The air force salary for a new airman (Agniveervayu) is a package of ₹30,000 a month in the first year, of which ₹21,000 is paid in hand. An officer who clears AFCAT, NDA or CDS starts as a Flying Officer on pay Level 10. That means ₹56,100 basic, with ₹15,500 Military Service Pay and other allowances on top. This guide covers all air force jobs, the indian air force ranks and salary, eligibility, the air force exam, training and how to prepare.
Salary at a glance
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What working in the Indian Air Force means
The Indian Air Force (IAF) protects India's airspace and also helps during floods, earthquakes and rescue missions. Most people imagine only pilots, but pilots are a small share of the force. Thousands of airmen and officers keep aircraft, radars, missiles, communication systems, stores, accounts and medical units running. You can be posted at air bases across the country, from hot plains to high mountain stations.
Air force careers fall into three tracks:
- Airmen: they now join as Agniveervayu under the Agnipath scheme, after 12th or a diploma.
- Officers: they join through AFCAT, NDA, CDS or the NCC special entry, in the Flying, Ground Duty Technical or Ground Duty Non-Technical branches.
- Civilians: air force stations recruit civilian Group C staff, such as clerks, cooks, drivers and multi tasking staff, through separate notifications.
Air force jobs list: entries and exams
The IAF conducts the AFCAT and the Agniveervayu online exam itself. UPSC conducts the NDA and CDS written exams. After the written stage, officer candidates go to an Air Force Selection Board for a five-day interview, and flying branch candidates also take a computerised pilot selection test.
| Entry | Air force job qualification | Joins as |
|---|---|---|
| Agniveervayu | 12th pass or 3 year diploma, subject rules as per notification | Agniveervayu, 4 year term |
| NDA (Air Force wing) | 12th with Physics and Maths | Flying Officer after training |
| AFCAT (Flying, Ground Duty) | Graduation or B.E. / B.Tech as per branch | Flying Officer |
| CDS (Air Force Academy) | Graduation with Physics and Maths at 12th, or engineering | Flying Officer (Flying branch) |
| NCC special entry | Graduates with NCC Air Wing C certificate | Flying Officer (Flying branch) |
| Civilian Group C | 10th, 12th or as per post | Civilian employee on 7th CPC pay |
For exam pattern and syllabus of each officer exam, read our AFCAT, NDA and CDS pages. The airman exam is explained on our Agniveer page.
Eligibility and age limit for air force jobs
Under the Agnipath scheme, the age limit for Agniveervayu is 17½ to 21 years. Each notification gives the exact birth date window, minimum marks in 12th or diploma, and the height and medical standards. Officer entries have different age windows for the flying branch and ground duty branches, so read the latest AFCAT or UPSC notification carefully. Cadets must remain unmarried during training.
Air force jobs for girls: women can join as officers in all branches, including the flying branch as fighter, transport or helicopter pilots. Women can also apply as Agniveervayu. So air force jobs for females are available both at the officer and the airman level. Also see govt jobs for women for other uniform options.
Air force salary per month for Agniveervayu
Agniveers in all three services get the same fixed package, so the air force salary per month for a new airman is shown below.
| Service year | Monthly package | Paid in hand | Saved in corpus |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | ₹30,000 | ₹21,000 | ₹9,000 |
| Second | ₹33,000 | ₹23,100 | ₹9,900 |
| Third | ₹36,500 | ₹25,580 | ₹10,950 |
| Fourth | ₹40,000 | ₹28,000 | ₹12,000 |
The government puts in a matching amount each month. After four years you get the Seva Nidhi package, about ₹11.71 lakh including interest as per the government's estimate, without income tax. Life cover of ₹48 lakh applies while you serve. There is no pension for the four year term, but up to 25% of each batch can move to the regular cadre for another 15 years.
Air force X group salary per month and Y group pay: earlier, airmen were hired as Group X (technical trades) and Group Y (non-technical trades), and X group airmen got an extra technical pay. Under Agnipath, the first four years carry the same package for everyone. Trade, rank and allowances decide the difference once an airman is in the regular cadre. The air force ki salary kitni hoti hai question therefore has a simple answer for a new airman: ₹21,000 in hand in year one, with free food, uniform and stay in most postings.
Air force officer salary and indian air force ranks salary
Air Force officers are paid on the same defence pay matrix as Army and Navy officers. Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 a month is added up to Air Commodore, along with DA at the civilian rate and other allowances.
| IAF rank | Pay level | Starting basic | Same as Army rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Officer | Level 10 | ₹56,100 | Lieutenant |
| Flight Lieutenant | Level 10B | ₹61,300 | Captain |
| Squadron Leader | Level 11 | ₹69,400 | Major |
| Wing Commander | Level 12A | ₹1,21,200 | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Group Captain | Level 13 | ₹1,30,600 | Colonel |
| Air Commodore | Level 13A | ₹1,39,600 | Brigadier |
| Air Vice Marshal | Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 | Major General |
| Air Chief Marshal | Level 18 | ₹2,50,000 (fixed) | General |
So the flying officer salary in Indian Air Force starts at a basic of ₹56,100, which is also the air force starting salary for every officer branch. The pay box near the top of this page works out Level 10 basic with DA, HRA, TA and NPS cut; add the ₹15,500 MSP to that for a Flying Officer.
Air force pilot salary
Pilots get the same rank pay as other officers plus a monthly flying allowance, which is why the indian air force pilot salary is higher than a ground duty officer of the same rank. Fighter pilots, transport pilots and helicopter pilots all get flying allowance. Postings in field or high altitude areas add further allowances.
Airmen salary, medical assistant, Garud and civilian pay
Airmen in the regular cadre rise from Aircraftman and Leading Aircraftman to Corporal, Sergeant, Junior Warrant Officer, Warrant Officer and Master Warrant Officer. Each promotion brings a higher pay level. The air force sergeant salary, for example, is higher than a Corporal's because Sergeant is a higher pay level. For the exact level of each airman rank, check the pay table in the latest official notification.
- Air force medical assistant salary: Medical Assistants are airmen who work in IAF hospitals and sick quarters. They are paid the airman pay for their rank, plus allowances. Check the current notification to see whether this trade is open under the Agniveervayu entry or a separate one.
- Garud commando salary: Garud is the IAF special forces unit. Members are volunteers who pass tough selection. They get the pay of their rank plus special allowances for their role, not a separate scale.
- Air force group C salary and air force clerk salary: civilian Group C posts at air force stations are regular central government jobs on the 7th CPC pay matrix. Most of these posts, like clerk and MTS, sit at the lower pay levels. The exact pay level is given in each station's notification.
Selection process, air force exam pattern and training
- Agniveervayu: online test on English, Physics and Maths for science students, or English, reasoning and general awareness for other students, then a physical fitness test, adaptability tests and a medical exam.
- AFCAT: online exam on general awareness, verbal ability, numerical ability and reasoning, with an extra technical test for ground duty technical candidates, then the Air Force Selection Board and medical exam.
- NDA and CDS: UPSC written exam, then the Selection Board, pilot aptitude test for flying, and medical.
Officer trainees train at the Air Force Academy at Dundigal near Hyderabad. NDA cadets first complete three years at the National Defence Academy. Airmen do basic training and then trade training before joining a unit. During service, air force courses in flying, engineering, logistics and management help you move up.
How to prepare for the air force exam
- Know the air force exam syllabus: for Agniveervayu, the syllabus is based on 12th level English, Physics and Maths for science students. Practise old papers on time.
- Daily maths: AFCAT numerical ability needs speed with percentages, ratios, time and work, and averages.
- English: read one editorial a day and note new words, as English appears in all IAF exams.
- Fitness: run daily and do push-ups and sit-ups so that the physical test does not stop you.
- Eyes and health: pilots need strict eyesight standards. Get an eye check early and avoid habits that harm your eyes.
Most students who study steadily for three to six months feel ready for the Agniveervayu test; AFCAT aspirants usually need a little longer. Compare with Indian Army jobs and Indian Navy jobs, and see our commercial pilot page if you want to fly as a civilian.
Official website for IAF careers
Agniveervayu notifications and admit cards are on agnipathvayu.cdac.in. AFCAT and other officer entry details are on careerindianairforce.cdac.in, and NDA and CDS notices are on upsc.gov.in. Check these for the latest notification, dates and vacancies, and never trust anyone who asks for money to get you selected.
Questions students ask
What is the air force salary per month for an Agniveervayu?
The package is ₹30,000 a month in the first year, with ₹21,000 in hand and ₹9,000 saved in the corpus fund. It rises to ₹40,000 in the fourth year, with ₹28,000 in hand.
What is the air force officer salary at the start?
Every new officer is commissioned as a Flying Officer, drawing ₹56,100 basic on Level 10. Military Service Pay of ₹15,500, DA and other allowances are added. Pilots also get flying allowance.
What is the indian air force pilot salary?
A pilot gets the normal rank pay, starting at ₹56,100 basic as Flying Officer, plus MSP and DA. On top, pilots receive a monthly flying allowance, so they earn more than ground duty officers of the same rank.
Air force ki salary kitni hoti hai for X group and Y group?
Under the Agnipath scheme, both science and non-science airmen get the same package in the first four years: ₹30,000 a month in year one. Differences by trade appear only after selection to the regular cadre.
What is the Garud commando salary?
Garud commandos are paid the normal salary of their rank. They also get special allowances for their role. There is no separate Garud pay scale.
Are there air force jobs for girls after 12th?
Yes. Women can apply as Agniveervayu after 12th or a diploma. After graduation, they can join as officers through AFCAT or CDS in flying and ground duty branches.
Which air force exam should I take after 12th?
After 12th you can take the Agniveervayu exam to join as an airman, or the NDA exam through UPSC to become an officer. AFCAT is for graduates.
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.
- Indian Air Force careers, official website
- Agnipath Vayu, Agniveervayu recruitment portal
- Cabinet clears Agnipath scheme for all three services (PM India)
- Agnipath scheme note, Indian Institute of Public Administration
- UPSC, NDA and CDS examinations
Last checked on 11 October. Spot an error? Tell us on the contact page.