The salary scale in Bangladesh determines the monthly compensation of a government employee based on the 20 well-defined grades. These grades show the role, rank, and responsibility of each employee at each level. The system also includes different allowances and benefits that further enhance the overall compensation of an employee.
The national pay scale in Bangladesh has undergone a total of 8-time revisions from 1973 to 2015. The latest one was officially enacted in 2015. In 2025, new updates on increments have introduced additional grade-based incentives and proposed a dearness allowance to adjust the living costs of employees.
What Is Salary Scale in Bangladesh?
The salary scale is a structured system that shows how much a government employee earns in a month in Bangladesh. The salary scale, also known as the National Pay Scale, is divided into 20 grades. Each of them includes a specific salary range.
Here, the Ministry of Finance recommends and implements structures for government and autonomous bodies. He formulates fiscal policies and manages financial institutions. The government also updates the scale periodically. It is often based on advice from the National Pay and Services Commission on pay structures, allowances, and retirement benefits.
What Is the Latest Pay Scale with Grade in Bangladesh?
The latest pay scale in Bangladesh has a 20-grade structure. It is based on the 8th National Pay Scale. It was last officially enacted in 2015 by the Ministry of Finance and published in the government gazette.
Here, each grade is assigned a specific salary range based on the rank and responsibility of the government employee.
| Grade | Salary Range(BDT) | Common Position |
|---|---|---|
| Grade-01 | 78,000 (Fixed) | Secretary / Chief Secretary |
| Grade-02 | 66,000 - 74,400 | Additional Secretary / equivalent |
| Grade-03 | 56,500 - 77,400 | Joint Secretary / equivalent |
| Grade-04 | 50,000 - 71,200 | Deputy Secretary / equivalent |
| Grade-05 | 43,000 - 69,850 | Senior Assistant Secretary / Deputy Director |
| Grade-06 | 35,500 - 67,010 | Assistant Secretary |
| Grade-07 | 29,000 - 63,410 | Senior Officer |
| Grade-08 | 23,000 - 55,470 | Officer |
| Grade-09 | 22,000 - 53,060 | Junior Officer |
| Grade-10 | 16,000 - 38,640 | Assistant Officer |
| Grade-11 | 12,500 - 30,230 | Entry-Level Officer |
| Grade-12 | 11,300 - 27,300 | Support Staff |
| Grade-13 | 11,000 - 26,590 | Clerical Staff |
| Grade-14 | 10,200 - 24,680 | Technical Staff |
| Grade-15 | 9,700 - 23,490 | Field Staff |
| Grade-16 | 9,300 - 22,490 | Skilled Worker |
| Grade-17 | 9,000 - 21,800 | Semi-Skilled Worker |
| Grade-18 | 8,800 - 21,310 | Unskilled Worker |
| Grade-19 | 8,500 - 20,570 | Entry-Level Worker |
| Grade-20 | 8,250 - 20,010 | Junior Entry-Level Worker |
How Is Salary Calculated Grade-Wise in Bangladesh?
In Bangladesh, the salary is calculated based on the basic pay assigned to a specific grade. The basic salary is combined with the allowances they receive based on their grade level, eligibility, need, area of living, number of children, etc. For example, house rent, medical subsidy, movement cost, and so on.
So, the total salary = basic monthly salary assigned to the specific grade + monthly allowances.
Here is an example of salary calculation. Let’s say someone is working as a Grade 10 government employee.
- Basic Salary = BDT 16,000
- House Rent Allowance = BDT 6,400
- Medical Allowance = BDT 1,500
- Transport Allowance = BDT 2,000
So, Total Gross Salary: 16,000 + 6,400 + 1,500 + 2,000 = BDT 25,900
What Is the Difference Between Basic Pay and Gross Pay?
Basic pay is the fixed salary of a government employee based on grade. On the other hand, gross salary includes all allowances added to the basic pay. So, it forms the total monthly earnings of an employee.
| Traits | Basic Pay | Gross Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Fixed monthly amount based on grade | Basic pay + all allowances |
| Varies By | Grade, education, skill, experience, location | All components of compensation are agreed upon with the government |
| Purpose | Used to calculate increments, pension, or promotions | Shows actual monthly or yearly take-home eligibility |
What Is the Salary Increment Policy by Grade in Bangladesh?
Government employees in Bangladesh generally receive salary increments through annual basic pay increases. Generally, all government employees receive a fixed 5% annual increment based on their basic salary.
The annual increments typically occur on July 1 each year. This increase continues every year until it reaches the maximum limit for that grade. It has been applied since 2015. This was the standard increment rate based on the recommendations of the Farashuddin-led pay commission. However, the new salary increment in Bangladesh and dearness allowance have also been introduced in 2025, varying by grade.
What are the Evolutions of the Salary Scale in Bangladesh?
The national pay scale in Bangladesh has officially changed a total of eight times from 1973 to 2015. The Ministry of Finance announces each revision through a government gazette. So, it serves as the most reliable source for understanding the evaluation of the Bangladesh government’s salary scale.
However, let’s check the evaluations of the salary scale in Bangladesh in the table below data.
| Grade | 1973 | 1977 | 1985 | 1991 | 1997 | 2005 | 2009 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st scale | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th & latest | |
| BDT | BDT | BDT | BDT | BDT | BDT | BDT | BDT | |
| 1 | 2000 | 3000 | 6000 | 10000 | 15000 | 23000 | 40000 | 78000 |
| 2 | 2850 | 5700 | 8600 | 12900 | 19300 | 33500 | 66000 | |
| 3 | 1475 | 2650 | 4750 | 7800 | 11700 | 16800 | 29000 | 56000 |
| 4 | 2100 | 4200 | 7100 | 10700 | 15000 | 25750 | 50000 | |
| 5 | 1150 | 1850 | 3700 | 6300 | 9500 | 13750 | 22250 | 43000 |
| 6 | 1700 | 2800 | 4800 | 7200 | 11000 | 18500 | 35500 | |
| 7 | 800 | 1400 | 2400 | 4100 | 6150 | 9000 | 15000 | 29000 |
| 8 | 1150 | 1850 | 3200 | 4800 | 74700 | 12000 | 23000 | |
| 9 | 475 | 900 | 1650 | 2850 | 4300 | 6800 | 11000 | 22000 |
| 10 | 750 | 1350 | 2300 | 3400 | 5100 | 8000 | 16000 | |
| 11 | 375 | 625 | 1000 | 1725 | 2550 | 4100 | 6400 | 12000 |
| 12 | 470 | 900 | 1550 | 2375 | 3700 | 5900 | 11300 | |
| 13 | 310 | 425 | 850 | 1475 | 2250 | 3500 | 5500 | 11000 |
| 14 | 400 | 800 | 1375 | 2100 | 3300 | 5200 | 10200 | |
| 15 | 220 | 370 | 750 | 1300 | 1975 | 3100 | 4900 | 9700 |
| 16 | 325 | 700 | 1200 | 1875 | 3000 | 4700 | 9300 | |
| 17 | 145 | 300 | 650 | 1125 | 1750 | 2850 | 4500 | 9000 |
| 18 | 275 | 600 | 1050 | 1625 | 2600 | 4400 | 8800 | |
| 19 | 130 | 250 | 550 | 975 | 1560 | 2500 | 4250 | 8500 |
| 20 | 240 | 500 | 900 | 1500 | 2400 | 4100 | 82150 |
In 2025, the government has approved a revised special incentive in the FY 2025–26 national budget. It has been effective since July 2025. It also varies by grade. For instance,
- Grades 10 to 20 will receive a total of 15% of the basic salary, including the existing 5%
- Grades 1 to 9 will now receive a total of 10% of the basic salary, including the existing 5%.
The incentive applies to both active service holders and pensioners.
On top of that, a separate dearness allowance (DA) is under final review. It is the first time the Ministry of Finance has proposed a grade-based dearness allowance.
According to the proposal,
- Employees in grades one to three will receive 10% of their basic salary.
- Employees in grades four to ten will receive 20%.
- Employees in grades eleven to twenty will receive 25% of their basic salary.
What are the Differences Between the Private sector and Public Sector Salary scales?
Where the company fixes the salary in the private sector, the public sector salary is based on a fixed national pay scale.
Private Sector
Actually, there is no fixed salary scale in the private sector. In the private sector, the salary range generally depends on a number of factors. For instance,
- Industry and company size
- Employee experience
- Negotiation
For example, high performers can enjoy faster salary growth. Moreover, private sector employees can enjoy performance bonuses and have long-term job security.
Let’s check out the salary range in different private sectors.
| Private Sectors | Entry Level | Senior Level |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | BDT 20,000 - 30,000 per month | BDT 100,000 + per month |
| Multinational Corporations (MNCs) | BDT 40,000 - 60,000 per month | BDT 200,000 + per month |
| Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) | BDT 25,000 - 40,000 per month | BDT 100,000 + per month |
| IT Companies | BDT 30,000 - 50,000 per month | BDT 150,000 + per month |
| Local Group of Companies | BDT 25,000 - 40,000 per month | BDT 120,000 + per month |
Public sector
Public sector employee also refers to government employees. Here, the salary is fixed and totally based on the national pay scale. Moreover, it is determined by the grade levels. The employees can enjoy regular annual increments, allowances, and pension benefits.
What are the Salary Differences for Different Government Job Roles?
Government job salaries vary greatly depending on the job roles and salary scale grades.
Let’s have a quick overview of the salaries in different government job roles below.
- BCS cadre salary scale ranges from 22,000 BDT at Grade 9 to 78,000 BDT at Grade 1.
- A primary teacher’s salary scale is around 9,700 BDT at Grade 15.
- High school teacher salaries range from 23,000 BDT at Grade 8 to 29,000 BDT at Grade 7.
- The salary of doctors as medical officers ranges from 16,000 BDT at Grade 10 to 23,000 BDT at Grade 8.
- The salary of an engineer ranges from 29,000 BDT at Grade 7 to 35,500 BDT at Grade 6.
- Junior officer salary ranges from 22,000 – 53,060 BDT at grade 9.
- Senior officer salary ranges from 43,000 BDT at Grade 5 to 50,000 BDT at Grade 4.
Allowances and Benefits Government Employees Receive with Basic Salary?
The government employees in Bangladesh receive a number of allowances and benefits with their basic salary, which often makes their total monthly income higher than the average salary in Bangladesh. These add up to the overall job value. The allowances and benefits include:
Allowances
- House rent: Allowances for house rent make 35% to 65% of the basic salary of an employee.
- Medical: Generally, 1,500 BDT is offered to a government employee for medical allowance per month. This allowance is 2,500 BDT for senior citizens who are above 65 years and are government employees.
- Travel: Conveyance allowance makes up 10% of the basic salary.
- Festival bonus: It is the amount an employee gets before any major cultural or religious events. For the occasion of the Bengali New Year (Pohela Boishakh), employees will receive an allowance worth 20% of their salary.
Benefits
- Pension: This is the monthly payment a government employee receives after retirement in Bangladesh. It is paid for life, with possible family pension benefits. The pension is calculated based on a percentage of their last drawn basic salary.
- Gratuity: It is a one-off payment an employee receives after retirement or termination of the job.
- Job security: A government job offers high security and protection from arbitrary dismissal. It makes government jobs the most secure career path in Bangladesh.
Value of total compensation
It means the complete value of all forms of allowances and benefits a government employee receives.
It goes beyond just the base salary. It includes all the components that contribute to the overall earnings of an employee.
Final Words
All in all, it is important to understand the government salary scale in Bangladesh. That is especially true when you want to have a government career or compare it to the private sector. Simply put, a public job offers you a stable career and lifetime secure financial planning. In contrast, private sector roles bring about flexibility. So, ultimately, knowing the government salary scale in Bangladesh offers you the clarity and confidence to make informed decisions.