Looking for the CBN vs FIRS salary per month in Nigeria for 2025? You’re not alone. Many graduates, accountants, economists, and civil service aspirants are curious: Which agency —Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) offers better pay? This article offers a detailed comparison of CBN salary per month, FIRS salary structure, freshers’ earnings, allowances, career paths, and benefits. 

1. What Are CBN and FIRS?

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Nigeria's apex monetary authority. CBN regulates financial institutions, issues currency, manages foreign reserves, and implements monetary policy. Staff include economists, bankers, research analysts, and corporate services support.

Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
Nigeria’s tax collection agency. FIRS enforces tax laws, issues taxpayer IDs, collects VAT, companies income tax, and conducts tax audits. Employees include revenue officers, tax auditors, accountants, and legal/compliance officers.

Both agencies work under the federal government with structured salaries, allowances, and promotion frameworks—but their pay differs due to mandate and technical demands.

2. CBN Salary Per Month in Nigeria 2025

2.1 Entry-Level & Freshers

  • Graduate Trainee Officer: BSc in Economics/Finance

    • Grade Level: GL 08

    • Basic Salary: ₦130,000 – ₦160,000

    • Allowances: ₦60,000 – ₦80,000

    • Total Pay: ₦190,000 – ₦240,000

2.2 Mid-Level Officers

  • Bank Officer I–II: Economist, Financial Analyst

    • Grade Level: GL 10–11

    • Basic Salary: ₦200,000 – ₦300,000

    • Allowances: ₦80,000 – ₦150,000

    • Total Pay: ₦280,000 – ₦450,000

2.3 Senior Officers & Managers

  • Chief Economist, Head, Directorate:

    • Grade Level: GL 12–14

    • Basic Salary: ₦300,000 – ₦500,000

    • Allowances: ₦150,000 – ₦300,000

    • Total Pay: ₦450,000 – ₦800,000

2.4 Executive-Level

  • Director-General, Governor’s Office:

    • Grade Level: GL 15–16+

    • Total Monthly Pay: ₦850,000 – ₦1.2M+ depending on level and allowances

CBN also offers specialized allowances: housing, hazard, research grant, duty tour, pseudonym scheme, and foreign posting support.

3. FIRS Salary Per Month in Nigeria 2025

3.1 Graduate & Inspector Cadre

  • Tax Inspector I: BSc Accounting, Economics, Law

    • Grade Level: GL 08

    • Basic Salary: ₦130,000 – ₦160,000

    • Allowances: ₦50,000 – ₦70,000

    • Total Pay: ₦180,000 – ₦230,000

3.2 Senior Inspectors & Supervisors

  • Senior Tax Inspector / Supervisor:

    • Grade Level: GL 10–11

    • Basic Salary: ₦200,000 – ₦280,000

    • Allowances: ₦70,000 – ₦120,000

    • Total Pay: ₦270,000 – ₦400,000

3.3 Assistant Directors & Managers

  • Assistant Director of Revenue:

    • Grade Level: GL 12–13

    • Basic Salary: ₦300,000 – ₦400,000

    • Allowances: ₦100,000 – ₦200,000

    • Total Pay: ₦400,000 – ₦600,000

3.4 Executive Leadership

  • Deputy & Federal Commissioner of FIRS:

    • Grade Level: GL 14–15+

    • Total Monthly Pay: ₦700,000 – ₦1M+ depending on position and rider allowances

FIRS also offers enforcement risk, audit support, interstate responsibilities, vehicle, and educational allowances.

4. Side-by-Side Comparison: CBN vs FIRS

Role/Grade CBN Monthly Pay (₦) FIRS Monthly Pay (₦)
Fresh Graduate (GL 08) ₦190,000 – ₦240,000 ₦180,000 – ₦230,000
Mid-Level Officer (GL10) ₦280,000 – ₦450,000 ₦270,000 – ₦400,000
Senior Staff (GL 12) ₦450,000 – ₦800,000 ₦400,000 – ₦600,000
Executive (GL 15–16) ₦850,000 – ₦1.2M+ ₦700,000 – ₦1M+

Key Findings

  • Freshers: CBN offers slightly higher median pay.

  • Mid-level: CBN tends to pay more, especially with technical allowances.

  • Senior level: CBN and FIRS salaries overlap, though CBN bonuses push totals higher.

  • Executive level: CBN’s top ranks pay more, but FIRS executives earn competitive pay with enforcement perks.

5. Allowances Breakdown

Both agencies enhance basic salaries with allowances. Here’s a comparison:

Allowance Type CBN FIRS
Housing ₦50,000 – ₦150,000+ ₦40,000 – ₦120,000
Transport ₦20,000 – ₦60,000 ₦20,000 – ₦60,000
Field/Duty Tour ₦30,000 – ₦100,000 ₦25,000 – ₦80,000
Risk / Hazard ₦20,000 – ₦80,000 ₦20,000 – ₦70,000
Utility/Communication ₦10,000 – ₦20,000 ₦5,000 – ₦15,000
Training & Seminar ₦15,000 – ₦50,000 ₦10,000 – ₦30,000
Professional Incentive Variable research & grants Education/farming incentives
Annual Leave Bonus ~10% of annual salary ~10% of annual salary

On average, CBN allowances tend to be 10–20% higher than FIRS at similar levels.

6. Career Progression & Promotions

CBN

  • Entry → Principal Officer: 8–12 years

  • Principal Officer → Director → ED/Governor: 12–20 years

  • Promotions based on exams, certifications (e.g., CFA/ICAN), and performance

FIRS

  • Inspector → Senior Inspector: 4–6 years

  • Senior Inspector → Assistant Director: 6–10 years

  • Assistant Director → Commission-level: 12–18 years

  • Professional qualifications (ACCA, HCIB) help acceleration

Wide training, conference exposure, and leadership development programs support both.

7. Benefits & Work Environment

CBN

  • Strong global reputation and technical depth

  • Frequent international postings

  • Advanced staff welfare including staff housing, car loans, forum memberships

FIRS

  • Enforcement field exposure

  • Attractive tax and revenue incentives

  • Widespread interstate assignments

  • Transparent pension, NHIS enrollment, education allowance for children

Both offer health insurance for staff and dependents, pension scheme, annual medical screening, and staff loan facilities.

8. Freshers Salary Snapshot (2025)

  • CBN: ₦190,000 – ₦240,000 monthly total

  • FIRS: ₦180,000 – ₦230,000 monthly total

  • ICPC-style agencies: ₦100,000 – ₦150,000 monthly

CBN edges out for technical roles; FIRS matches closely in tax enforcement.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which pays more for fresh graduates?
CBN, by about ₦10,000–₦15,000, due to research and global allowances.

Is CBN better than FIRS long-term?
Yes, especially for technical specialists, given higher allowances and faster promotions.

Does FIRS offer field risk allowances?
Yes—examiners on audits and enforcement make up to ₦70,000 extra monthly.

Can tax auditors earn as much as CBN economists?
In mid-career (GL 12) yes—with enforcement or performance bonuses.

Are top-level executives well paid?
Yes—CBN Governor’s team (₦1M+); FIRS Commissioner-level officers earn ₦700K–₦1M+.

10. Final Verdict

  • Freshers: CBN has a small edge.

  • Mid-level: CBN pays more, especially for senior technical staff.

  • Executives: CBN tops FIRS, but FIRS leadership pay is strong within public sector.

If you're an economics, finance, or tech graduate, and prefer analytics, research, and a stable environment, CBN is the stronger choice. For dynamic enforcement, wider outreach, and interstate travel as a tax professional, FIRS is a solid option. Both offer rewarding careers, competitive pay, and development paths in Nigeria’s federal service.