Quick answer: From 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, UP minimum wages for an unskilled worker are ₹13,883.59 a month in Noida and Ghaziabad, ₹13,189.68 in other Nagar Nigam districts and ₹12,530.25 elsewhere, including VDA. Skilled rates go up to ₹17,106.39. The October VDA order came late in the month but applies from 1 October, so October arrears are due.
Minimum wages in Uttar Pradesh changed twice in 2026. After the worker protests in Noida in April, the State replaced its single statewide rate with three categories of districts and raised wages by about 21% in Noida and Ghaziabad, 15% in other Nagar Nigam districts and 9% elsewhere, from 1 April 2026. Then, from 1 October 2026, it revised the variable dearness allowance (VDA) as it does every six months. This guide gives the current rates for every category and skill level, the daily rates, what changed in April and October, how to calculate arrears, and what employers must check. For other States, see our State minimum wages tracker and the minimum wages in India hub.
UP minimum wages from 1 October 2026
| Category and skill | Basic (₹/month) | VDA (₹/month) | Total (₹/month) | Per day (÷26) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category I (Noida, Ghaziabad): Unskilled | 12,885 | 998.59 | 13,883.59 | 533.98 |
| Category I: Semi-skilled | 14,173 | 1,098.41 | 15,271.41 | 587.36 |
| Category I: Skilled | 15,876 | 1,230.39 | 17,106.39 | 657.94 |
| Category II (Nagar Nigam districts): Unskilled | 12,241 | 948.68 | 13,189.68 | 507.30 |
| Category II: Semi-skilled | 13,464 | 1,043.46 | 14,507.46 | 557.98 |
| Category II: Skilled | 15,082 | 1,168.86 | 16,250.86 | 625.03 |
| Category III (other districts): Unskilled | 11,629 | 901.25 | 12,530.25 | 481.93 |
| Category III: Semi-skilled | 12,791 | 991.30 | 13,782.30 | 530.09 |
| Category III: Skilled | 14,328 | 1,110.42 | 15,438.42 | 593.79 |
These rates apply from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 (UP rates compiled from the October 2026 order). The order fixes the daily rate at 1/26 of the monthly rate. Category II covers districts that have a municipal corporation (Nagar Nigam); Category III is everything else. Check the employee's place of work against the district list in the order.
What changed in 2026
April 2026: three categories and an interim rise of up to 21%
An order of 25 March 2026 had kept a single statewide rate (₹11,313.65 a month for unskilled work). After the April protests by workers in Noida, the State issued a revised order on 17 April 2026, backdated to 1 April, that created the three categories and raised wages by 21%, 15% and about 9% for Categories I, II and III (Business Today on the April revision). The April–September 2026 rates were:
| Skill | Category I | Category II | Category III |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹13,690 | ₹13,006 | ₹12,356 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹15,059 | ₹14,306 | ₹13,590 |
| Skilled | ₹16,868 | ₹16,025 | ₹15,224 |
October 2026: VDA revision, issued late
The basic wage stays the same and only the VDA rises from 1 October. The order was issued on 21 October 2026 but applies from 1 October, so payrolls processed before it came out need arrears. The monthly increase over the April rate is:
- Category I: ₹193.59 (unskilled), ₹212.41 (semi-skilled), ₹238.39 (skilled)
- Category II: ₹183.68, ₹201.46, ₹225.86
- Category III: ₹174.25, ₹192.30, ₹214.42
Example: October arrears
A Noida factory paid 40 unskilled workers ₹13,690 for October 2026 before the order was issued. Each is owed ₹13,883.59 − ₹13,690 = ₹193.59, a total of ₹7,743.60 for October; if November was also processed at the old rate, the same again for November. Pay the arrears in the next payroll, and remember that arrears of wages also attract PF and, where applicable, ESI contributions. Use our monthly salary calculator to rebuild the salary at the new rate.
How basic wage and VDA work
Each rate has two parts. The basic rate is fixed when the State revises minimum wages, as it did from 1 April 2026. The variable dearness allowance moves with the consumer price index and is recalculated every six months, from 1 April and 1 October, so that the minimum keeps pace with prices without a full revision. Both parts count towards the minimum, and both count as wages for PF, gratuity, bonus and overtime. When you show the revision on payslips, keeping basic and VDA as separate lines makes it easy to prove compliance in an inspection. Rates in the order are per month; for daily-rated or part-time workers, convert using the daily equivalent and make sure a full month's pay is never below the monthly rate.
What UP employers must check
- Wages, not gross pay: compare the minimum wage with the employee's wages as defined in the Code on Wages (basic pay, dearness allowance including VDA, and retaining allowance, plus any excluded allowances above 50% of total pay), not with gross salary including HRA; see payroll vs salary vs wages.
- Skill category: map each job to unskilled, semi-skilled or skilled as defined in the order.
- District: use the district where the employee works, not where the company is registered.
- Overtime: overtime is paid at twice the ordinary rate of wages, so a higher minimum wage raises overtime too.
- Records: keep the revision in your statutory registers and wage slips.
Paying below the minimum is an offence under the Code on Wages (in force since 21 November 2025), and the employee can claim the shortfall with compensation of up to ten times; see payroll penalties. Uttar Pradesh does not levy professional tax or labour welfare fund, so PF, ESI and TDS are the main statutory deductions alongside minimum wages.
Will UP minimum wages go up again?
Yes, the VDA is revised every six months, so the next change is due from 1 April 2027, based on the consumer price index. Because the April 2026 rates were announced as an interim increase, a fuller revision of the basic rates could also come alongside it. Central-sphere establishments in UP follow the separate central rates instead; see central minimum wages October 2026.
Keep wages compliant every revision. The Practical Payroll Management e-Book explains minimum wages, the Labour Codes wage definition, arrears and statutory deductions with worked examples.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in UP in 2026?
From 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, the monthly minimum wage for an unskilled worker in Uttar Pradesh is 13,883.59 rupees in Noida and Ghaziabad, 13,189.68 rupees in other districts with a municipal corporation, and 12,530.25 rupees in the rest of the State, including variable dearness allowance. Skilled rates go up to 17,106.39 rupees a month in Noida and Ghaziabad.
What is the minimum wage in Noida per day?
From 1 October 2026, the minimum wage in Noida (Gautam Buddh Nagar) works out to about 533.98 rupees a day for unskilled, 587.36 rupees for semi-skilled and 657.94 rupees for skilled workers, taking the monthly rate divided by 26.
How often are UP minimum wages revised?
Uttar Pradesh revises the variable dearness allowance twice a year, from 1 April and 1 October, based on the consumer price index. The basic rates were last reset from 1 April 2026, when the State introduced three categories of districts. The next VDA revision is due from 1 April 2027.
Do employers have to pay arrears for October 2026?
Yes. The October 2026 VDA order applies from 1 October 2026 even though it was issued later in October, so any worker paid the April rate for October must be paid the difference as arrears, for example 193.59 rupees a month for an unskilled worker in Noida or Ghaziabad.
Is minimum wage in UP the same for all districts?
No. Since April 2026 there are three categories: Category I is Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad, Category II is other districts with a municipal corporation (Nagar Nigam), and Category III is all remaining districts. Category I has the highest rates.
Position as of 15 November 2026. Based on Uttar Pradesh minimum wage orders for April and October 2026 as compiled by secondary sources; confirm rates against the Labour Department order for your district and scheduled employment. General information, not legal advice.