Government jobPay Level 1Group CNon‑gazetted
Assistant (Loco Shed)
सहायक (लोको शेड)
Pay Level 1 railway post via RRB Group D — helping maintain electric or diesel locomotives in a loco shed.
Indian Railways (Electrical / Mechanical Department, Loco Sheds) · Ministry of Railways · central government
In-hand pay at joining, per month
₹29,000–₹33,000
Lower in small towns, higher in metros. Work out your own city below.
- Exam
- RRB Group D
- Qualification
- 10th pass
- Age limit
- 18–33 years
- Transfers
- Within your allotted zone/region
- Work hours
- Shift duty including nights
- Probation
- As per railway rules
Estimated in-hand / month
₹30,760
Gross ₹33,840 · CTC ≈ ₹4.5 lakh/yr
Where are you posted?
Assistant (Loco Shed) · rates as of January 2026 (DA 60%). Excludes CGHS, GPF/insurance deductions and special allowances. Estimate only.
New to pay slips? Read how in-hand salary is worked out.
What you will actually do
- Assisting technicians in scheduled inspection of locomotives
- Removing, cleaning and refitting components
- Carrying spares, tools and lubricants
- Cleaning locomotives and shed bays
- Helping in testing after repairs
A typical day
A loco shed is a large workshop where locomotives come in for inspection every few weeks. You are attached to a section, such as bogie, traction motor or pneumatic, and spend the shift helping technicians open up equipment, clean it, change worn parts and close it again. It is under-cover work, which is easier than the open line, but heavy and oily.
Promotion path
Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.
Assistant (Loco Shed) (joining)
Pay Level 1
₹29,000–₹33,000 in-hand
Technician Grade-III (Loco)
After a trade test, typically 3–8 years depending on vacancies · Level 2 · via departmental exam
₹32,000–₹37,000 in-hand
Technician Grade-II and Grade-I
Further trade tests over 8–15 years · Level 5 · via departmental exam
₹48,000–₹56,000 in-hand
Other departments
Through the General Departmental Competitive Exam (GDCE) for eligible staff · via lateral exam
Promotion timelines vary by cadre and vacancies. If not promoted, MACP gives a pay upgrade after 10, 20 and 30 years.
How to get in
Railway Recruitment Boards
- 1.Computer-based test
- 2.Physical efficiency test
- 3.Document verification
- 4.Medical examination
Eligibility: Class 10 pass, or ITI, or a National Apprenticeship Certificate granted by NCVT. Age 18–33. SC/ST: 5 years, OBC (non-creamy layer): 3 years, PwBD: 10 years, plus relaxations for ex-servicemen and railway staff, as per the notification.
Physical standards: PET for men: carry 35 kg for 100 m in 2 minutes and run 1,000 m in 4 minutes 15 seconds. Women: carry 20 kg for 100 m in 2 minutes and run 1,000 m in 5 minutes 40 seconds. Medical standard B-1.
The good
- Indoor workshop work compared with track or yard jobs
- Good exposure for those with an ITI trade
- Sheds are usually in towns
The hard parts
- Heavy, greasy work
- Shifts
- Level 1 pay
Postings
You apply to one Railway Recruitment Board and are posted in the zone or production unit attached to it. Inter-zone transfer is possible only on request or mutual exchange, with loss of seniority. Sheds are at a limited number of locations in each zone.
Questions people ask
What is the in-hand salary of Assistant (Loco Shed)?+
Assistant (Loco Shed) is a Pay Level 1 post with a starting basic pay of ₹18,000. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹29,000–₹33,000 a month, depending on whether you are posted in a Z, Y or X class city.
What is the qualification and age limit for Assistant (Loco Shed)?+
Class 10 pass, or ITI, or a National Apprenticeship Certificate granted by NCVT. Age: 18–33 years. Relaxation: SC/ST: 5 years, OBC (non-creamy layer): 3 years, PwBD: 10 years, plus relaxations for ex-servicemen and railway staff, as per the notification.
Which exam do I need to clear for Assistant (Loco Shed)?+
RRB Group D (Railway Recruitment Boards).
Can I choose this post within Group D?+
You rank the Level-1 posts you are medically eligible for. Allotment depends on merit, your preferences and the vacancies in your zone.
Compare with similar posts
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सहायक (कैरिज एवं वैगन)
Pay Level 1 railway post via RRB Group D — helping examine and repair coaches and wagons at depots and stations.
Track Maintainer Grade-IV
ट्रैक मेंटेनर ग्रेड-IV
Pay Level 1 railway post via RRB Group D — manual maintenance and patrolling of railway track, outdoors in all weather.
Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP)
सहायक लोको पायलट
Pay Level 2 running post via RRB ALP — assisting the loco pilot in driving trains, on the path to becoming a train driver.
Books to prepare for RRB Group D
- See on Amazon
Lucent's General Science
Lucent Publications
Physics, chemistry and biology at the level railway exams ask. Available in Hindi as Samanya Vigyan.
- See on Amazon
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic
Rajesh Verma (Arihant)
Shorter and more shortcut-oriented than R.S. Aggarwal. Useful when time per question matters.
- See on Amazon
A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
Covers every reasoning question type with graded practice. More than most exams need, so do the chapters in your syllabus.
All 6 books for Railway exams: NTPC, Group D, ALP, Technician and RPF
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Sources
This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.