CA Articleship Salary (2026): How Much Do Articles Actually Earn?
“CA articleship salary” is a slightly misleading phrase — during articleship you earn a monthly stipend, not a full salary. Articleship is the mandatory multi-year practical training you do under a practising Chartered Accountant after clearing CA Intermediate (at least one group), and ICAI sets a minimum monthly stipend for it.
Here's what CA articles actually earn in 2026: the official ICAI minimum, the proposed 2026 hike, what firms really pay across the Big 4, mid-size and small firms, and how that compares to the salary you earn once you qualify.
ICAI minimum stipend (current)
ICAI's minimum monthly stipend depends on the population of the city where you train and your year of training. As per Regulation 48, the current minimums are:
| City population | Year 1 | Year 2 | Remaining period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 lakh and above | ₹2,000 | ₹2,500 | ₹3,000 |
| 4–20 lakh | ₹1,500 | ₹2,000 | ₹2,500 |
| Below 4 lakh | ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 | ₹2,000 |
Current ICAI minimum monthly stipend (Regulation 48). See our CA articleship stipend guide for the full breakdown.
The proposed 2026 stipend hike
ICAI has issued draft Chartered Accountants (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (published in the Gazette in mid-2026) proposing a significant increase to these minimums. Under the draft, first-year minimums are proposed at ₹5,000 / ₹4,000 / ₹3,000 by population category, rising to ₹6,000 / ₹5,000 / ₹4,000 in the second year. The proposal is in public consultation and not yet final; students already registered are expected to retain their existing rates. Confirm the notified figures on icai.org before relying on them.
What firms actually pay
The figures above are the legal floor — most firms pay above them. As a rough picture: small and local firms often pay close to the minimum but give wide exposure; mid-size firms pay noticeably more; and the largest firms, including the Big 4, typically pay the most, sometimes several times the minimum, especially in metros and for industrial training. Stipend also tends to rise as you clear groups and take on more responsibility.
Remember that the number isn't the whole story — the quality of exposure (audit, tax, the size of clients you handle) shapes your career far more than a few thousand rupees of stipend.
Articleship stipend vs post-qualification salary
A stipend is training pay; a salary comes after you qualify as a CA — and the jump is large. Post-qualification CA packages are many times any articleship stipend, so treat articleship as an investment in learning rather than earning. For where those careers and packages lead, see our CA job opportunities guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the salary during CA articleship?
During articleship you earn a monthly stipend, not a salary. ICAI's current minimum ranges from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 depending on city and year, and most firms pay above that. A 2026 revision proposing higher minimums is under consultation.
Do Big 4 firms pay more during articleship?
Yes. The Big 4 and large firms typically pay well above ICAI's minimum, particularly in metros, though the brand and exposure are a big part of the value.
Is articleship stipend the same as a CA's salary?
No. Stipend is training pay during articleship; a full salary comes after you qualify as a CA and is many times higher.
When does articleship start?
Articleship begins after you clear at least one group of CA Intermediate and complete the required training, so clearing Inter quickly gets you there sooner.