Minimum wages in Uttar Pradesh, 2026.
From 1 April 2026, unskilled work in Uttar Pradesh pays at least ₹13,690 a month in Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) and Ghaziabad, ₹13,006 in other Nagar Nigam districts and ₹12,356 everywhere else.
Updated 16 October 2026. Revision due 1 October 2026 not yet notified. How we check
Pay rates in Uttar Pradesh
Scheduled employments
| Skill | Per month | Per day (÷ 26) |
|---|---|---|
| Category IGautam Buddha Nagar (Noida, Greater Noida) and Ghaziabad districts. | ||
| Unskilled | ₹13,690 | ₹526.54 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹15,059 | ₹579.20 |
| Skilled | ₹16,868 | ₹648.77 |
| Category IIDistricts with a Nagar Nigam (municipal corporation): Agra, Aligarh, Ayodhya, Bareilly, Firozabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur Nagar, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Saharanpur, Shahjahanpur and Varanasi. | ||
| Unskilled | ₹13,006 | ₹500.24 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹14,306 | ₹550.24 |
| Skilled | ₹16,025 | ₹616.35 |
| Category IIIAll remaining districts. | ||
| Unskilled | ₹12,356 | ₹475.24 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹13,590 | ₹522.70 |
| Skilled | ₹15,224 | ₹585.54 |
Show breakdown
| Skill | Basic | VDA |
|---|---|---|
| Category I | ||
| Unskilled | ₹12,885 | ₹805 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹14,173 | ₹886 |
| Skilled | ₹15,876 | ₹992 |
| Category II | ||
| Unskilled | ₹12,241 | ₹765 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹13,464 | ₹842 |
| Skilled | ₹15,082 | ₹943 |
| Category III | ||
| Unskilled | ₹11,629 | ₹727 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹12,791 | ₹799 |
| Skilled | ₹14,328 | ₹896 |
In force from 1 April 2026. Order No. 374/36-2-2026-2041256.
What employers owe in Uttar Pradesh
- 7thof the next monthWages, in full
- 15thof the next monthEPF (with the ECR) and ESIC
- Quarterlyby 15 Jan, Apr, Jul, OctLabour Welfare Fund, for units with 50+ persons
- Upfrontbefore work startsContract labour licence, for contractors with 50+ workers. Apply on the UP Labour Department portal.
| Who pays what | Worker | Employer |
|---|---|---|
| EPF20+ employees; wages up to ₹25,000 a month | 12% | 12% + 0.5% EDLI + 0.5% admin |
| ESIC10+ employees; wages up to ₹21,000 a month | 0.75% | 3.25% |
| Labour Welfare Fund50+ persons | Nil | Fines and unpaid wages |
Professional Tax is not levied in Uttar Pradesh. Late EPF and ESIC carry 12% a year interest and damages. If your contractor does not pay them, you must, and recover it from them.
Behind on any of this? The Vayasya Network of CAs, labour lawyers and compliance consultants can help. Get compliance help
Questions
Why is the rate higher in Noida?
The April 2026 order put Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad in Category I, the highest. Its preamble says the state weighed industry, city infrastructure and the cost of living, and that employers and workers agreed to the three categories.
Which rate applies in Lucknow, Kanpur or Saharanpur?
Category II, ₹13,006 a month for unskilled work. Each of these districts has a Nagar Nigam.
Sources (12)
Wage rates
- Interim minimum wages in three categories of districts, with effect from 1 April 2026 (English translation)374/
36-2-2026-2041256, 17 April 2026. - अंतरिम न्यूनतम मजदूरी, दिनांक 01-04-2026 से प्रभावी (हिंदी मूल)374/
36-2-2026-2041256, 17 April 2026. In Hindi. - Variable dearness allowance in 74 scheduled employments, 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025801-07 Pravartan-(M.W.)/
15, 1 October 2024. In Hindi.
EPF, ESIC, welfare fund and licence
- The Code on Wages, 2019 (section 17: time limit for payment of wages)Act No. 29 of 2019, 8 August 2019.
- The Code on Social Security, 2020 (First Schedule: EPF and ESIC coverage)Act No. 36 of 2020, 29 September 2020.
- EPF wage ceiling of ₹25,000 a month from 17 September 2026S.O. 5109(E), 17 September 2026.
- EPFO: frequently asked questions on the wage ceiling (contribution rates, EDLI and admin charges)EPFO FAQs, 28 September 2026.
- Code on Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026 (rule 19: ESIC contribution rates)G.S.R. 344(E), 8 May 2026.
- ESIC: rates of contribution and due dateesic.gov.in, 16 October 2026.
- Interest at 12% a year on amounts due under the Code on Social SecurityS.O. 2698(E), 29 May 2026.
- U.P. Labour Welfare Fund Rules, 1972 (also listed by Uttarakhand's Labour Department)153(V)/
XXXV-15-529(V)-71, 12 January 1972. - Labour codes compliance handbook (OSH Code, sections 45 to 48: contract labour licence)Ministry of Labour handbook, 1 February 2026.
PAID LESS THAN THIS?
Complain to the Uttar Pradesh Labour Department.
Keep your wage slips and attendance record. They show what you were paid.
Labour Department, Uttar Pradesh