VAO Salary 2026

What a VAO actually takes home every month, basic pay, allowances and deductions under the 7th Pay Commission, and the exam that gets you the post.

₹23,000 - ₹28,000in-hand per month

₹19,500basic pay (starting)

Level 8pay matrix level

TNPSC Group 4 & VAOrecruiting exam

How ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 in hand is built

From the pay matrix to your bank account.

Village Administrative Officer (VAO) sits at Level 8 of the Tamil Nadu pay matrix with a starting basic pay of ₹19,500. Dearness Allowance and House Rent Allowance are added on top of the basic to form gross salary.

NPS pension contribution, health fund and professional tax then come off the gross, leaving ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 in hand for a new joinee. The exact figure moves with your posting location's HRA classification.

Calculate your exact in-hand pay

Allowances

On top of basic pay, these push the in-hand figure up considerably.

Dearness Allowance (DA)

22% of Basic Pay

House Rent Allowance (HRA)

8% - 16% of Basic Pay

Travel Allowance (TA)

As per government norms

Medical Allowance

As per government norms

What the job involves

A VAO is the village-level revenue official: you maintain the village's land records, issue certificates and carry out revenue duty in the field. The posting is a specific village, and you are the government's face there, with constant public contact as villagers come to you for records and certificates. The post carries independent charge from day one, real authority and visibility in the village, and a role in delivering every government scheme locally. There are no physical tests; entry is through CCSE-IV (Group 4), which requires SSLC.

Career growth

Village Administrative Officer (entry through CCSE-IV)
Revenue Inspector (RI)
Deputy Tahsildar and beyond in the revenue line

Confirmation comes after a probation period, typically 2 years within a continuous 3, served on full pay. Each annual increment adds roughly 3% to basic pay within the level, and every promotion moves you to a higher pay level with a larger basic pay.

How to get this post

Village Administrative Officer (VAO) is recruited through TNPSC Group 4 & VAO. Start with the syllabus, confirm your eligibility, then check the score you need.

Step 1

Check eligibility

Age window, qualification and fees for TNPSC Group 4 & VAO.

Step 2

Read the syllabus

Every unit and topic with official weightage.

Step 3

Know the cut-off

Category-wise scores that actually got selected.

Frequently asked questions

What is the in-hand salary of a VAO in Tamil Nadu?

A VAO takes home ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 per month. Basic pay is ₹19,500 at pay Level 8; DA and HRA are added on top, then NPS, health fund and professional tax deductions come off.

Which exam do I write to become a VAO?

Village Administrative Officer (VAO) is recruited through TNPSC Group 4 & VAO. The full eligibility, syllabus and cut-off details are linked in the "How to get this post" section above.

Does the VAO salary increase over time?

Yes. Annual increments move you up within the pay level, DA is revised periodically, and promotions move you to a higher level with a larger basic pay.

Is the salary different for different postings?

HRA depends on the posting location's classification, so the same post pays somewhat more in-hand in a city like Chennai than in a taluk town.

Pay level, basic pay and in-hand figures are compiled from official TNPSC notifications and TN pay commission orders. Sources: TNPSC official notifications. Figures are indicative and may change with each official notification. Data last reviewed: July 2026.

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