Company secretary salary is a strong pull for commerce and law-minded students, because the law itself makes many companies hire one. A fresh company secretary in India usually starts at roughly ₹4 to 8 lakh a year, and an experienced CS heading compliance at a listed company can earn several times that. The qualification is run by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). On this page I cover the CS course details, exams, fees, duration, jobs and what the work feels like.
What a company secretary does
A company secretary is the company's expert on company law and governance. Think of the CS as the person who makes sure the company follows the rules and keeps its board and shareholders properly informed. Daily work includes:
- Planning board meetings and shareholder meetings, writing the agenda and minutes.
- Filing forms and returns with the Registrar of Companies and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
- Stock exchange and securities law compliance for listed companies.
- Drafting resolutions, agreements and policies, and handling mergers, share issues and insolvency matters.
- Secretarial audit, which a practising CS signs.
Under the Companies Act, every listed company and every other company with paid-up share capital of ₹10 crore or more must have a whole-time company secretary. That rule keeps demand steady.
Company secretary salary in India: CS salary by experience
These are broad yearly ranges. The biggest factors are the size of the company, whether it is listed, the city and your skill in securities law and drafting.
| Experience | Rough yearly pay | Rough monthly gross |
|---|---|---|
| CS trainee (during training) | Stipend only | Modest, set by employer within ICSI norms |
| Newly qualified CS | ₹4 to 8 lakh | About ₹35,000 to ₹65,000 |
| 3 to 5 years | ₹8 to 15 lakh | About ₹65,000 to ₹1.25 lakh |
| 8 years and above, listed company or large group | ₹15 to 30 lakh or more | Varies widely |
The CS salary in India per month you take home will be lower than gross after tax and provident fund. To check any offer, use the calculator below.
A CS who also holds a law degree, or who builds deep experience in public issues, listing and insolvency, moves up fastest. Practising company secretaries earn from secretarial audits, compliance retainers and advisory work, and income grows with the client list.
Company secretary course details: stages, eligibility and duration
The CS course has three steps plus practical training. Here is the full structure.
| Stage | Who can join | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| CSEET (CS Executive Entrance Test) | Class 12 pass or appearing students | One computer-based test; it is the company secretary entrance exam |
| CS Executive | CSEET passed; graduates and some other categories are exempt from CSEET | Seven papers in two groups |
| CS Professional | CS Executive passed | Advanced papers in two groups, including electives |
| Practical training | As per ICSI training rules, during and after the course | Training with a company or a practising CS, plus ICSI's skill programmes |
The company secretary course duration from class 12 is about three to four years if you clear each stage on time. A graduate who skips CSEET can finish in about two to three years. Repeat attempts add time. Once you pass Professional and finish training, you can apply for ICSI membership and use the title ACS.
CS exam: CSEET, Executive and Professional
Many students ask what the CS exam is and how hard it is. It is a set of three exam levels, each tougher than the last.
- CSEET: held several times a year, computer based. It tests business communication, legal aptitude and logical reasoning, economic and business environment, and current affairs. Check icsi.edu for the current pattern and marks, as ICSI has restructured it.
- CS Executive: papers on jurisprudence and general laws, company law and practice, setting up of business with industrial and labour laws, corporate accounting and financial management, capital market and securities laws, economic, commercial and intellectual property laws, and tax laws.
- CS Professional: governance and sustainability, drafting and pleadings, compliance and due diligence, corporate restructuring, valuation and insolvency, plus elective subjects.
Executive and Professional exams are normally held in June and December sessions. You fill the ICSI exam form online for each session. Each group has a minimum marks rule per paper and in aggregate, given on the ICSI website. The CS exam pattern mixes written answers with objective questions in some papers.
CS course fees
ICSI's fees are paid stage by stage: CSEET fee, Executive registration, Professional registration, exam fees for each session and training programme fees. Added together, the company secretary course fee paid to ICSI is usually well under ₹1 lakh. Fee concessions exist for some groups of students, so read the fee page on icsi.edu before you pay. Coaching, if you take it, is the larger and more variable cost. Many students combine CS with a BCom or an LLB, which has its own fees; government colleges cost much less than private ones.
CS jobs and company secretary government jobs
Company secretary jobs come from any company big enough to need formal compliance:
- Listed companies and large unlisted groups: company secretary, assistant company secretary, compliance officer.
- Banks, non-bank finance companies, insurers and mutual funds.
- Firms of practising company secretaries, and law firms with corporate teams.
- Own practice in secretarial audit, company formation and compliance.
CS government jobs are fewer but steady. Central and state PSUs hire company secretaries and assistant company secretaries; see PSU jobs. Public sector banks and financial regulators also recruit officers where CS is an accepted qualification. And a CS graduate can always take general exams like SSC CGL or UPSC Civil Services.
One note on search terms: BSc CS jobs and BSc CS course details refer to BSc Computer Science, which is a different field. If that is what you meant, see BSc courses and software engineer.
CS career options: skills, pros and cons
CS suits students who enjoy reading law carefully, writing clearly and keeping track of deadlines. You do not need maths in class 12.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Legal demand: many companies must hire a CS | Starting pay is lower than CA in most cities |
| ICSI fees are low | Laws and rules change often; constant updating |
| Regular office hours outside filing deadlines | Best jobs are concentrated in big cities |
| Combines well with law, leading to corporate legal roles | Personal liability for compliance lapses in some cases |
Students who want a deeper legal career can add an LLB; read about becoming a lawyer. If you like accounts more than law, compare chartered accountant and CMA.
How to start the CS course
- In class 12, read about ICSI on icsi.edu and register for CSEET for the session after your exams.
- Prepare for CSEET with ICSI's study material and practise reading short legal passages.
- After CSEET, register for Executive and plan study so you can sit both groups together.
- Do a BCom, BBA or law degree alongside if you want a fallback. See courses after 12th commerce.
- Choose a training place where you will actually handle filings and board work.
Questions students ask
What is the CS salary per month for a fresher?
A newly qualified company secretary usually earns a gross of about ₹35,000 to ₹65,000 a month, which is roughly ₹4 to 8 lakh a year. Larger listed companies in metros pay towards the top of this range.
What is the CS course duration after 12th?
About three to four years: CSEET, then CS Executive, then CS Professional, plus practical training. Graduates who are exempt from CSEET can finish in roughly two to three years.
Is there a company secretary entrance exam?
Yes. The CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET) is the entry exam for 12th pass students. Graduates and some other categories are exempt and can register for CS Executive directly; check the current exemption list on icsi.edu.
What are the CS course subjects at Executive level?
Executive covers jurisprudence and general laws, company law, setting up of business with labour laws, corporate accounting and financial management, capital market and securities laws, economic and commercial laws, and tax laws.
Are there company secretary government jobs?
Yes. Central and state PSUs hire company secretaries and assistant company secretaries, and public sector banks and financial regulators recruit officers where CS is accepted. CS holders can also take general graduate-level exams.
What are CS course fees in total?
Fees paid to ICSI for CSEET, Executive, Professional, exams and training usually add up to well under ₹1 lakh. Coaching is extra. Check the latest fee page on icsi.edu.
Sources and official websites
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources. Rules change with each notification, so always read the latest one before you apply.
- The Institute of Company Secretaries of India
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs (Companies Act)
- Securities and Exchange Board of India
Last checked on 11 October. Spot an error? Tell us on the contact page.