Question 1

What does the October 2026 notification actually change?

Accepted Answer

The allowance, not the basic wage. The Commissioner of Labour fixes the cost of living index numbers applicable to employees in scheduled employments as on 1 October 2026, and declares the cost of living allowance payable on them. The basic rates stay as fixed by each employment's own G.O.
The notification is explicit about what is admissible: the allowance is payable for the points over and above the link points, meaning the index as on 1 October 2026 less the link point recorded against that employment.

Question 2

How is the ₹9,171.20 arrived at?

Accepted Answer

From the index. The notification puts the consumer price index for industrial workers at 1,958 points as on 1 October 2026 on the 1982 = 100 series. Where the employment's link point is 525, the admissible points come to 1,433, and at a rate of 6.4 paise a point the monthly allowance works out at exactly ₹9,171.20.
That is worth knowing because it means you can anticipate the next allowance from the index movement alone, and because it explains why the allowance is identical for a manager and a helper. The allowance attaches to the employment, not the designation.

Question 3

Why are there two different index series?

Accepted Answer

Because industrial and agricultural workers are tracked separately. Part I of the schedule covers 65 scheduled employments for industrial workers, linked to the 1982 = 100 series, with the index at 1,958 points as on 1 October 2026.
Part II covers five employments for agricultural workers — betel vines, dairy farming including cattle feeding and conveyance, poultry farming including feeding units and conveyance, horticulture, and agriculture — linked to the 1986 = 100 series, with the index at 1,566 points. Their link points are 589, except agriculture at 619.

Question 4

How long do these rates hold?

Accepted Answer

Until 31 March 2027. The notification states its own window: the cost of living allowance is admissible from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Andhra Pradesh works on a half-yearly cycle with revisions effective 1 April and 1 October, so build the changeover into your payroll calendar rather than waiting for the gazette, which tends to arrive within days of the effective date.

Question 5

Is this under the Minimum Wages Act or the Code on Wages?

Accepted Answer

Under the Code on Wages, 2019. The notification is headed as such, although the underlying employment notifications it refers to were issued under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and are cited by their original G.O. numbers and gazette publication dates, some going back to 2006.
That mix is normal during the transition. The link points and basic rates come from the older notifications; the allowance mechanism now runs under the Code.

Question 6

Why does the same job title appear twice at different rates?

Accepted Answer

Because the schedule is organised by employment, not by designation. A computer operator in one scheduled employment and a computer operator in another are two separate entries, each taking the basic rate fixed for its own employment.
Assistant Security Inspector is the clearest example, appearing at ₹7,000 and at ₹6,500 in Zone I. Classify the establishment first and read the designation within it. Picking the row by job title alone is the most common way to land on the wrong figure.

Question 7

How many scheduled employments are covered?

Accepted Answer

Seventy in total: 65 in Part I and five in Part II. Part I runs widely across manufacturing and services, from oil mills, automobile engineering workshops and any manufacturing process carried out in a factory under Section 2(m) or 85 of the Factories Act, through handloom weaving, baking and biscuit manufactory, brick kilns, cashew processing, cement concrete pipes, chemicals and pharmaceuticals and the cinema industry, to toddy tapping, wood working and woollen carpet making.
Each carries its own link point, which is why the allowance differs between employments even though the index is the same for all of them.

Class of Employment	Zone	Basic / month	VDA / month	★ Total / month
Manager / Sales Manager / Security Officer / Computer Programmer	Zone I	5,557	9,171.20	14,728.20
Manager / Sales Manager / Security Officer / Computer Programmer	Zone II	5,357	9,171.20	14,528.20
Kolagari / Weighman / Milk Vender in Milk Booths	Zone I	3,886	9,171.20	13,057.20
Kolagari / Weighman / Milk Vender in Milk Booths	Zone II	3,757	9,171.20	12,928.20
Computer Operator	Zone I	3,886	9,171.20	13,057.20
Computer Operator	Zone II	3,757	9,171.20	12,928.20
Clerk / Godown Incharge / Accounts Assistant / Typist / Receptionist / Lineman / Stenographer / Clerk-cum-Typist / Xerox Machine Operator / Clerks in STD, ISD, FAX / Asst. Salesman	Zone I	4,102	9,171.20	13,273.20
Clerk / Godown Incharge / Accounts Assistant / Typist / Receptionist / Lineman / Stenographer / Clerk-cum-Typist / Xerox Machine Operator / Clerks in STD, ISD, FAX / Asst. Salesman	Zone II	3,886	9,171.20	13,057.20
Bicycle Fitter / Attender / Peon / Water Boy / Shop Boy / Helper / Messenger / Gas Cylinder Carrier	Zone I	3,700	9,171.20	12,871.20
Bicycle Fitter / Attender / Peon / Water Boy / Shop Boy / Helper / Messenger / Gas Cylinder Carrier	Zone II	3,370	9,171.20	12,541.20
Asst. Manager / Accountant Supervisor / Purchaser	Zone I	4,722	9,171.20	13,893.20
Asst. Manager / Accountant Supervisor / Purchaser	Zone II	4,302	9,171.20	13,473.20
Photo Frame Worker	Zone I	3,757	9,171.20	12,928.20
Photo Frame Worker	Zone II	3,370	9,171.20	12,541.20
Pharmacist / Air Conditioner / Plant Operator	Zone I	4,722	9,171.20	13,893.20
Pharmacist / Air Conditioner / Plant Operator	Zone II	4,520	9,171.20	13,691.20
Goldsmith	Zone I	4,520	9,171.20	13,691.20
Goldsmith	Zone II	4,302	9,171.20	13,473.20
A/c. Plant Operator	Zone I	4,102	9,171.20	13,273.20
A/c. Plant Operator	Zone II	4,062	9,171.20	13,233.20
Washerman (Laundry)	Zone I	4,520	9,171.20	13,691.20
Washerman (Laundry)	Zone II	4,302	9,171.20	13,473.20
Manager / Shop Incharge	Zone I	4,722	9,171.20	13,893.20
Manager / Shop Incharge	Zone II	4,520	9,171.20	13,691.20
Helper / Pressman	Zone I	3,700	9,171.20	12,871.20
Helper / Pressman	Zone II	3,370	9,171.20	12,541.20
Clerk / Bill Writer	Zone I	4,102	9,171.20	13,273.20
Clerk / Bill Writer	Zone II	3,886	9,171.20	13,057.20
Manager / Shop Incharge	Zone I	4,722	9,171.20	13,893.20
Manager / Shop Incharge	Zone II	4,520	9,171.20	13,691.20
Helper	Zone I	3,700	9,171.20	12,871.20
Helper	Zone II	3,370	9,171.20	12,541.20
Hair Dresser / Hair Cutter / Beautician	Zone I	4,520	9,171.20	13,691.20
Hair Dresser / Hair Cutter / Beautician	Zone II	4,302	9,171.20	13,473.20
Weighman / Kolgari	Zone I	3,886	9,171.20	13,057.20
Weighman / Kolgari	Zone II	3,757	9,171.20	12,928.20
Salesman / Stenographer / Receptionist / Auction Bider / Tradesman / Type Writer Instructor	Zone I	4,520	9,171.20	13,691.20
Salesman / Stenographer / Receptionist / Auction Bider / Tradesman / Type Writer Instructor	Zone II	4,302	9,171.20	13,473.20
Peon / Attender / Watchman / Water Boy / Helper / Messenger / Security Guard	Zone I	3,700	9,171.20	12,871.20
Peon / Attender / Watchman / Water Boy / Helper / Messenger / Security Guard	Zone II	3,370	9,171.20	12,541.20
Manager / Field Officer / Development Officer / Security Officer / Office Incharge / Computer Programmer	Zone I	5,557	9,171.20	14,728.20
Manager / Field Officer / Development Officer / Security Officer / Office Incharge / Computer Programmer	Zone II	5,138	9,171.20	14,309.20
Computer Operator	Zone I	3,886	9,171.20	13,057.20
Computer Operator	Zone II	3,757	9,171.20	12,928.20
Clerk / Typist / Clerk-cum-Typist / Godown Incharge / Lineman / Assistant Salesman / Asst. Accountant / Xerox Machine Operator	Zone I	4,102	9,171.20	13,273.20
Clerk / Typist / Clerk-cum-Typist / Godown Incharge / Lineman / Assistant Salesman / Asst. Accountant / Xerox Machine Operator	Zone II	3,886	9,171.20	13,057.20
Accountant / Asst. Manager / Sales Executive / Supervisor / Purchaser / Store Keeper / Agent / Sales Promotion Employees	Zone I	4,722	9,171.20	13,893.20
Accountant / Asst. Manager / Sales Executive / Supervisor / Purchaser / Store Keeper / Agent / Sales Promotion Employees	Zone II	4,520	9,171.20	13,691.20
Helper / Pressman	Zone I	3,757	9,171.20	12,928.20
Helper / Pressman	Zone II	3,370	9,171.20	12,541.20
Cutter Master	Zone I	4,722	9,171.20	13,893.20
Cutter Master	Zone II	4,302	9,171.20	13,473.20
Asst. Cutter / Tailor / Sticher	Zone I	4,520	9,171.20	13,691.20
Asst. Cutter / Tailor / Sticher	Zone II	4,302	9,171.20	13,473.20
Type Writing Instructor	Zone I	4,520	9,171.20	13,691.20
Type Writing Instructor	Zone II	4,302	9,171.20	13,473.20
Security Guard	Zone I	3,700	9,171.20	12,871.20
Security Guard	Zone II	3,370	9,171.20	12,541.20
Salesman / Sales Representative / Bill Writer / Cashier / Tradesman	Zone I	4,520	9,171.20	13,691.20
Salesman / Sales Representative / Bill Writer / Cashier / Tradesman	Zone II	4,302	9,171.20	13,473.20
Security Supervisor — Security Services	Zone I	7,500	9,234	16,734
Security Supervisor — Security Services	Zone II	6,500	9,234	15,734
Security Supervisor — Security Services	Zone III	5,000	9,234	14,234
Security Officer — Security Services	Zone I	7,500	9,234	16,734
Security Officer — Security Services	Zone II	6,500	9,234	15,734
Security Officer — Security Services	Zone III	5,000	9,234	14,234
Field Officer — Security Services	Zone I	7,500	9,234	16,734
Field Officer — Security Services	Zone II	6,500	9,234	15,734
Field Officer — Security Services	Zone III	5,000	9,234	14,234
Security Inspector — Security Services	Zone I	7,000	9,234	16,234
Security Inspector — Security Services	Zone II	6,000	9,234	15,234
Security Inspector — Security Services	Zone III	4,500	9,234	13,734
Assistant Security Inspector — Security Services	Zone I	7,000	9,234	16,234
Assistant Security Inspector — Security Services	Zone II	6,000	9,234	15,234
Assistant Security Inspector — Security Services	Zone III	4,500	9,234	13,734
Intelligence and Fire Fighting Personnel — Security Services	Zone I	7,000	9,234	16,234
Intelligence and Fire Fighting Personnel — Security Services	Zone II	6,000	9,234	15,234
Intelligence and Fire Fighting Personnel — Security Services	Zone III	4,500	9,234	13,734
Head Guard — Security Services	Zone I	7,000	9,234	16,234
Head Guard — Security Services	Zone II	6,000	9,234	15,234
Head Guard — Security Services	Zone III	4,500	9,234	13,734
Assistant Security Inspector — Security Services	Zone I	6,500	9,234	15,734
Assistant Security Inspector — Security Services	Zone II	5,500	9,234	14,734
Assistant Security Inspector — Security Services	Zone III	4,250	9,234	13,484
Security Guards with Arms — Security Services	Zone I	6,500	9,234	15,734
Security Guards with Arms — Security Services	Zone II	5,500	9,234	14,734
Security Guards with Arms — Security Services	Zone III	4,250	9,234	13,484
Security Guards without Arms — Security Services	Zone I	5,000	9,234	14,234
Security Guards without Arms — Security Services	Zone II	4,250	9,234	13,484
Security Guards without Arms — Security Services	Zone III	4,000	9,234	13,234

Minimum Wages in Andhra Pradesh 2026

Two things to check first

Wage Rates by Designation and Zone

Download official notification

Frequently Asked Questions

Every state revises wages on its own calendar. Payroll has to keep up with all of them.