Salary Calculator — Convert CTC to In-Hand Salary

Enter your CTC and salary structure to instantly calculate your monthly take-home pay with a full breakdown of deductions.

Last updated: March 2026

Total cost to company per year

Typically 40%-50% of CTC

Usually 40%-50% of basic salary

Both employer and employee contribute 12% of basic salary

Varies by state (max ₹2,500/year)

Insurance premiums, loan recovery, etc.

How to Use the CTC to In-Hand Salary Calculator

This free salary calculator helps you convert your annual CTC (Cost to Company) into the actual monthly in-hand salary you receive in your bank account. Understanding the gap between your CTC and take-home pay is essential for financial planning, budgeting and comparing job offers.

  1. Enter your Annual CTC — this is the total package mentioned in your offer letter or appraisal letter. It includes all components such as basic salary, allowances, employer PF, gratuity and insurance.
  2. Set your Basic Salary percentage — most companies keep this between 40% and 50% of CTC. A higher basic means more PF contribution but also higher taxable income. Check your payslip for the exact percentage.
  3. Set HRA percentage — House Rent Allowance is typically 40% to 50% of basic salary. Metro city employees usually receive 50% of basic as HRA.
  4. Toggle PF contribution — if your company contributes to EPF, both employer and employee contribute 12% of basic salary. Employer PF is part of CTC; employee PF is deducted from gross salary.
  5. Enter Professional Tax — this varies by state. Karnataka charges ₹2,400, Maharashtra charges ₹2,500, and some states do not charge it at all.
  6. Add any other deductions — include group insurance, company loan EMIs, or any other recurring deductions your employer makes from your salary.

The calculator instantly computes your monthly and annual take-home salary along with a detailed breakdown of every salary component and deduction.

Understanding Your CTC Breakdown

Your CTC is not the amount you take home. It is the total cost your employer bears to employ you. Here is how a typical CTC is structured:

CTC = Gross Salary + Employer PF + Employer ESI + Gratuity + Insurance + Other Benefits

Gross Salary is the amount before your personal deductions. It includes basic salary, HRA, special allowance, conveyance allowance, medical allowance and any other fixed or variable components. Gross salary equals CTC minus the employer-side contributions like PF, gratuity and group insurance.

Net Salary (In-Hand) is what lands in your bank account each month. It equals gross salary minus employee PF contribution, professional tax, TDS (income tax) and any other deductions.

The difference between CTC and in-hand salary can be anywhere from 20% to 35% depending on your salary structure, tax slab and deduction choices. For a CTC of ₹12 lakh, a typical in-hand salary ranges from ₹72,000 to ₹85,000 per month depending on the PF and tax situation.

How PF (Provident Fund) Is Calculated

The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) is a mandatory retirement savings scheme for organisations with 20 or more employees. Both the employer and the employee contribute 12% of the basic salary each month.

The employer's PF contribution is part of your CTC, so it reduces your gross salary. The employee's PF contribution is deducted from your gross salary, reducing your take-home pay. However, PF earns interest (currently 8.25% per annum) and is a powerful tool for long-term retirement savings with tax benefits under Section 80C.

Professional Tax by State in India

Professional tax is a state-level tax deducted by employers from employees' salaries. Not all states levy professional tax. The Constitution of India (Article 276) caps it at ₹2,500 per year. Here are the rates for major states:

State Annual Amount (₹)
Karnataka2,400
Maharashtra2,500
West Bengal2,500
Andhra Pradesh2,500
Telangana2,500
Tamil Nadu2,500
Gujarat2,500
Madhya Pradesh2,500
Kerala2,500
Assam2,500
Odisha2,500
Bihar2,500
Jharkhand2,500
Meghalaya2,500
DelhiNil
RajasthanNil
HaryanaNil
Uttar PradeshNil
UttarakhandNil

Professional tax paid is deductible from your taxable income under both the old and new income tax regimes. If your state does not levy professional tax, set the value to zero in the calculator above.

Tips to Maximise Your Take-Home Salary

  1. Negotiate salary structure wisely. A lower basic salary means lower PF deduction and lower taxable income, but it also means lower PF savings and lower HRA. Find the right balance based on your financial goals and whether you rent a house.
  2. Choose the right tax regime. Compare old and new tax regimes using our Income Tax Calculator. If your deductions under the old regime (80C, 80D, HRA, home loan) exceed ₹3.75 lakh, the old regime may save you more tax.
  3. Submit investment proofs early. Do not wait until the end of the financial year. Submit proofs of your 80C investments, 80D insurance premiums and rent receipts for HRA to your employer early so they reduce your monthly TDS, giving you more take-home pay throughout the year.
  4. Opt for tax-free components. Ask your employer to include meal coupons (up to ₹50 per meal), leave travel allowance, telephone and internet reimbursement, and fuel allowance in your CTC structure. These are tax-exempt up to specified limits.
  5. Claim HRA exemption if applicable. If you live in rented accommodation and receive HRA, you can claim exemption on the least of: actual HRA received, 50% of basic (40% in non-metro), or rent paid minus 10% of basic. Use our HRA Calculator to check your exemption.
  6. Utilise NPS for additional ₹50,000 deduction. Under Section 80CCD(1B), you can invest up to ₹50,000 in the National Pension System over and above the 80C limit and save additional tax under the old regime.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CTC, gross salary and net salary?

CTC (Cost to Company) is the total annual expenditure your employer incurs on you. It includes your salary, employer PF, gratuity, insurance and all benefits. Gross salary is the amount you earn before personal deductions — it equals CTC minus employer-side costs like PF contribution, gratuity provision and group insurance. Net salary (also called in-hand or take-home salary) is what you actually receive after deducting employee PF, professional tax, income tax (TDS) and any other deductions from gross salary. For example, on a CTC of ₹12 lakh, your gross might be around ₹10.2 lakh and net around ₹8.5–9.5 lakh depending on deductions.

How is PF calculated on salary?

Both employer and employee contribute 12% of the basic salary to the Provident Fund. The employer's share comes from the CTC (so it reduces your gross salary), while the employee's share is deducted from gross salary (reducing your take-home pay). For a basic salary of ₹40,000 per month, PF contribution would be ₹4,800 each from employer and employee, totalling ₹9,600 per month or ₹1,15,200 per year going into your PF account.

What is professional tax and who pays it?

Professional tax is a state-imposed tax on salaried individuals and professionals. Your employer deducts it from your salary and remits it to the state government. The amount ranges from ₹0 to ₹2,500 per year depending on the state. States like Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh do not levy professional tax. Professional tax paid is deductible from your taxable income under both old and new income tax regimes.

What are typical deductions from salary?

The main deductions from a salaried employee's pay are: employee PF contribution (12% of basic salary), professional tax (₹200/month approximately), TDS or income tax deducted based on your tax slab, and optionally ESI (1.75% of gross for salaries below ₹21,000/month). Companies may also deduct group insurance premiums, voluntary PF contributions, or loan repayments. The total of all these deductions determines the gap between your gross salary and take-home pay.

How does TDS work on salary?

TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is your income tax deducted by the employer every month. The employer projects your total annual income, applies the applicable tax slab rates (old or new regime), factors in deductions and exemptions based on proofs submitted, and divides the annual tax by 12 to calculate monthly TDS. You can reduce TDS by submitting investment proofs (80C, 80D, HRA receipts) to your employer. This calculator provides an estimated TDS figure based on the new tax regime slab rates for FY 2025-26.

How can I increase my take-home salary?

To maximise your take-home salary: choose the tax regime (old vs new) that results in lower tax for your income and deduction level; restructure your salary to include tax-efficient components like HRA, meal coupons and reimbursements; submit investment proofs early to reduce monthly TDS; maximise Section 80C (₹1.5 lakh), 80D (health insurance) and 80CCD(1B) (NPS ₹50,000) deductions under the old regime; and claim HRA exemption if you pay rent.

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