Quick Answer
Salary Grade 3 (SG 3) pays ₱17,120 a month at Step 1 and ₱17,994 at Step 8 starting January 1, 2027, the fourth and last tranche under Executive Order No. 64, s. 2024. That is ₱634 more than the 2026 rate at every step. In the CSC’s classification, SG 3 is Administrative Aide III, and job ads usually show a functional title in brackets, most often Driver I or Clerk I.
A job ad says “Driver I.” The appointment paper says “Administrative Aide III.” Both describe the same Salary Grade 3 position. Titles are the first thing that trips up SG 3 applicants, because this is the grade where the functional title starts to decide what you need to qualify, from a professional driver’s license to clerical skills and civil service eligibility.
This guide gives you the 2027 SG 3 pay table, the raise from 2026, and how the CSC’s title system fits together. It also shows what two real SG 3 vacancy postings asked for, compares SG 3 with SG 4 and SG 5 step by step, maps the promotion paths for drivers and clerks, and ends with an application checklist. For the full schedule of grades 1 to 33, see the Salary Grade 2027 Philippines guide.
Key Takeaways
- Salary Grade 3 starts at ₱17,120 monthly in 2027 and reaches ₱17,994 at Step 8.
- The fourth tranche adds ₱634 per month at every step (3.85% at Step 1).
- The formal class title is Administrative Aide III; Driver I and Clerk I are functional (parenthetical) titles.
- Qualification standards follow the functional title, so two SG 3 jobs can ask for different things.
- A promotion to SG 4 adds ₱1,060 a month, more than the ₱874 gained by climbing all seven SG 3 steps.
What is Salary Grade 3?
Salary Grade 3 is the third rung of the 33-grade pay scale for civilian government positions. In pay terms it sits in the entry-level band, just above the utility and messenger work of SG 1 and SG 2. In classification terms, it is where the government’s general-support jobs begin to split by function: one group drives and maintains vehicles, another handles records and paperwork.
The 2027 rates come from Executive Order No. 64, s. 2024, commonly called Salary Standardization Law VI (SSL VI), which delivers a single salary increase in four yearly tranches from 2024 to 2027. This guide covers the fourth. The peso value of the grade comes from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), while the Civil Service Commission (CSC) writes the qualification standards that decide who may hold each position.
Salary Grade 3 Salary Table 2027
Monthly basic salary for SG 3, effective January 1, 2027, in Philippine pesos. The figures exclude bonuses, allowances, and deductions.
| Step | Monthly Salary (2027) |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | ₱17,120 |
| Step 2 | ₱17,244 |
| Step 3 | ₱17,366 |
| Step 4 | ₱17,490 |
| Step 5 | ₱17,616 |
| Step 6 | ₱17,740 |
| Step 7 | ₱17,868 |
| Step 8 | ₱17,994 |
The full spread from Step 1 to Step 8 is ₱874, about 5.1%, slightly wider than at SG 1 (₱822) or SG 2 (₱821). Individual step moves are small and uneven, ranging from ₱122 (Step 2 to Step 3) to ₱128 (Step 6 to Step 7).
Source: DBM fourth tranche schedule under EO 64, s. 2024, in force from January 1, 2027. Check the implementing circular for any refinements before relying on a figure for payroll.
How Much is the Salary Grade 3 Increase in 2027?
At Step 1, SG 3 rises from ₱16,486 in 2026 to ₱17,120 in 2027, an increase of ₱634 a month (3.85%). Across a year, that is ₱7,608 more in basic salary. Because the mid-year and year-end bonuses each equal one month of basic salary, each grows by ₱634 as well, so the total yearly gain at Step 1 is about ₱8,876 if the current bonus rules continue in 2027.
| Step | 2026 | 2027 | Monthly Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | ₱16,486 | ₱17,120 | ₱634 | 3.85% |
| Step 2 | ₱16,610 | ₱17,244 | ₱634 | 3.82% |
| Step 3 | ₱16,732 | ₱17,366 | ₱634 | 3.79% |
| Step 4 | ₱16,856 | ₱17,490 | ₱634 | 3.76% |
| Step 5 | ₱16,982 | ₱17,616 | ₱634 | 3.73% |
| Step 6 | ₱17,106 | ₱17,740 | ₱634 | 3.71% |
| Step 7 | ₱17,234 | ₱17,868 | ₱634 | 3.68% |
| Step 8 | ₱17,360 | ₱17,994 | ₱634 | 3.65% |
The raise is exactly ₱634 at all eight steps, which is unusually clean. A new hire and a 21-year veteran get the same peso amount, and the percentage slides from 3.85% to 3.65% only because the base grows. The 2026 rates come from the third-tranche schedule under National Budget Circular No. 601; check them against the official DBM tables for payroll purposes.
The DBM issues a circular for each tranche, and the 2027 circular is expected around the start of the year. If an agency cannot process the new rates on time, the unpaid portion is typically released later as a salary differential.
Administrative Aide III, Driver I, and Clerk I
The CSC classifies many general-support positions under a generic Administrative Aide series numbered with Roman numerals, then attaches a functional title in parentheses. The CSC’s list of generic and parenthetical titles for local government units shows the pattern for the lowest grades:
| Generic Title | Salary Grade | Parenthetical Title |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Aide II | SG 2 | Messenger |
| Administrative Aide III | SG 3 | Clerk I |
| Administrative Aide IV | SG 4 | Clerk II |
| Administrative Aide VI | SG 6 | Clerk III |
Driver I follows the same convention. Vacancy postings list it as Administrative Aide III (Driver I), at Salary Grade 3. So SG 3 carries at least two common functional titles under the same generic class, one clerical (Clerk I) and one driving (Driver I).
This matters because qualification standards attach to the functional title, not to the generic one. A Driver I item and a Clerk I item sit at the same grade and pay the same, but they can ask for different education, different skills, and different credentials. The Administrative Aide III guide covers the position in more detail.
What Real SG 3 Vacancies Ask For
Salary tables tell you what a grade pays. Vacancy announcements tell you what a hiring office actually wants. The postings below are dated snapshots of published Administrative Aide III (Driver I) announcements. They are examples of how offices word the requirements, not open positions, because government postings close within a few weeks.
| Posted | Agency | Salary Listed | Credential Listed | Education | Training and Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 2023 | Food and Drug Administration (NCR) | ₱14,125 | Professional driver’s license (MC 11, s. 1996, Category II) | Elementary school graduate | None required |
| January 2026 | Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, Region IV (contractual) | ₱15,852 | Professional driver’s license | Elementary school graduate | None required |
| 2021 | A state university (UPV) | Not shown | Valid professional driver’s license authenticated by the LTO | Proof of highest educational attainment required | Certificate of relevant employment, if any |
The university posting also asked for a Personal Data Sheet, certificates of performance ratings for the last two rating periods, training certificates from the last five years, and a certificate of employment for relevant experience.
Four lessons come out of the snapshots:
- For Driver I, the license is the eligibility. Where most items list a civil service eligibility, the Driver I postings list a professional driver’s license, and one asked for LTO authentication.
- The entry bar has been stable. The two postings that state education both asked for an elementary school graduate with no training or experience, three years apart.
- The listed salary depends on the schedule in force at the time. The three-year gap between ₱14,125 and ₱15,852 is part of the reason ads should never be used as a pay reference. The January 2026 figure is also ₱634 below the 2026 SG 3 Step 1 rate, which suggests it used the earlier schedule.
- Clerk I asks for different things. Clerk I items commonly ask for a high school diploma and civil service Sub-Professional (First Level) eligibility for a permanent appointment, since the qualification standards follow the functional title.
To find postings that are open right now, check the CSC job portal and the HR pages of the agency you want to join.
Driver I or Clerk I? Comparing the Two Common SG 3 Tracks
| Driver I (Administrative Aide III) | Clerk I (Administrative Aide III) | |
|---|---|---|
| Core work | Operates an assigned government vehicle | Basic filing, records, and correspondence support |
| Credential that gates entry | Valid professional driver’s license (seen in postings), sometimes LTO-authenticated | Civil service Sub-Professional (First Level) eligibility for permanent appointment |
| Education seen in postings | Elementary graduate in the 2026 example | Commonly high school graduate |
| Work environment | On the road and around vehicles | Desk-based |
| Next step up | Driver II, commonly Administrative Aide IV at SG 4 | Clerk II, Administrative Aide IV at SG 4 |
Since both tracks pay the same, the choice comes down to which credentials you already hold or can realistically get. A driver’s license cannot be substituted for clerical eligibility, and clerical eligibility cannot substitute for a license, so decide early.
SG 3 vs SG 4 vs SG 5: A Three-Grade Comparison
Comparing SG 3 with the two grades above it shows what a promotion is worth at each step. All figures are 2027 monthly basic salary.
| Step | SG 3 | SG 4 | SG 5 | SG 4 minus SG 3 | SG 5 minus SG 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | ₱17,120 | ₱18,180 | ₱19,296 | ₱1,060 | ₱1,116 |
| Step 2 | ₱17,244 | ₱18,309 | ₱19,434 | ₱1,065 | ₱1,125 |
| Step 3 | ₱17,366 | ₱18,440 | ₱19,573 | ₱1,074 | ₱1,133 |
| Step 4 | ₱17,490 | ₱18,571 | ₱19,712 | ₱1,081 | ₱1,141 |
| Step 5 | ₱17,616 | ₱18,704 | ₱19,852 | ₱1,088 | ₱1,148 |
| Step 6 | ₱17,740 | ₱18,836 | ₱19,994 | ₱1,096 | ₱1,158 |
| Step 7 | ₱17,868 | ₱18,971 | ₱20,137 | ₱1,103 | ₱1,166 |
| Step 8 | ₱17,994 | ₱19,106 | ₱20,280 | ₱1,112 | ₱1,174 |
Two patterns stand out. The pay ranges are stacked, not overlapping: the top of SG 3 (₱17,994) is ₱186 below the start of SG 4 (₱18,180), and the top of SG 4 (₱19,106) is ₱190 below the start of SG 5 (₱19,296). And the value of a grade jump grows with each step, from ₱1,060 at Step 1 to ₱1,112 at Step 8 for SG 3 to SG 4, and from ₱1,116 to ₱1,174 for SG 4 to SG 5.
Career Paths From SG 3
Salary grade belongs to the position, not the employee. To earn more, you need appointment to a higher-graded item, through promotion, lateral transfer, or reclassification of your position, and you have to meet that item’s qualification standards. The two common SG 3 tracks lead to these positions:
| Track | Position | Grade | Step 1 (2027) | Gain Over SG 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Driver I (Administrative Aide III) | SG 3 | ₱17,120 | — |
| Driver | Driver II (Administrative Aide IV) | SG 4 | ₱18,180 | ₱1,060 (6.2%) |
| Clerical | Clerk I (Administrative Aide III) | SG 3 | ₱17,120 | — |
| Clerical | Clerk II (Administrative Aide IV) | SG 4 | ₱18,180 | ₱1,060 (6.2%) |
| Clerical | Clerk III (Administrative Aide VI) | SG 6 | ₱20,474 | ₱3,354 (19.6%) |
| Clerical | Administrative Assistant I | SG 7 | ₱21,872 | ₱4,752 (27.8%) |
The clerical track has more rungs within reach. Moving into the Administrative Assistant levels usually raises the education requirement, so employees who plan to go that far often finish a degree or take additional coursework along the way.
How Step Increments Work at SG 3
You start at the step in your appointment paper, usually Step 1. Under the standard rule, you advance one step after every three years of continuous satisfactory service, which is not a yearly raise but an increment that depends on your service record and performance rating and is processed by your agency’s HR office.
At SG 3, Step 4 (₱17,490) is reached after about nine years and sits ₱370 above Step 1. Step 8 (₱17,994) takes about 21 years and sits ₱874 above Step 1. The comparison that matters is with a promotion: one grade up, to SG 4 at Step 1, adds ₱1,060, more than the whole SG 3 step ladder combined.
What SG 3 Employees Earn in a Year
Monthly pay understates the annual picture. A regular plantilla employee also collects a mid-year bonus worth one month of basic salary (based on the May 15 rate), a year-end bonus worth one month (based on the October 31 rate), and a ₱5,000 cash gift released with the year-end payroll. Each bonus requires at least four months of satisfactory service. The table assumes current rules continue in 2027 and that you stay at one step all year:
| Step | Basic Salary (12 months) | Bonuses and Cash Gift | Yearly Total Before Deductions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | ₱205,440 | ₱39,240 | ₱244,680 |
| Step 4 | ₱209,880 | ₱39,980 | ₱249,860 |
| Step 8 | ₱215,928 | ₱40,988 | ₱256,916 |
Bonus totals of about ₱39,000 to ₱41,000 fall under the ₱90,000 combined exemption for bonuses and similar benefits, so they are generally not taxed. Contributions to GSIS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG come out of the totals above, and contractual or casual appointments may not receive every item. Our guides on government employee benefits and the mid-year bonus explain the rules in full.
Checklist: Before You Apply for an SG 3 Item
- Read the functional title and plantilla item. “Administrative Aide III” alone does not tell you what the job needs. Look for the parenthetical title.
- Check the credential the ad asks for. For Driver I, that is usually a professional driver’s license; for Clerk I, civil service Sub-Professional (First Level) eligibility for a permanent appointment.
- Confirm your license is valid before you submit. If the ad asks for LTO authentication, arrange it early.
- Gather the documents. Expect a Personal Data Sheet (CS Form No. 212), performance ratings if you are already in government, proof of education, training certificates, and proof of relevant work experience. Recent CSC regional office postings asked for CS Form No. 212 (Revised 2025) together with the Work Experience Sheet, so use the current revision.
- Compare the listed salary with the current schedule. Some ads carry an older rate.
- Ask about the appointment status. Permanent, casual, and contractual appointments come with different benefit coverage.
- Ask how promotion works in the office. Find out how often SG 4 and higher aide or clerk items open.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Salary Grade 3 in 2027?
Salary Grade 3 pays ₱17,120 at Step 1 and ₱17,994 at Step 8 per month, effective January 1, 2027, under the fourth tranche of Executive Order No. 64.
Is Driver I an SG 3 position?
Yes. Published vacancy postings list it as Administrative Aide III (Driver I) at Salary Grade 3.
Is Clerk I SG 3 or SG 4?
The CSC’s list of generic and parenthetical titles places Clerk I under Administrative Aide III at SG 3, and Clerk II under Administrative Aide IV at SG 4.
Is Driver I part of the Administrative Aide series?
In the postings reviewed, yes. The generic title is Administrative Aide III and Driver I is the functional title in parentheses.
What license does a Driver I position require?
The postings reviewed asked for a professional driver’s license, and one asked that it be authenticated by the LTO. Requirements can vary by agency and vehicle, so read each announcement.
What education does a Driver I position require?
One 2026 posting asked for an elementary school graduate, with no training or experience. Standards differ by agency and plantilla item, so confirm them in the actual vacancy notice.
How much more does SG 3 pay than SG 2?
At Step 1 in 2027, SG 3 pays ₱1,002 more than SG 2 (₱17,120 versus ₱16,118).
What is the next grade after SG 3?
SG 4, where Step 1 is ₱18,180 in 2027, ₱1,060 above SG 3. Driver II and Clerk II are commonly classified there as Administrative Aide IV.
Why do some job ads show a lower SG 3 salary?
Some postings carry an older rate. A January 2026 posting listed ₱15,852, which is below the 2026 SG 3 Step 1 rate of ₱16,486. Compare any listed salary with the current schedule.
Will SG 3 pay rise again after 2027?
No tranche is scheduled after 2027 under Executive Order No. 64. A later raise would take a new law or executive issuance, and none had been announced when this guide was updated.
Final Thoughts
Salary Grade 3 pays ₱17,120 to ₱17,994 a month in 2027, and the pay is the easy part. The harder part is reading the title correctly: the generic class is Administrative Aide III, the functional title decides the qualifications, and the credential that matters, whether a professional driver’s license or civil service eligibility, depends on which track you choose. Pick the track that matches what you already have, and plan your move to SG 4 early.
Related Guides
- Salary Grade 2027 Philippines: Complete Fourth Tranche Salary Schedule (SG 1–33)
- Salary Grade 2 Philippines 2027: Salary, Steps, and Position Guide
- Salary Grade 1 Philippines 2027: Salary, Steps, and Position Guide
- Government Employee Benefits in the Philippines
- How to Apply for Government Jobs in the Philippines
References
- Executive Order No. 64, s. 2024 (Official Gazette).
- Civil Service Commission: Annex B-1, Generic and Parenthetical Titles of Positions in LGUs (CSC Memorandum Circular No. 12, s. 2022), and CSC job portal vacancy postings.
For information only. Rules, schedules, and qualification standards can change, so confirm details with the DBM, the CSC, and the hiring agency. Last updated: September 24, 2026.