the stream (Stream 1, 2, or 3), job position, and level of promotion.

Component	Junior KAS Officer(Entry-Level)	After 1st Promotion	After 2nd Promotion (IAS Scale)
Pay Level	Level 10 (Stream 1)	Level 12–14 (Depends on post)	Level 16–17 (Equivalent to IAS)
Basic Pay	INR 39,300 – INR 83,000	INR 45,800 – INR 94,000	INR 60,000 – INR 1,10,000+
Dearness Allowance (DA)	~42% of Basic Pay (as per revision)	~42%	~42%
House Rent Allowance (HRA)	INR 3,000 – INR 10,000 (depends on location)	INR 4,500 – INR 12,000	INR6,000 – INR15,000
Travel Allowance (TA)	INR 2,000 – INR 4,800	INR 2,500 – INR 5,000	INR3,000 – INR6,000
Special Allowance	INR 1,500 – INR 3,000	INR 2,500 – INR4,000	INR3,000 – INR5,000
Gross Monthly Salary	INR 55,000 – INR 75,000 (approx.)	INR70,000 – INR95,000 (approx.)	INR95,000 – INR1,30,000+ (approx.)
Net In-Hand Salary	INR 50,000 – INR70,000 (after deductions)	INR65,000 – INR90,000	INR 90,000 – INR1,20,000+
Grade Pay (before 7th CPC)	INR 4,800 (approx.)	INR5,400 – INR6,600	INR 7,600 – INR8,700
Pension & Gratuity	Eligible after minimum service years	Eligible	Eligible
Job Type	Gazetted, Group A	Senior Administrative Officer	IAS Cadre (on promotion)

Check: Bihar Public Service Commission and BPSC Salary

IAS Salary in Kerala

IAS Salary is same across the country, but what varies by state is HRA and travel benefits.

Rank/Designation	Pay Level	Basic Pay (₹)	DA (42%) (₹)	HRA (Class A City)	Gross Salary (Approx.) (₹)	In-Hand Salary (₹)
Junior Time Scale (IAS Trainee / Assistant Collector)	Level 10	₹56,100	₹23,562	₹13,464 (24%)	₹93,000 – ₹98,000	₹85,000 – ₹90,000
Senior Time Scale (Sub-Collector / Under Secretary)	Level 11	₹67,700	₹28,434	₹16,248	₹1,12,000 – ₹1,18,000	₹1,00,000 – ₹1,10,000
Junior Administrative Grade (Deputy Secretary / Collector)	Level 12	₹78,800	₹33,096	₹18,912	₹1,30,000 – ₹1,35,000	₹1,20,000 – ₹1,25,000
Selection Grade (Additional Secretary / District Collector)	Level 13	₹1,18,500	₹49,770	₹28,440	₹1,85,000 – ₹1,90,000	₹1,70,000 – ₹1,80,000
Super Time Scale (Secretary / Divisional Commissioner)	Level 14	₹1,44,200	₹60,564	₹34,608	₹2,20,000 – ₹2,30,000	₹2,00,000 – ₹2,10,000
Above Super Time Scale (Principal Secretary)	Level 15	₹1,82,200	₹76,524	₹43,728	₹2,80,000 – ₹2,95,000	₹2,60,000+
Apex Scale (Chief Secretary – Top Post in Kerala)	Level 17	₹2,25,000 (fixed)	Included in gross	Included	₹2,50,000 – ₹2,70,000	₹2,40,000+

As mentioned above, the collector salary in Kerala varies by Rank/Designation and post. Pay scale also changes.

Assistant Collector- ₹56,100
Sub-Collector- ₹67,700
Collector- ₹78,800
District Collector- ₹1,18,500

Kerala Administrative Service Pay Scale by Posts

The table below highlights the posts and career growth of a KAS officer with pay scale.

Scale	Field posting(s)	Position in state secretariat/department	Pay Scale
Super time	--	Additional Secretary / Special Secretary / Director	--
Selection grade	--	Joint Secretary/Joint Director/ Senior Deputy Director	--
Senior time	- Additional District Magistrate & Deputy Collector (General) -Additional Corporation Secretary - Municipal Secretary Grade 1	Deputy Secretary	---
Junior Time	- Deputy Collector - Revenue Divisional Officer & Sub-divisional magistrate - District Supply Officer - Deputy Commissioner (Commercial Taxes) - Administrative Officer - Finance Officer - District Educational Officer - Deputy Registrar - Administrative Assistant - Assistant Director (LSGD) - Deputy Director - Municipal Secretary - District Labour Officer		₹ 77,200-1,40,500

Kerala Administrative Service Promotion

KAS officers can become Principal Secretaries based on their seniority, performance, and experience. This role is a high-ranking position in the state government, and it involves managing different departments.

Benefits of Becoming KAS Officer

Competitive pay is the main motivation for aspirants.
Kerala Administrative Service is known for its transparency and good governance.
Once, Kerala Administrative Service officers received the basic salary of Rs 81,800. There were protests by Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officials as the basic salary for IAS is 56,100 only.
KAS officers receive great perks, benefits, and allowances.
Prestige and reputation is another inspiration for candidates to join Kerala Administrative Service.

How to Become a Kerala Administrative Service Officer?

To become a KAS officer, you need to clear Kerala Administrative Service exam conducted by Kerala Public Service Commission.

The exam has 3 stages. You need to pass all the stages. After that, there is a training for 18 months Institute of Management in Government (IMG). After training, the probation period starts. After successful completion of probation period, candidates start to be designated as officers.

The selection process involves 3 streams.

Stream	Details
Stream-1	Candidates are directly recruited.
Stream-2	Direct recruitment from approved Probationers or Full members who have successfully completed probation in various departments of the Government of Kerala.
Stream-3	Direct recruitment from Government Employees holding the first Gazetted post or above in the Government Departments mentioned in Schedule 1 of Kerala Administrative Service Special Rules published in 2018 or holding the equivalent post in the general categories mentioned in Schedule 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for KAS in Kerala?

The candidate should have a Bachelor’s Degree in any subject or a professional course from a university that is recognized by the Government of Kerala or the UGC, or a degree from a national institute set up by the Government of India.

What is the highest post in KAS?

Principal Secretary is the senior most post who is the head of various departments. He coordinates with the state government.

What is the salary of a KAS officer in Kerala?

Can KAS be promoted to IAS?

Yes, Kerala Administrative Service officers are often promoted to IAS after 9 years of service. The main criteria is exceptional performance and track record of good governance.

Is the Kerala KAS exam conducted every year?

Yes, Kerala KAS is conducted every year to recruit candidates for different posts.

Kerala Administrative Service Salary | KAS Officer Salary