Gross salary, and how it differs from CTC
Total earnings before deduction — a different number from cost to company, and quoting the wrong one is what causes the argument later.
What it is
All earnings before deduction: basic, HRA, allowances, overtime and incentives.
What sits outside it
Employer contributions. They belong to CTC, not to gross.
The trap
Using "gross" and "CTC" interchangeably in an offer conversation. They differ by the whole employer share.
Gross salary is the total of all earnings before any deduction: basic, HRA, allowances, overtime and incentives. Statutory deductions and tax come out of gross to give net pay. Employer contributions sit outside gross, inside CTC.
How it works in practice
For a worker on ₹22,000 gross, PF is computed on the eligible wage, ESI on gross where applicable, and professional tax as a state slab — leaving net pay in hand.
What to watch for
People use “gross” and “CTC” interchangeably. They are different numbers, and quoting the wrong one in an offer causes the argument later.
How Klok handles it
Klok shows gross, deductions and net on every payslip, computed from the run rather than typed into a template.
Gross salary FAQs
Is ESI computed on gross?
Broadly yes, on gross wages excluding specified items — which is why the ESI base is usually higher than the PF base on the same payslip.
Does gross include overtime?
Yes, as earnings for the month. That makes gross vary month to month for workers on overtime, which is expected — but it also means anything computed as a percentage of gross varies with it.
Which figure should an offer letter state?
State both, clearly labelled, along with an estimated take-home. A letter quoting only CTC is technically complete and practically misleading.
Is gross the same as CTC?
No. Gross is what is paid to the employee before deductions; CTC adds employer-side costs the employee never receives. Presenting CTC as though it were gross is the root of most offer-stage disappointment.
Which figure do statutory calculations use?
Rarely gross. PF uses a defined wage base, ESI a wider one, bonus another. Using gross for all three is quick and wrong in three different directions.
Does gross include variable pay?
Only what was actually paid in the period. Including a target bonus that has not been earned makes the payslip a projection rather than a record.
Stop calculating this by hand
Klok computes it from your own attendance and salary data, every month, with the working shown.