Karnataka minimum wage for security and facility staff
Karnataka's notified minimum wage effective 1 April 2026 — zone-wise unskilled rates, the notification and official source, and how guards are classified.
Minimum wage for Shops and commercial establishments in Karnataka
The figure below applies from 1 April 2026. It is the floor for the employment shown — an employer pays at least this, plus the statutory load in the next section.
| Skill level | Zone | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | Zone I | ₹23,376 |
| Unskilled | Zone II | ₹21,251 |
| Unskilled | Zone III | ₹19,319 |
1 April 2026
Government of Karnataka, Department of Labour
Minimum-wage revision effective 1 April 2026, with a consolidated notification dated 22 May 2026
https://karmikaspandana.karnataka.gov.in/64/minimum-wages-rates-for-the-year-2026-27/en
Reported figure — confirm against the state notification
16 October 2026
The all-in cost of a ₹23,376 monthly wage
The notified wage is the floor, not the cost. The statutory contributions an employer pays on top, using the calculator's dated national defaults:
| Component | Basis | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Basic wage | Notified rate | ₹23,376 |
| Statutory bonus accrual | On ₹23,376 × 8.33% | ₹583 |
| Employer PF (EPF) | On ₹23,376 × 12% | ₹2,805 |
| Employer ESI | On ₹23,376 × 3.25% | ₹0 |
| Gratuity accrual | On ₹23,376 × 4.81% | ₹1,124 |
| Labour Welfare Fund | Fixed | ₹20 |
| Professional Tax | Fixed | ₹200 |
| Labour cost | Wage + statutory | ₹28,109 |
Where a security guard sits in this state
A separate security-agency schedule classified guards-without-arms as semi-skilled. The 2026 consolidated notification may supersede that schedule — confirm which table applies to a security deployment before pricing it.
Wage zones / categories
- Zone I — Bengaluru and other municipal corporation areas.
- Zone II — other municipal and larger town areas.
- Zone III — the rest of the state.
What to watch with this state's rate
- Karnataka's 2026 revision was a large increase after nine years without a change, and a legal challenge to it was reported as pending.
- Because a dedicated security schedule and the revised general table can both be cited, confirm the current position with the department for a guard role.
Karnataka minimum wage — common questions
Why is Karnataka's minimum wage higher than most states?
The 2026 revision followed nine years without an increase, so it consolidated several years of movement into one step. The Zone I unskilled floor is among the highest notified rates in the country.
Are Karnataka's 2026 rates final?
A legal challenge to the 2026 revision was reported as pending. Until it is settled, treat the rates as the notified figures and confirm the current position with the department before relying on them in a long contract.
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