HowIndiaEarns

Government jobPay Level 4Group CNon‑gazetted

Senior Administrative Assistant (MES)

वरिष्ठ प्रशासनिक सहायक (एमईएस)

Pay Level 4 clerical post via SSC CGL in the Military Engineer Services — office work in cantonment engineering offices.

Military Engineer Services (MES) · Ministry of Defence · central government

In-hand pay at joining, per month

₹42,000–₹50,000

Lower in small towns, higher in metros. Work out your own city below.

Exam
SSC CGL
Qualification
Graduate
Age limit
18–27 years
Transfers
Anywhere in India
Work hours
Regular office hours
Probation
2 years

Estimated in-hand / month

₹44,500

Gross ₹48,780 · CTC ≈ ₹6.5 lakh/yr

Level 4

Where are you posted?

Joining

Senior Administrative Assistant (MES) · 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

  • Processing contractors' bills and works files
  • Maintaining staff records, pay and leave cases
  • Drafting letters and maintaining registers
  • Handling stores and contract documentation
  • Typing and e-office work for the section

A typical day

You work in the office of a Garrison Engineer or Commander Works Engineer inside a military station. The files are about building and maintaining defence housing, roads, water and power: tenders, contractor payments and staff matters. The work is routine clerical work with fixed timings, in a clean and orderly cantonment environment.

Stress1/5
CalmIntense
Public dealing2/5
LittleConstant
Field work1/5
DeskOutdoors

Promotion path

Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.

  1. Senior Administrative Assistant (MES) (joining)

    Pay Level 4

    ₹42,000–₹50,000 in-hand

  2. Office Superintendent

    8–12 years · Level 6 · via dpc

    ₹57,000–₹67,000 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

SSC CGLOnce a year

Staff Selection Commission

  1. 1.Tier-I computer-based test
  2. 2.Tier-II computer-based test (including the data entry speed test)
  3. 3.Document verification

Eligibility: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Age 18–27. SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.

The good

  • Calm office job in well-kept military stations
  • Fixed hours
  • Canteen and station facilities

The hard parts

  • Level 4 pay
  • Transfers to remote cantonments are possible
  • Slow promotion

Postings

MES offices in military stations and cantonments across India, grouped by command. Transfers happen within a command and occasionally beyond, including to remote stations.

Central government job securityNPS with a 14% government contributionLeave Travel Concession (LTC)Medical cover (CGHS in covered cities)Access to defence canteen (CSD) facilitiesDefence-area accommodation where available

Questions people ask

What is the in-hand salary of Senior Administrative Assistant (MES)?+

Senior Administrative Assistant (MES) is a Pay Level 4 post with a starting basic pay of ₹25,500. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹42,000–₹50,000 a month, depending on whether you are posted in a Z, Y or X class city.

What is the qualification and age limit for Senior Administrative Assistant (MES)?+

Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Age: 18–27 years. Relaxation: SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.

Which exam do I need to clear for Senior Administrative Assistant (MES)?+

SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission).

Is this a defence (uniformed) job?+

No. MES staff are defence civilians: central government employees paid from defence estimates, without uniform or military service conditions.

Compare with similar posts

Senior Administrative Assistant vs Senior Secretariat Assistant / Upper Division ClerkSenior Administrative Assistant vs Tax AssistantSenior Administrative Assistant vs Junior Engineer

Senior Secretariat Assistant / Upper Division Clerk

वरिष्ठ सचिवालय सहायक / उच्च श्रेणी लिपिक

Pay Level 4

Pay Level 4 clerical post via SSC CGL in central government offices — file work, noting and record keeping.

₹42,000–₹50,000 in-handSSC CGL

Tax Assistant (CBDT / CBIC)

टैक्स असिस्टेंट

Pay Level 4

Pay Level 4 desk job in the Income Tax or GST/Customs department via SSC CGL — mostly office work, steady hours.

₹42,000–₹50,000 in-handSSC CGL

Junior Engineer (Civil), CPWD

कनिष्ठ अभियंता (सिविल), सीपीडब्ल्यूडी

Pay Level 6

Pay Level 6 engineering post via SSC JE — supervising construction and maintenance of central government buildings.

₹57,000–₹67,000 in-handSSC JE

Books to prepare for SSC CGL

  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations

    R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)

    The standard practice book for arithmetic. Strong on volume of questions; weak on shortcuts, so pair it with solved papers.

    See on Amazon

  • SSC Mathematics Chapterwise Solved Papers

    Kiran Prakashan

    Thousands of actual SSC questions sorted by topic. The quickest way to see what is really asked.

    See on Amazon

  • Objective General English

    S.P. Bakshi (Arihant)

    Grammar rules with exam-style practice sets. Good for error spotting and sentence improvement.

    See on Amazon

All 7 books for SSC CGL, CPO and other graduate-level exams

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and does not affect which books we list.

Sources

This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.