SSC CGL fills 40 different posts across ministries and departments, from Assistant Audit Officer (Level 8) to Tax Assistant (Level 4). The post preference you fill in your form decides your job for years, so it is worth understanding what each post means before you choose.
How CGL posts are grouped
Every post sits at a Pay Level of the 7th Central Pay Commission. The higher the level, the higher the basic pay.
| Pay Level | Basic pay range (7th CPC) | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Level 8 | ₹47,600 – 1,51,100 | Group B (Gazetted) |
| Level 7 | ₹44,900 – 1,42,400 | Group B |
| Level 6 | ₹35,400 – 1,12,400 | Group B |
| Level 5 | ₹29,200 – 92,300 | Group C |
| Level 4 | ₹25,500 – 81,100 | Group C |
On top of basic pay you get Dearness Allowance (a percentage of basic pay, revised twice a year), House Rent Allowance (by city class: X, Y or Z) and Transport Allowance. Deductions include NPS (10% of basic + DA) and CGHS. So two people at the same level can have different take-home pay depending on the city.
Pay levels and ranges are from the 7th CPC pay matrix and the official notice. Take-home pay changes with each DA revision.
Complete post list (SSC CGL 2026)
Level 8 (age 18–30)
| Post | Department |
|---|---|
| Assistant Audit Officer (Central and State cadre) | Indian Audit & Accounts Department (C&AG) |
| Assistant Accounts Officer (State cadre) | Indian Audit & Accounts Department (C&AG) |
Level 7
| Post | Department | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Section Officer (CSS) | Central Secretariat Service | 20–30 |
| Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of Railways / MEA / AFHQ | 20–30 |
| Assistant Section Officer | Intelligence Bureau / MeitY / other ministries | 18–30 |
| Inspector of Income Tax | CBDT | 18–30 |
| Inspector (Central Excise / Preventive Officer / Examiner) | CBIC | 18–30 |
| Assistant Enforcement Officer | Directorate of Enforcement | 18–30 |
| Sub-Inspector | CBI | 20–30 |
| Inspector Posts | Department of Posts | 18–30 |
| Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics | 18–30 |
Level 6 (age 18–30, JSO 18–32)
| Post | Department |
|---|---|
| Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | Other ministries and departments |
| Executive Assistant | CBIC |
| Research Assistant | National Human Rights Commission |
| Divisional Accountant | Offices under C&AG |
| Sub-Inspector | National Investigation Agency |
| Sub-Inspector / Junior Intelligence Officer | Narcotics Control Bureau |
| Junior Statistical Officer | Ministry of Statistics (MoSPI) |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Registrar General of India |
| Office Superintendent | CBDT |
| Section Head | Directorate General of Foreign Trade |
Level 5 (age 18–27)
| Post | Department |
|---|---|
| Auditor | C&AG / CGDA / other departments |
| Accountant / Junior Accountant | C&AG / Controller General of Accounts / other departments |
Level 4 (age 18–27)
| Post | Department |
|---|---|
| Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant | Department of Posts |
| Senior Secretariat Assistant / Upper Division Clerk | Central government offices |
| Senior Administrative Assistant | Military Engineering Services |
| Tax Assistant | CBDT / CBIC |
| Sub-Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics |
What the most popular posts actually do
Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)
The highest-paid CGL post and the only Gazetted one. You audit government departments’ accounts under the C&AG. Mostly a desk job with fixed hours and audit tours. Needs Tier-II Paper-III (Finance & Economics).
Assistant Section Officer (ASO), CSS
You work in a central ministry in Delhi, handling files and policy work. Very good long-term growth (Section Officer → Under Secretary and above). Posting is mostly in Delhi.
Inspector: Income Tax / CBIC (Central Excise, Preventive Officer, Examiner)
Field-oriented jobs with authority: surveys, searches, customs checks at ports and airports. Preventive Officer and Examiner are customs posts, usually in port cities. These posts require a physical standards / fitness test in some cases.
Sub-Inspector, CBI / NIA
Investigation work with a central agency. Exciting but demanding; transfers and travel are common.
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)
Data and statistics work in MoSPI. Needs Tier-II Paper-II (Statistics) and graduation with statistics as specified in the notice.
Auditor / Accountant / Tax Assistant (Level 4–5)
Desk jobs with regular hours and home-state postings are more likely. A good choice if location matters more than pay.
How to fill your post preference
- Rank by what you want from the job, not just by pay level: field work (Inspector, SI) vs desk work (ASO, AAO, Auditor) vs location (Tax Assistant, Auditor).
- Check the physical requirement for Inspector (CBIC/CBN) and SI posts before you choose them.
- Check the age limit for each post. Level 4 and 5 posts allow only up to 27 years.
- Only fill posts you will actually join. If you are allotted a post you listed, you may lose the chance at others.
- AAO and JSO need extra papers. Prepare Paper-III / Paper-II only if you are serious about those posts.
Prepare for CGL on SyllabusBox
- SSC CGL syllabus & exam pattern
- SSC CGL Tier-I free mocks
- Daily current affairs for General Awareness
Posts, pay levels and age limits are from the SSC CGL 2026 notice (age as on 1 August 2026). Vacancies and posts change every year. Always check the latest official notification on ssc.gov.in.