The Government of Nepal has introduced a new policy that opens doors for IT professionals to earn attractive salaries in the public sector. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology recently issued the “Norms for Cost Estimation of Information Technology System Development and Consultancy Services, 2082,” allowing IT officers to receive monthly salaries of up to NPR 200,000.

For years, government offices struggled to retain skilled IT experts due to low pay and limited facilities. Many professionals either left their jobs or avoided government service altogether. To solve this, the ministry prepared the new norms under Rule 12 of the Public Procurement Regulation, 2064.

Clear Guidelines on Qualifications, Experience, and Pay

The norms set clear standards for educational qualifications, experience, and pay based on the nature of IT projects. This ensures transparency, uniformity, and realistic cost estimation in consultancy and system development.

The highest salary has been allocated for Project Managers or Team Leaders, who must hold a postgraduate degree in IT and have at least five years of experience. They can now earn up to NPR 200,000 per month.

Salary Structure for Skilled IT Professionals

• Security Operation Center (SOC) Analyst (L-3), Digital Forensic Analyst, Risk Intelligence Specialist
  Bachelor’s degree in IT + 5 years of experience
  Up to NPR 172,000/month

• System Architect & Analyst
  Bachelor’s degree in IT + 5 years of experience + certification
  Up to NPR 160,000/month

• Senior Database Designer, Senior Software/Web/Android Developer
  Bachelor’s degree in IT + 5 years of experience + certification
  Up to NPR 140,000/month

• Cloud Expert (5 years) & API Expert (3 years)
  Up to NPR 125,000/month

• Cloud & Infrastructure Expert, API Developer, Risk Assessor, Ethical Hacker, Application Security Engineer, Threat Analyst
  At least 2 years of relevant experience
  Up to NPR 110,000/month

• Information Security Officer, SOC Analyst
  Bachelor’s degree in IT + 3 years of experience + certification
  Up to NPR 105,000/month

Other roles such as Database Administrators, Quality Assurance Analysts, Software Testers, IT Auditors, System/Network Administrators, and Junior Developers are also included with competitive salary packages.

Government’s Vision and Long-Term Goals

The government expects these provisions to:

• Attract and retain skilled IT professionals in public institutions.

• Improve the quality of public digital services.

• Reduce dependency on costly foreign consultants by encouraging local talent.

• Support the goals of the Digital Nepal Framework.

Additionally, the norms state that the annual maintenance cost of software systems should not exceed 20% of their original development cost.

This move marks a milestone in Nepal’s digital transformation journey, motivating IT talent to serve within the country while enjoying competitive salaries.

Published on: 2082-05-11 (Bhadra 11, 2082)