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Village officials in Indonesia: duties, requirements, pay, selection and bribery scams

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by Kaiser Khan (editor), Updated

Village officials, including the village secretary, are residents aged 20 to 42 with senior high school, picked by selection and approved by the regent.

Summary

High scam risk
  • Village officials (perangkat desa) are the village secretary, heads of affairs, heads of sections and area or hamlet heads who assist the village head.
  • Under Government Regulation (PP) 16/2026, village officials are appointed from residents with at least upper secondary education who meet regional requirements.
  • The village head selects candidates, consults the subdistrict head (camat) and appoints them after written approval from the regent or mayor.
  • Village officials serve until age 60 and receive a fixed monthly income from the village budget, with the amount set by the regent or mayor.
  • In January 2026 the anti-corruption commission (KPK) named a regent and three village heads as suspects in alleged extortion of village official candidates.
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On this page
  1. What do village officials do in Indonesia?
  2. What are the requirements to become a village official or hamlet head?
  3. What does a typical village official job description look like?
  4. How are village officials paid, and where does the money come from?
  5. What education suits a village official?
  6. How long do village officials serve and when can they be dismissed?
  7. How does the village official selection work and who runs it?
  8. What should you do if someone asks for money to pass a village official selection?
  9. What interview questions might you be asked for village official jobs?
  10. What scams and bribery affect village official selections?
  11. Where is official information on village official vacancies published?
  12. Which careers are similar?

What do village officials do in Indonesia?

Village officials (perangkat desa) assist the village head. Articles 65 to 68 of PP 16/2026 divide them into the village secretariat, led by the village secretary with at most three heads of affairs; technical staff of at most three heads of sections; and area staff such as hamlet heads. The work covers letters and archives, village finance and budgets, services to residents, population records and oversight of local projects.

  • Village secretary: running the secretariat, letters, archives, general affairs, finance and village budget planning.
  • Head of affairs: handling administration and general affairs, finance or planning under the village secretary.
  • Head of section: carrying out operational work in government affairs, welfare or public services.
  • Hamlet head: assisting the village head in their area, keeping order, recording residents and overseeing local projects.
  • Serving residents who need certificates and administrative documents at the village office.
  • Preparing reports, village profile data and material for village development planning.
  • Attending village deliberations and meetings with the village council (BPD), the subdistrict and village facilitators.

What are the requirements to become a village official or hamlet head?

Under Article 50 of Law 3/2024 and Article 69 of PP 16/2026, village officials are appointed from village residents who are religious, have at least upper secondary education or equivalent and meet any other requirements in the regency's or city's regional regulation. Both laws also set an age range of 20 to 42 specifically for these posts. The same rules apply to the village secretary, heads of affairs and sections, and hamlet heads. Civil servants must resign first.

What does a typical village official job description look like?

Village official posts are opened by the village government when a post falls vacant, not through private job boards. A genuine notice names the post, the requirements, the documents, the schedule and the test stages, and the process involves the subdistrict head and the regent or mayor. We wrote the description below ourselves from the duties set in regulations; it is not a vacancy from any village.

General example, not a vacancy

We wrote this description ourselves from what job ads usually ask for. It is not a vacancy from any company.

Commonly requested requirements

  • A resident of the village with at least upper secondary (SMA) education or equivalent.
  • Meeting any extra requirements in the regional regulation and the regency's or city's selection notice.
  • Passing the screening or selection announced by the village government.
  • Not a serving civil servant, or willing to resign from the civil service before appointment.
  • Providing documents such as an ID card, a legalised diploma, a birth certificate and a health certificate.

Skills

Office administration, Village finance, Budget preparation, Serving residents, Record keeping, Computer skills, Official letters, Population records, Community communication, Integrity.

Ministry of Manpower Circular M/6/HK.04/V/2025 bars employers from discriminating on any basis in recruitment. An age requirement is allowed only where the nature of the job genuinely affects ability and it does not remove the chance of work, and the same applies to workers with disabilities. Law 13/2003 Articles 5 and 6 guarantee equal opportunity and treatment without discrimination. JDIH Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id)

How are village officials paid, and where does the money come from?

Village officials receive a fixed monthly income from the village budget, funded by the village fund allocation and set by the regent or mayor. Article 90 of PP 16/2026 benchmarks it to the base pay of a grade II/a civil servant with zero years of service in PP 5/2024: other officials get that base pay, the village secretary slightly more. We show no figure because each region sets its own; the minimum wage row applies to workers paid by employers.

Village Official: available pay data (as of 8 October 2026)
Data Figure Notes
Pay range in KarirAman verified vacancies Not enough data yet (n < 30)
Average net wage of employees, Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (BPS Sakernas May 2026) IDR 4,136,209 reference for the Public administration and defence; compulsory social security sector, not specific to this career; net (after deductions) Badan Pusat Statistik
Minimum wage (UMP/UMK) as the floor The minimum wage governs workers in an employment relationship; civil service (ASN) pay and state assignment fees are set by their own rules. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)

Check your city's minimum wage (2026) Work out your take-home pay How we handle salary data

What education suits a village official?

The minimum for village officials is upper secondary school or equivalent under Article 69 of PP 16/2026, so vocational school (SMK) graduates qualify. For the village secretary and the heads of finance or planning, administration, computer and budgeting skills help a lot, for example from an office or accounting SMK, a three-year administration diploma or a bachelor's degree. Regencies and cities can add requirements in regional regulations.

How long do village officials serve and when can they be dismissed?

Village officials are not elected for a term like the village head. Under Article 72 of PP 16/2026 they leave on death, at their own request or by dismissal, for example on reaching 60, permanent incapacity, no longer meeting the requirements or breaking the rules for officials. A dismissal needs consultation with the subdistrict head and the regent's or mayor's written approval (Article 73), so the village head cannot decide it alone.

How does the village official selection work and who runs it?

Article 70 of PP 16/2026 sets the order: the village head screens or selects candidates, consults the subdistrict head on behalf of the regent or mayor, proposes the candidate, receives the regent's or mayor's written approval and then issues a village head decree. An appointment outside this procedure is revoked by the regent or mayor. Test details are set locally, and some regions involve universities in the selection.

What should you do if someone asks for money to pass a village official selection?

No payment is legitimate for passing a village official selection. A proper appointment goes through the village selection, consultation with the subdistrict head and the written approval of the regent or mayor. If you are asked for money, offered leaked questions or promised a decree without a test:

  1. Do not pay and do not hand original documents to a go-between.
  2. Write down the date, the name of the person asking, the amount requested, and keep messages or recordings.
  3. Ask for the official schedule and stages directly at the village or subdistrict office.
  4. Report the levy or bribe to the police, or file a public-service complaint through SP4N LAPOR!; a complaints guide is at Panduan Warga guide to public-service complaints.

What interview questions might you be asked for village official jobs?

Interview questions for village official jobs often cover why you want to serve the public, how you communicate with residents, keeping residents' data accurate and confidential, how you respond to offers of money, and readiness for field work. Each example below comes with why it is asked and how to answer it. The Ministry of Manpower warns that an instant chat interview without formal confirmation is one sign of a fake job.

Republika (official statement via media)

General examples written by KarirAman, not questions from any particular company. How to practise: read the question, answer it out loud, then open the guidance to compare.

Questions for this field

Why do you want to work in public service?

Why they ask: The work demands patience and accountability to residents, so your motivation matters.

How to answer: Give your real reasons and the experiences behind them, such as community, organisation or volunteer work.

How do you communicate with residents from different backgrounds?

Why they ask: The people you serve differ in age, education, language and needs.

How to answer: Explain how you use plain language, listen first and check that your explanation was understood.

How do you keep the residents' data you collect accurate and confidential?

Why they ask: Residents' data drives decisions and aid, and personal data must be protected.

How to answer: Name real habits: double-checking entries, matching them with documents, never sharing data in chat groups, and storing files securely.

How do you respond to a resident who is unhappy with a service or aid decision?

Why they ask: Complaints are common when aid or services fall short of expectations.

How to answer: Describe how you listen, explain the rule or reason honestly, and pass the complaint on through official channels.

What would you do if someone offered money to be served first or added to a list of recipients?

Why they ask: Illegal levies and bribes harm other residents and break the rules.

How to answer: Say clearly that you refuse, explain that official services carry no charge beyond the rules, and report it to your superior or an official complaints channel.

Are you ready for field work, moving between locations or working outside office hours?

Why they ask: Much service and support work happens in residents' homes or on site.

How to answer: Answer honestly about your readiness and mention field experience, including how you keep yourself safe.

How do you write activity reports that can be accounted for?

Why they ask: Activities that use public money or data must be open to checking.

How to answer: Explain how you record activities with dates, evidence and figures that can be checked, and submit them on time.

Common questions that also come up (12 questions)

  • Tell me about yourself.

    Answer in about a minute: where you are now in work or study, two experiences that matter for this job, then why you applied. Personal matters such as family status are not needed.

  • Why did you apply to this company?

    Mention one or two real things you learned from the company's official website, such as its business or services, and link them to your skills.

  • Why are you interested in this role?

    Pick two tasks from the job advert, describe similar things you have done, and say which part you most want to grow in.

  • What are your strengths?

    Name one or two strengths and give short proof: the situation, what you did and the result.

  • What is your weakness?

    Choose a real weakness that is not central to the job, then explain what you are doing to improve it.

  • Tell me about a problem at work or school that you solved.

    Use the STAR pattern: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Focus on what you yourself did and what you learned.

  • How do you work in a team, including when people disagree?

    Give a real example of listening, explaining your view politely and finding a solution everyone accepted.

  • How do you handle pressure or tight deadlines?

    Explain how you set priorities, such as a task list or checking with your supervisor, and give one example of the outcome.

  • Where do you see yourself in two or three years?

    Mention the skills you want to master and the responsibility you hope to take on, without promising things you cannot know.

  • What salary do you expect?

    First research the pay range for the role and the local minimum wage where you would work. Give a range, then ask whether the figure is gross or net and which allowances apply.

  • When can you start?

    Give a realistic date. If you are still employed, mention the notice period in your current contract so you do not break it.

  • Do you have any questions for us?

    Ask about the contract type, working hours, base pay and allowances, the next selection step and when results are announced. Ask for the offer in writing.

Warning signs in interviews (6)

  • The interview happens only by WhatsApp or Telegram chat with no formal invitation, or you are pushed to be interviewed on the spot.

    What to do: Ask for a written invitation from a company-domain e-mail address, then match the contact with the official website you look up yourself.

    Republika (official statement via media)Kompas TV (official statement via media)detikFinance

  • You are asked to pay for a test, a psychological test, a medical check-up, training or a uniform, or to book tickets and a hotel through an appointed agent with a promise of reimbursement.

    What to do: Do not transfer anything. The Ministry of Manpower says legitimate recruitment does not charge applicants.

    Kompas TV (official statement via media)Republika (official statement via media)Koran Jakarta (official statement via media)PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA)

  • The interview is held in a hotel room, a private house or another closed place that is not an office, or the location keeps changing. An invitation to stay overnight, or any sexual demand, as a condition for being hired or for renewing a contract is also a warning sign.

    What to do: Ask for the interview at the office or a public place, tell someone close to you where you are, and leave if you feel unsafe. Sexual demands can be reported to the police or the local manpower office (Disnaker). If you are in danger, call the police.

    Koran Jakarta (official statement via media)detikBali (detik.com) (official statement via media)Medcom.id (official statement via media)

  • You are asked for a photo of your KTP or family card, a selfie holding your ID, your bank account number, an OTP code, a PIN or a password before any written job offer.

    What to do: Do not send them. OJK says never to give an OTP, PIN or password to anyone, and identity data can be misused for illegal online loans.

    Kompas TV (official statement via media)Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (Sekretariat Satgas PASTI)Koran Jakarta (official statement via media)

  • The interview invitation arrives as an app file (APK) or a link that asks you to install an app.

    What to do: Do not open it. OJK and Kominfo warn that fake APK files can read SMS messages with OTP codes and then drain bank accounts.

    CNN Indonesia (official statement via media)

  • After the interview you are asked to hand over your original diploma or other original personal documents as a guarantee for the job.

    What to do: Ministry of Manpower Circular M/5/HK.04.00/V/2025 bars employers from requiring or holding original diplomas and personal documents as a guarantee for the job. The only exception is a diploma or competency certificate from education or training paid for by the employer under a written employment agreement, and the employer must keep it safe and compensate you if it is damaged or lost. Otherwise, show them for checking, then take them home.

    Dinas Tenaga Kerja Kota Batam (meneruskan SE Menteri Ketenagakerjaan RI)

In danger or held at an interview location? Call the police:

See all interview questions Build an ATS CV Write a cover letter

What scams and bribery affect village official selections?

Cases handled by law enforcement show a pattern of selling passes. In January 2026 the KPK named a regent in Central Java and three village heads as suspects in alleged extortion of village official candidates. In June 2025 Sidoarjo police named two village heads and a former village head as suspects for showing exam questions to candidates who were promised a pass if they paid.

Warning signs in village official job ads

  • Someone promises a pass in the village official selection if you pay; Sidoarjo police named suspects in a scheme like this in 2025.
  • Someone offers leaked questions or an answer key for the village official exam before the test.Metro TV (metrotvnews.com) (official statement via media)
  • Candidates are told to hand money to a coordinator or team at registration; the KPK investigated suspected extortion like this in 2026.ANTARA (official statement via media)
  • Someone claims to influence the examiners or the test organiser; a case of bribing lecturers involved in a selection in Demak went to court.ANTARA (official statement via media)
  • An appointment decree (SK) is promised without a selection or without the regent's written approval; PP 16/2026 orders such decrees revoked.JDIH BPK RI

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Where is official information on village official vacancies published?

Official information on filling village official posts is announced by the village government that has the vacancy, with consultation of the subdistrict head and approval from the regent or mayor. Check the notice directly at the village or subdistrict office, not through forwarded messages. This is not a civil service (CPNS) selection, so it is not registered on SSCASN. KarirAman has no verified village official vacancy yet.

No verified vacancies for this role yet

We only list vacancies we have checked. In the meantime, look for jobs on these official channels.

Which careers are similar?

See other careers in Government

Frequently asked questions

How much does a village secretary earn now?

A village secretary's fixed income is set by the regent's or mayor's regulation using the benchmark in Article 90 of PP 16/2026: the secretary receives slightly more than other village officials, calculated from the base pay of a grade II/a civil servant with zero years of service in PP 5/2024. The amount in your regency can differ: during a transition of up to two years from 27 March 2026 the old amount stays in use, and the regent or mayor may set less where village finances fall short.

Do village official candidates have to have lived in the village for a long time?

Law 3/2024 and PP 16/2026 say village officials are appointed from village residents. The old requirement to be registered and living in the village for at least one year before applying was deleted by Home Affairs Regulation 67/2017 after Constitutional Court Decision 128/PUU-XIII/2015. Regional regulations can add other requirements, so read the selection notice from your village or regency.

Can a civil servant become a village official?

Yes, but Article 71 of PP 16/2026 requires a civil servant (PNS) who is to be appointed as a village official to resign from the civil service. Village officials who were already civil servants when the regulation took effect have up to two years to choose to stay on as village officials, and if they stay, they must leave the civil service (Article 183).

How is a village secretary different from a company secretary?

A village secretary is a village official who leads the village secretariat and assists the village head with government administration, appointed through a village selection with the regent's or mayor's approval. A secretary in a company is an employee who supports managers under private-sector employment rules. For office secretary jobs, read KarirAman's secretary guide.

Someone is offering a paid shortcut into a village official post. What should I do?

Refuse and do not pay. Selling passes in village official selections has led to criminal cases more than once: prosecutors detained eight village heads in Demak in November 2022 in a suspected case of bribing lecturers involved in the selection, and police in Sidoarjo named suspects in 2025 who showed exam questions to candidates. Keep the evidence and report it to the police or through SP4N LAPOR!, the national public complaints service.

Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published Updated

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: .

Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

  1. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 16 Tahun 2026 tentang Peraturan Pelaksanaan Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Desa JDIH BPK RI · PP 16/2026 · accessed
  2. Undang-Undang Nomor 3 Tahun 2024 tentang Perubahan Kedua atas Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2014 tentang Desa Pemerintah Pusat (via JDIH BPK) · UU 3/2024 · accessed
  3. Peraturan Menteri Dalam Negeri Nomor 67 Tahun 2017 tentang Perubahan atas Permendagri Nomor 83 Tahun 2015 tentang Pengangkatan dan Pemberhentian Perangkat Desa Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permendagri 67/2017 · accessed
  4. Peraturan Menteri Dalam Negeri Nomor 84 Tahun 2015 tentang Susunan Organisasi dan Tata Kerja Pemerintah Desa Dinas Pemberdayaan Masyarakat dan Desa Provinsi Jawa Timur (salinan peraturan) · Permendagri 84/2015 · accessed
  5. PP Nomor 5 Tahun 2024: Lampiran Daftar Gaji Pokok PNS (golongan II/a sampai III/d) JDIH BPK RI · PP 5/2024 · accessed
  6. KPK menetapkan Bupati Pati tersangka kasus dugaan pemerasan dalam pengisian jabatan perangkat desa (ANTARA Yogyakarta) ANTARA · official statement via media · accessed
  7. Jual beli soal ujian seleksi perangkat desa (Metro TV, keterangan Kapolresta Sidoarjo) Metro TV (metrotvnews.com) · official statement via media · accessed
  8. Delapan kades di Demak penyuap dosen UIN Semarang ditahan kejaksaan (ANTARA Jawa Tengah) ANTARA · official statement via media · accessed
  9. SP4N-LAPOR!: Layanan Aspirasi dan Pengaduan Online Rakyat Kementerian PANRB (SP4N-LAPOR!) · accessed
  10. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 36 Tahun 2021 tentang Pengupahan Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · PP 36/2021 · accessed
  11. BPS: Keadaan Ketenagakerjaan Indonesia Mei 2026 (Berita Resmi Statistik No. 82/08/Th. XXIX) Badan Pusat Statistik · accessed
  12. Surat Edaran Menteri Ketenagakerjaan Nomor M/6/HK.04/V/2025 tentang Larangan Diskriminasi dalam Proses Rekrutmen Tenaga Kerja JDIH Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan · SE Menaker M/6/HK.04/V/2025 · accessed
  13. Undang-Undang Nomor 13 Tahun 2003 tentang Ketenagakerjaan JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id) · UU 13/2003 · accessed
  14. Ini 5 ciri-ciri lowongan kerja palsu versi Kemnaker Republika · official statement via media · accessed
  15. 6 Ciri Lowongan Kerja Bodong yang Perlu Diwaspadai Kompas TV · official statement via media · accessed
  16. Waspada! Marak Modus Penipuan Lowongan Admin e-Commerce detikFinance · third party · accessed
  17. Pemkot Jaktim Minta Pelamar Waspadai Modus Kerja Palsu (Koran Jakarta) Koran Jakarta · official statement via media · accessed
  18. Awas Modus Panggilan Interview Kerja, Ini Ciri-cirinya PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) · third party · accessed
  19. Niat Cari Kerja di Bali, Pria Sumba Malah Disekap-Disiksa 2 Wanita (detikBali) detikBali (detik.com) · official statement via media · accessed
  20. Polisi Tunggu Pelaporan Korban Kasus Staycation Medcom.id · official statement via media · accessed
  21. Waspada, Penipuan (Scam) Mengintai Kita. Ayo Lawan dan Hindari! (Booklet Satgas PASTI) Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (Sekretariat Satgas PASTI) · accessed
  22. Waspada Modus Penipuan File APK PPS Pemilu yang Bisa Kuras Rekening CNN Indonesia · official statement via media · accessed
  23. Surat Edaran Menteri Ketenagakerjaan Nomor M/5/HK.04.00/V/2025 tentang Larangan Penahanan Ijazah dan/atau Dokumen Pribadi Milik Pekerja/Buruh oleh Pemberi Kerja (salinan dari Disnaker Kota Batam) Dinas Tenaga Kerja Kota Batam (meneruskan SE Menteri Ketenagakerjaan RI) · SE Menaker M/5/HK.04.00/V/2025 · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Village officials in Indonesia: duties, requirements, pay, selection and bribery scams. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/careers/village-official/

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Change log
  • : New page: duties, requirements, selection, fixed income under PP 16/2026, term of service and bribery in village official selections.
  • : Removed the calculated fixed-income figure from the pay table (not an official scale); moved the age range from the general requirements list into the requirements answer as a statutory rule.