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Checked October 2026

Minimum Wage Calculator India 2026

Updated · GetHirePlus team

Look up the minimum wage for a state and skill category, check whether a salary meets it, and see the central sphere rates set by the Chief Labour Commissioner.

This calculator shows the monthly minimum wage for the state and skill level you pick, plus the daily rate (monthly divided by 26 working days) and the annual figure (monthly x 12). Enter a salary to check compliance: if the salary is at or above the minimum it is compliant; otherwise the shortfall is shown.

Select State and Role
₹

Sample values shown (Delhi, unskilled, ₹20,000 salary). Change them to check your own case.

Minimum Wage Result

Select a state and skill level,
then click Check Minimum Wage.

Central Sphere Minimum Wages, Area A (1 April to 30 September 2026)

These are the rates the Chief Labour Commissioner notifies for establishments under the central government (basic rate plus VDA), shown per day and for 26 working days. They are not a national floor for states. The October 2026 VDA revision had not been published when we last checked; see clc.gov.in for the current figures. A statutory national floor wage under the Code on Wages has not yet been notified.

Unskilled
₹827
per day / ₹21,502/mo
Semi-Skilled
₹918
per day / ₹23,868/mo
Skilled
₹1,008
per day / ₹26,208/mo
Highly Skilled
₹1,094
per day / ₹28,444/mo

State-Wise Minimum Wages (Major States, 2026)

Monthly rates for the general/shops-and-establishments category. States publish industry-specific rates; these figures are for the shops and commercial establishment schedule (the most commonly applicable for office/IT/services workers). Verify with your state's latest gazette notification. Only the Delhi (April 2025) and central sphere figures were checked against official notifications for this update; the other state rows are compiled from state notifications and secondary sources and are labelled unverified until we confirm them.

State Unskilled (₹/month) Semi-Skilled (₹/month) Skilled (₹/month) Highly Skilled (₹/month) Effective
DelhiAll areas; no October 2025 revision was issued 18,45620,37122,41124,356 Apr 2025
HaryanaZone A 14,83216,51218,19220,064 Jan 2026
KeralaShops 17,05218,72020,67022,620 Jan 2026
MaharashtraZone I (Mumbai) 15,53216,97418,60020,436 Oct 2025
KarnatakaShops, Zone I 15,86017,44619,31921,230 Apr 2026
Tamil NaduZone A (Chennai) 13,82314,28314,74315,983 Jan 2026
TelanganaShops 13,52014,56015,60017,160 Jan 2026
Andhra PradeshShops 13,20014,20015,40016,900 Jan 2026
GujaratZone I 13,01313,13013,27314,560 Oct 2025
West BengalShops, Area A 12,48013,52014,82016,380 Jan 2026
PunjabAll zones 11,65512,89514,13515,655 Jan 2026
RajasthanShops 12,12013,26014,40015,840 Jan 2026
Uttar PradeshShops, Zone A 11,75112,89614,17915,592 Jan 2026
Madhya PradeshShops 11,50512,51313,52114,625 Jan 2026
BiharShops, Zone A 8,2819,29610,30911,374 Jan 2026
OdishaShops 10,99212,01213,24814,892 Jan 2026
JharkhandShops 10,53011,58312,63613,908 Jan 2026
ChhattisgarhShops 10,97011,97012,97014,210 Jan 2026
Important: State rows other than Delhi are unverified compilations as of July 2026. Most states revise minimum wages twice a year: Delhi and the central sphere in April and October, several other states in January and July. Industry-specific rates (construction, IT/ITES, security, domestic work, agriculture) may differ significantly. Always verify the current rate from your state labour department's official gazette notification before setting payroll. Found an error? Email [email protected].

Understanding India's Minimum Wage System

India's minimum wage is not a single national figure. It is a layered system where the central government sets a floor and individual state governments set the actual applicable rates for their jurisdictions, industries, and worker skill categories.

The Legal Framework

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 governed minimum wages for over seven decades. The Code on Wages, 2019, in force since 21 November 2025, replaced it and three other wage laws, extended minimum wage protection to all employees, and provides for a national floor wage. The central rules under the Code were notified in May 2026, but the floor wage itself has not yet been fixed, and existing state notifications continue to apply during the transition.

Floor Wage (Central)

To be set by the central government under Section 9 of the Code on Wages 2019; states cannot go below it once notified. As of October 2026 no statutory floor wage has been notified. The older advisory national floor level minimum wage was Rs 178 a day.

State Minimum Wages

Each state government notifies rates for scheduled employments. Rates vary by industry, skill category, zone (urban/rural), and sometimes gender. Must meet or exceed the central floor wage.

VDA (Variable Dearness Allowance)

Most states use a two-part minimum wage: a basic rate plus VDA linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-IW). VDA is revised every 6 months (April and October for the central sphere; dates vary by state) based on CPI movement, automatically adjusting wages for inflation.

Industry Schedules

States publish 50 to 100+ separate industry schedules. Office and IT roles usually fall under a shops and commercial establishments schedule. Construction, agriculture, security, and domestic work each have separate rates.

Skill Category Definitions

Skill categories are defined by the state government and the task involved, not by the worker's educational qualification. Typical definitions:

Unskilled

Work requiring no prior training. Examples: loader, sweeper, helper, peon, watchman, gardener.

Semi-Skilled

Work requiring some practical experience but no formal certification. Examples: machine operator helper, office assistant, data entry operator.

Skilled

Work requiring specific training or certification. Examples: electrician, plumber, computer operator, cashier, driver, tailor.

Highly Skilled / Supervisory

Work requiring advanced skills or supervisory responsibility. Examples: supervisor, senior accountant, charge hand, senior clerk, technical specialist.

Employer Compliance Requirements

Employers must pay at or above the applicable minimum wage, display the current minimum wage notice at the workplace, maintain wage registers, and issue wage slips to workers. Under Section 54 of the Code on Wages 2019, paying less than the amount due carries a fine of up to Rs 50,000; a repeat offence within five years can bring imprisonment of up to three months, a fine of up to Rs 1,00,000, or both. Inspectors-cum-facilitators can conduct scheduled and surprise inspections.

When Minimum Wage Does Not Apply

The Code on Wages 2019 has widened coverage significantly. However, in practice, some categories remain in contested territory: certain agricultural labour in specific states, apprentices under the Apprentices Act 1961, and trainees during a probation period in some interpretations. Consult a labour law advisor for edge cases.

Worked example

StepValue
Delhi, unskilled, monthly minimum (April 2025 notification)₹18,456
Daily equivalent (18,456 / 26)₹710
Salary being checked₹20,000
Result (20,000 minus 18,456)Compliant, ₹1,544 above

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Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum wage in India in 2026?
There is no single national minimum wage. A statutory national floor wage under the Code on Wages has not been notified yet. For central government establishments, the central sphere rate in Area A from 1 April 2026 is Rs 827 a day for unskilled, Rs 918 for semi-skilled, Rs 1,008 for skilled and Rs 1,094 for highly skilled work. States notify their own rates; Delhi's unskilled rate is Rs 18,456 a month (April 2025 notification).
Which state has the highest minimum wage in India?
Delhi is among the highest of the major states, at Rs 18,456 a month for unskilled workers under its April 2025 notification. Rates in other states vary by schedule and zone, and our state table marks those figures as unverified, so check the latest gazette before comparing.
How often is minimum wage revised in India?
Most states revise the VDA (Variable Dearness Allowance) part of minimum wages twice a year. Delhi and the central sphere revise in April and October; several other states revise in January and July. The basic rate is revised less often. Always check the notification in force on the date wages are paid.
What is VDA and why does it matter?
VDA (Variable Dearness Allowance) is the part of minimum wages that moves with the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW). When the index rises, VDA increases, so the minimum wage due in one half of the year can differ from the other half. HR teams must track VDA revisions and update payroll.
What penalties apply for paying below minimum wage?
Under Section 54 of the Code on Wages 2019, paying an employee less than the amount due is punishable with a fine of up to Rs 50,000. If the offence is repeated within five years, the penalty can be imprisonment of up to three months, a fine of up to Rs 1,00,000, or both. Workers can also claim the shortfall.
Does minimum wage apply to IT/software employees?
Yes. The Code on Wages covers all employees, including IT and ITES staff. Office roles usually fall under the shops and commercial establishments schedule of the state. Most software salaries are well above these minimums, but freshers, trainees and support staff should still be checked against the applicable rate.
Are gig workers entitled to minimum wage?
The Code on Wages covers employees, and many platform companies treat gig workers as independent contractors, so minimum wage coverage for gig work is still contested. The Code on Social Security, 2020 separately provides for social security schemes for gig and platform workers, and states such as Rajasthan and Karnataka have passed gig worker laws. Take legal advice for specific cases.

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Disclaimer: Minimum wage figures are informational only and not legal advice. Verify with official state gazette notifications before setting payroll.