SSC CPO SI Salary and Job Profile 2026
SSC CPO SI 2026 salary: Pay Level 6, basic pay ₹35,400, approximate in-hand ₹55,000 to ₹75,000 a month. See the full pay breakup, job profile, eligibility and exam pattern.
On this page
- What is the SSC CPO SI salary in 2026?
- SSC CPO SI salary breakup 2026
- What allowances and perks does an SSC CPO SI get?
- What is the job profile of an SSC CPO SI?
- SSC CPO SI 2026 eligibility and important dates
- SSC CPO SI 2026 exam pattern
- Is SSC CPO SI a good career choice?
- Related reading
- References and Official Sources
What is the SSC CPO SI salary in 2026?
An SSC CPO Sub-Inspector (SI) is appointed in Pay Level 6 of the 7th Pay Commission matrix, with a starting basic pay of ₹35,400. The pay level runs from ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400, so your basic pay rises steadily with each annual increment. Once you add Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) and force allowances, the approximate in-hand salary ranges from about ₹55,000 to ₹75,000 per month. The take-home figure sits at the higher end in X-category cities like Delhi, where HRA is highest, and a little lower in smaller centres. Treat the in-hand as indicative, since DA is revised periodically and HRA depends on your posting city.
The SI role is offered in Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), so it combines a stable government pay scale with the identity and allowances of a uniformed service.
SSC CPO SI salary breakup 2026
The table below shows an indicative monthly salary structure for a freshly appointed SI. Treat the allowance figures as approximate, since HRA changes with the class of city and DA is revised periodically.
| Component | Approximate Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay Level | Level 6 (7th CPC) |
| Basic Pay (starting) | ₹35,400 |
| Pay Range | ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400 |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | Percentage of basic, revised periodically |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | Varies by class of posting city |
| Force and other allowances | As applicable to the posting |
| Approximate In-hand | ₹55,000 to ₹75,000 |
Because the basic pay climbs within Pay Level 6 with every increment, the take-home keeps growing year on year even before any promotion. Postings in higher-class cities push the in-hand toward the upper end of that range.
What allowances and perks does an SSC CPO SI get?
Beyond the basic pay, an SI receives allowances and benefits typical of a central government uniformed post. These vary with the posting and the force, but commonly include:
- Dearness Allowance (DA): a percentage of basic pay, revised periodically to offset inflation.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA): paid when official accommodation is not provided, highest in X-category cities like Delhi.
- Force and duty allowances: service-specific allowances that apply to Delhi Police and CAPF postings.
- Transport and other allowances as admissible under central government rules.
- Medical benefits, provident fund, pension and the job security of a permanent central government role.
What is the job profile of an SSC CPO SI?
A Sub-Inspector is a supervisory field officer in Delhi Police or a CAPF. The role is disciplined, active and public-facing, and it carries real responsibility from day one. Typical duties include:
- Leading a small team of constables and head constables on the ground.
- Maintaining law and order, patrolling and responding to incidents.
- Registering complaints, investigating cases and preparing reports.
- Assisting in internal security, border and crowd-control duties in CAPFs.
- Coordinating with senior officers and other agencies during operations.
The exact posting depends on whether you are allotted to Delhi Police or a specific CAPF such as BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP or SSB. All of them offer a structured chain of command and clear promotion prospects with experience and departmental exams.
SSC CPO SI 2026 eligibility and important dates
SSC CPO is a graduate-level recruitment conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). The 2026 notification was released on 10 September 2026, and the application window ran from 10 September to 30 September 2026 (last date 30 September, 23:00) and is now closed, with fee payment allowed till 1 October 2026. The correction window, 8 to 10 October 2026, is the only application stage a candidate can still act on. For the full breakdown, see our guide to the SSC CPO 2026 notification, vacancies and dates. Always confirm the notification and cycle dates on the official website. The key eligibility conditions and the current status of the cycle are:
- Education: a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university.
- Age: 20 to 25 years, with category relaxations as per rules.
- Physical standards (male): minimum height 170 cm and chest 80 to 85 cm.
- Physical standards (female): minimum height 157 cm.
- Relaxations: relaxed height and chest standards for candidates from hill and tribal categories.
- Notification: released on 10 September 2026. Application window: 10 September to 30 September 2026, now closed (fee payment was allowed till 1 October 2026). Correction window: 8 to 10 October 2026.
- Paper-1 (CBE): 20 to 28 November 2026 (proposed dates).
- Vacancies: 1,871 for 2026 (the 2025 cycle had 3,073 vacancies).
SSC CPO SI 2026 exam pattern
The selection has multiple stages: Paper-1, then the Physical Standard Test and Physical Endurance Test (PST/PET), then Paper-2, and finally a medical examination. Paper-1 is computer-based with 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour, split into 4 sections of 25 questions each. From 2026 there is a 15-minute sectional timer per section, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 for each wrong answer.
| Paper-1 Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
| General Knowledge & General Awareness | 25 | 25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 25 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Candidates who clear PST/PET then sit Paper-2, restructured by the 2026 notification into a four-section paper of 160 questions for 320 marks in 2 hours with a 0.50 negative marking. Its four parts are General Intelligence & Reasoning (20), General Knowledge & General Awareness (20), Quantitative Aptitude (20) and English Comprehension (100), and with 320 marks Paper-2 is now the merit-decider. A medical examination is the final step before appointment.
Is SSC CPO SI a good career choice?
For a graduate aged 20 to 25 who meets the physical standards, SSC CPO SI is one of the most attractive uniformed jobs in the country. You get a Pay Level 6 salary, a respected supervisory role, force allowances and long-term job security, along with a clear path to higher ranks through service and departmental exams. The trade-off is the physical demand and the disciplined posting life, so it suits candidates who want an active field career rather than a desk role.
To turn this target into a selection, you need a sharp attempt strategy for the new 15-minute sectional timer. Practise with structured SSC CPO mock tests on Quiz4Exam: full, sectional and topic-wise mocks, live mocks with all-India rank, detailed solutions and a trilingual interface in English, Hindi and Marathi, so you can benchmark a safe attempt-and-accuracy level before the real Paper-1 and Paper-2.
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Related reading
- How to prepare for SSC CPO 2026 SI: complete strategy guide
- SSC CPO syllabus 2026: Paper-1 and Paper-2
- SSC CGL salary and job profile 2026
- SSC CHSL salary and job profile 2026
References and Official Sources
Always confirm the latest exam dates, vacancies and pattern on the official website.
What is the in-hand salary of an SSC CPO SI in 2026?
An SSC CPO Sub-Inspector is placed in Pay Level 6 with a basic pay of ₹35,400, in a range of ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400. After DA, HRA and force allowances, the approximate in-hand salary is about ₹55,000 to ₹75,000 per month. The take-home is higher in X-category cities like Delhi.
What is the SSC CPO SI 2026 eligibility?
Candidates need a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university and must be 20 to 25 years old, with category relaxations. Physical standards apply: minimum height 170 cm and chest 80 to 85 cm for male candidates and 157 cm for female candidates. Height and chest standards are relaxed for hill and tribal categories.
What is the status of the SSC CPO 2026 dates?
The SSC CPO 2026 notification was released on 10 September 2026, and the application window ran from 10 September to 30 September 2026 and is now closed, with fee payment allowed till 1 October 2026. The correction window from 8 to 10 October 2026 is still ahead. Per the Commission's Important Notice published on 1 October 2026, Paper-1 (CBE) is scheduled from 20 to 28 November 2026, which SSC lists as proposed dates, and the notification lists 1,871 vacancies (the 2025 cycle had 3,073). The process then moves through PST/PET, Paper-2 and a medical examination.
What is the SSC CPO SI 2026 exam pattern?
Paper-1 is computer-based with 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour, across 4 sections of 25 questions each, and from 2026 it has a 15-minute sectional timer per section with 0.25 negative marking. Paper-2 was restructured by the 2026 notification into a four-section paper of 160 questions for 320 marks in 2 hours with a 0.50 negative marking, made up of General Intelligence & Reasoning (20), General Knowledge & General Awareness (20), Quantitative Aptitude (20) and English Comprehension (100), and with 320 marks it is the merit-decider.
What is the job profile of an SSC CPO Sub-Inspector?
A Sub-Inspector is a supervisory field officer in Delhi Police or a CAPF who leads constables, maintains law and order, investigates cases and handles security duties. The posting depends on allotment to Delhi Police or a force such as BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP or SSB. It offers a structured chain of command and clear promotion prospects.
