Last Updated on November 5, 2026 by Abhijit Divekar
Quick answer: The Delhi minimum wage is ₹18,456 a month for unskilled, ₹20,371 for semi-skilled, ₹22,411 for skilled workers and ₹24,356 for graduates and above in clerical and supervisory jobs.
These rates come from the Labour Department order of 15 April 2025, in force from 1 April 2025. As of 4 November 2026, the department has not published a newer order, so these are still the rates to pay. One rate applies across all of Delhi.
Effective: 1 April 2025 · Next change: Awaiting the next DA order · Last verified: 4 November 2026
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Delhi minimum wage rates
Delhi has no zones: an office in Connaught Place and a shop in Narela pay the same rate. The rates include dearness allowance (DA), which the Labour Department normally revises from 1 April and 1 October. The daily rate is the monthly rate divided by 26.
| Category | Per month | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹18,456 | ₹710 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹20,371 | ₹784 |
| Skilled | ₹22,411 | ₹862 |
| Clerical / supervisory: graduates and above | ₹24,356 | ₹937 |
For clerical and supervisory staff, Delhi sets the rate by education: non-matriculates get the semi-skilled rate (₹20,371), matriculates who are not graduates get the skilled rate (₹22,411), and graduates and above get ₹24,356. Delhi has no separate highly skilled grade.
What counts toward the Delhi minimum wage
Compare the minimum with the parts of pay the order fixes: the basic wage and the dearness or special allowance. House rent allowance, conveyance, overtime, incentives and bonus are paid on top and do not help you meet the floor. A pay slip can show a healthy gross and still be below the minimum if the basic is set too low.
Under the Code on Wages, “wages” for PF, gratuity and bonus is also built on basic plus dearness allowance, and if allowances make up more than half of total pay, the excess is added back. Setting the basic correctly therefore fixes several calculations at once.
Delhi rules that catch small employers out
- Clerical pay follows education: a graduate receptionist or accounts assistant must get at least ₹24,356 a month, even if the job looks junior.
- One rate for all of Delhi: there are no zones, so every branch in the National Capital Territory uses the same table. Noida and Gurugram are in other states and follow UP and Haryana rates.
- Use the official source: copies of “new” Delhi wage orders shared on social media are not always genuine. Only rely on orders published on labour.delhi.gov.in.
- Contract staff count too: workers supplied by an agency must get at least the rate for their category, and the principal employer carries the risk if they do not.
- No professional tax: Delhi does not levy professional tax, so a Delhi payslip should not show a PT deduction.
Worked example: a 10-person team in Delhi
Say you run a 10-person shop or office in Delhi (one rate for all of Delhi), with 6 unskilled staff, 3 semi-skilled and 1 skilled, all paid exactly the minimum.
| Grade | Staff | Minimum each | Total a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | 6 | ₹18,456 | ₹1,10,736 |
| Semi-skilled | 3 | ₹20,371 | ₹61,113 |
| Skilled | 1 | ₹22,411 | ₹22,411 |
| Total | 10 | ₹1,94,260 |
For one unskilled employee on ₹18,456, the central contributions work out like this. PF becomes compulsory once you have 20 employees (or if you register voluntarily), and ESIC applies in notified areas once you have 10.
| Item | Employee pays | Employer pays |
|---|---|---|
| PF at 12% (wages below the ₹25,000 PF ceiling) | ₹2,215 | ₹2,215 |
| ESIC at 0.75% and 3.25% (wages up to ₹21,000) | ₹139 | ₹600 |
When Delhi rates change next
Delhi normally revises the DA part of the minimum wage from 1 April and 1 October. The latest order on the Labour Department website is still the one dated 15 April 2025, with effect from 1 April 2025, and no October 2026 order had been published when we checked on 4 November 2026. If a new order is issued, it usually applies from 1 April or 1 October even when it comes out later, so pay any difference as arrears. We recheck the official page regularly and update this page when it changes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Delhi in 2026?
₹18,456 a month for unskilled, ₹20,371 for semi-skilled, ₹22,411 for skilled workers and ₹24,356 for graduates and above in clerical and supervisory jobs, under the order of 15 April 2025.
Has Delhi revised minimum wages in October 2026?
Not yet. As of 4 November 2026, the latest order on labour.delhi.gov.in is dated 15 April 2025. Only rely on orders published on the Labour Department website, not copies shared on social media.
What is the daily minimum wage in Delhi?
₹710 for unskilled, ₹784 for semi-skilled, ₹862 for skilled workers and ₹937 for graduates and above.
What is the minimum wage for a graduate office employee in Delhi?
₹24,356 a month for clerical and supervisory staff who are graduates or above. Matriculates who are not graduates get at least ₹22,411.
Is there professional tax in Delhi?
No. Delhi does not levy professional tax on salaries. PF and ESIC still apply as in every state.
Related Delhi guides
- Delhi labour law compliance: the full guide
- Minimum wages October 2026: all states and the free checker
- PF wage ceiling of ₹25,000: what changes for employers
- ESIC wage ceiling 2026: employer guide
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A guide for employers, not legal advice. Rates checked against the Delhi government notification; last verified 4 November 2026.
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