Government jobPay Level 6Group CNon‑gazetted
Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant (Railways)
रासायनिक एवं धातुकर्म सहायक (रेलवे)
Pay Level 6 laboratory post via RRB JE — testing metals, oils, paints and other materials used by the railways.
Indian Railways (Mechanical Department, Chemical and Metallurgical Laboratory) · Ministry of Railways · central government
In-hand pay at joining, per month
₹57,000–₹67,000
Lower in small towns, higher in metros. Work out your own city below.
- Exam
- RRB JE
- Qualification
- Graduate
- Age limit
- 18–33 years
- Transfers
- Within your allotted zone/region
- Work hours
- Regular day hours
- Probation
- Training followed by probation as per railway rules
Estimated in-hand / month
₹60,736
Gross ₹66,600 · CTC ≈ ₹8.9 lakh/yr
Where are you posted?
Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant (Railways) · 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
- Chemical analysis of metals, lubricants, fuels, paints and water
- Mechanical and metallurgical testing of rails, wheels and components
- Inspecting supplies against specifications
- Investigating failed components
- Maintaining lab equipment and test records
A typical day
You work in a railway laboratory attached to a workshop, shed or depot. Samples arrive from stores and from the line; you run the prescribed tests, record results and pass or reject the lot. When an axle, rail or spring fails in service, the pieces come to you for examination. It is steady day work in a lab, with occasional visits to suppliers or sheds.
Promotion path
Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.
Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant (Railways) (joining)
Pay Level 6
₹57,000–₹67,000 in-hand
Chemical and Metallurgical Superintendent
5–8 years · Level 7 · via dpc
₹72,000–₹84,000 in-hand
Group B officer (Assistant Chemist and Metallurgist)
Through limited departmental exam · Level 8 · via departmental exam
₹76,000–₹88,000 in-hand
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.CBT-1
- 2.CBT-2 (technical)
- 3.Document verification
- 4.Medical examination
Eligibility: B.Sc. with Physics and Chemistry and at least 45% marks, with the additional conditions listed in the notification for this post. 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: Medical standard B-1.
The good
- Level 6 pay for science graduates
- Laboratory work with regular hours
- No shift or emergency duty in most labs
The hard parts
- Very few vacancies
- Small cadre, so limited postings and promotion posts
- Routine testing work
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. Laboratories are at workshops, loco sheds and zonal headquarters.
Questions people ask
What is the in-hand salary of Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant (Railways)?+
Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant (Railways) is a Pay Level 6 post with a starting basic pay of ₹35,400. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹57,000–₹67,000 a month, depending on whether you are posted in a Z, Y or X class city.
What is the qualification and age limit for Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant (Railways)?+
B.Sc. with Physics and Chemistry and at least 45% marks, with the additional conditions listed in the notification for this post. 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 Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant (Railways)?+
RRB JE (Railway Recruitment Boards).
Is this an engineering post?+
It is notified with Junior Engineers and has the same pay level, but it is for science graduates, not diploma engineers.
Compare with similar posts
Depot Material Superintendent (Railways)
डिपो सामग्री अधीक्षक (रेलवे)
Pay Level 6 railway post via RRB JE — managing receipt, storage and issue of materials in railway stores depots.
Junior Engineer (Railways)
कनिष्ठ अभियंता (रेलवे)
Pay Level 6 supervisory post via RRB JE — running maintenance of track, rolling stock, signals or electrical assets.
Technician Grade-I Signal (Railways)
तकनीशियन ग्रेड-I सिग्नल (रेलवे)
Pay Level 5 railway post via RRB Technician — maintaining signals, points and interlocking gear that keep trains safe.
Books to prepare for RRB JE
- See on Amazon
Civil Engineering: Conventional and Objective Type
R.S. Khurmi and J.K. Gupta (S. Chand)
A single-volume revision of the civil syllabus with objective questions. Suits JE level; thin for ESE.
- See on Amazon
Mechanical Engineering: Conventional and Objective Type
R.S. Khurmi and J.K. Gupta (S. Chand)
The mechanical counterpart, with short theory and many objective questions.
- See on Amazon
Objective Electrical Technology
V.K. Mehta and Rohit Mehta (S. Chand)
Objective practice across electrical subjects for junior engineer exams.
All 5 books for Engineering exams: SSC JE, RRB JE, UPSC ESE and ISRO
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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.