This page shows the current applicable minimum wage for workers in the Engineering Industry in Karnataka. It is meant for employers running engineering and fabrication units in Karnataka and for the workers employed in machining, welding, casting, assembly, and repair work.
Minimum wage rates for Engineering Industry in Karnataka
| Category of worker | Zone I | Zone II | Zone III | Zone IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Un-skilled | ₹620.66 | ₹599.43 | ₹579.22 | ₹559.97 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹665.22 | ₹641.88 | ₹619.65 | ₹598.47 |
| Skilled | ₹714.25 | ₹688.57 | ₹664.11 | ₹640.82 |
| Highly-skilled | ₹768.18 | ₹739.93 | ₹713.03 | ₹687.41 |
Rates effective 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
What counts as Engineering Industry
The Engineering Industry scheduled employment covers establishments engaged in the manufacture, fabrication, machining, assembly, and repair of metal goods, machinery, tools, and engineering components. It spans light and heavy engineering units as well as general engineering workshops that cut, weld, cast, shape, or finish metal and allied materials.
- Machine shops and general engineering workshops
- Foundries and metal casting units
- Structural steel and fabrication units
- Automobile and auto-component manufacturing units
- Tool rooms and die-making units
- Machinery and plant repair and maintenance workshops
- Sheet metal, welding, and forging units
Typical roles and skill categories
- Fitter
- Turner or lathe operator
- Welder
- Machinist or CNC operator
- Maintenance electrician
- Moulder or foundry worker
- Sheet metal worker
- Quality inspector
- Helper or material handler
In the Engineering Industry, unskilled roles usually cover helpers, loaders, and material-handling or cleaning staff, while semi-skilled roles include machine operators, fitter and welder assistants, and workers handling routine repetitive tasks. Skilled roles typically map to trained fitters, turners, machinists, and certified welders, and highly-skilled roles cover tool and die makers, CNC programmers, and senior technicians handling precision, testing, or supervisory work.
Who fixes this wage
The Engineering Industry is a notified scheduled employment for which the Karnataka government fixes minimum wages by skill category, and in many notifications separately by geographical zone. Every establishment covered by this notification must pay each worker at least the wage fixed for that worker's skill level in the applicable zone.
How Karnataka sets minimum wages
Karnataka fixes minimum wages under its Shops and Commercial Establishments schedule, dividing the state into four zones numbered I to IV. Rates are set for four categories of worker and are kept current through a variable dearness allowance rather than a fresh base notification each period. The dearness-allowance revision applies from 1 April 2026 and runs through to 31 March 2027.
Common questions
What is the current minimum wage for Engineering Industry in Karnataka?
In Karnataka, the minimum wage for Engineering Industry currently runs from about ₹559.97 to ₹768.18 per day, depending on skill category and zone, effective 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The exact figure by category is in the table below. Confirm the exact rate for your worker's skill category and zone in the table above, and against the latest official notification.
Which workers in an engineering unit are covered by this minimum wage in Karnataka?
All workers engaged in manufacturing, machining, fabrication, welding, casting, assembly, and repair activities in a notified engineering establishment are covered, including helpers, operators, and skilled tradespeople, whether they are permanent, temporary, or hired through a contractor.
How should an employer decide the skill category for a role like a fitter or welder?
Employers classify each worker as unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, or highly-skilled based on the actual nature of the work, the trade training or certification it requires, and the responsibility involved, and then apply the wage fixed for that category in the zone of Karnataka where the unit operates.
Does the minimum wage differ for engineering units in different areas of Karnataka?
In many notifications the Karnataka government fixes different rates by zone, so a workshop in a major industrial area can fall under a different wage zone than a unit in a smaller town, and employers should confirm the zone that applies to their location before setting wages.
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