FI Salary: Government of Canada Financial Management Pay (2026)
The FI group punches above its weight in the federal pay landscape. I work alongside FI colleagues at PCO who manage departmental budgets, and what strikes me is how quickly the pay scales up: only four levels, but FI-03 at $104K–$134K is competitive with senior EC and IT positions. The group is small and specialized enough that most FI employees I know advanced faster than they expected when they joined government.
Here's the full FI salary breakdown for 2026 — all four levels, a real take-home pay example, and how FI stacks up against other professional groups.
FI Group Pay Scale — 2026
The current FI pay rates are based on the collective agreement effective November 7, 2025. There are four levels (FI-01 through FI-04), each with seven pay steps. Employees progress one step per year on their anniversary date until reaching the level maximum.
| Level | Min (Step 1) | Max (Step 7) |
|---|---|---|
| FI-01 | $66,982 | $93,965 |
| FI-02 | $81,534 | $110,607 |
| FI-03 | $104,239 | $134,326 |
| FI-04 | $117,501 | $151,719 |
The FI group covers a wide salary range — from an entry-level FI-01 starting at $66,982 to an experienced FI-04 at the maximum step earning $151,719 per year. The group belongs to the Financial category under Treasury Board collective agreements, bargained through ACFO (Association of Canadian Financial Officers).
FI Group vs Other Federal Classifications
The FI group pays significantly more than the AS (Administrative Services) and PM (Programme Administration) groups at comparable career stages. A mid-career FI-03 earns between $104,239 and $134,326 — roughly 30% more than an equivalent AS-06 or PM-05. Compared to the IT group, FI-03 is roughly on par with IT-03 at $101,343–$125,914, though IT-04 and IT-05 eventually surpass FI-03.
The EC group (Economics and Social Science Services) is the other common comparison for financial roles. An EC-05 earns $100,265–$115,404, which overlaps with FI-02 max and FI-03 min. FI-04 top step ($151,719) exceeds any EC level except EC-08 ($159,046). For federal employees considering a career switch, the FI group is generally the highest-paying option within the Administrative/Financial category.
FI-03 Take-Home Pay Example (Alberta, 2026)
What does an FI-03 Step 1 actually take home? Alberta has the lowest provincial income tax rate among major provinces — a 10% flat rate — making it the best province for federal take-home pay. Here's an approximate breakdown:
| Gross annual salary | $104,239 |
| − Federal income tax | −$18,100 |
| − Alberta provincial tax (10% flat) | −$5,960 |
| − CPP contributions | −$4,034 |
| − CPP2 contributions | −$396 |
| − EI premiums | −$1,049 |
| − PSPP pension (Group 2) | −$9,017 |
| Total deductions | −$38,556 |
| Net annual take-home | $65,683 |
| Net biweekly paycheque | ≈ $2,518 |
An FI-03 Step 1 in Alberta takes home approximately $65,683 per year (roughly $2,518 biweekly before any additional voluntary deductions like union dues or health/dental). The PSPP pension represents a substantial portion of deductions, but it funds a defined-benefit pension — a significant advantage over most private sector equivalents.
For a different province, level, or pension group, use the take-home pay calculator.
FI Group Career Path
Entry to the FI group typically requires a recognized accounting designation (CPA) or a degree in accounting, finance, or business administration. Most positions also require several years of relevant experience.
- FI-01: Entry-level financial roles. Junior analysts, financial clerks, accounts payable/receivable. Starting at $66,982.
- FI-02: Intermediate financial analyst roles. Budget analysis, financial planning, costing. Starting at $81,534.
- FI-03: Senior financial roles. Chief accountant, senior financial advisor, team lead. Starting at $104,239 — a significant jump from FI-02 maximum.
- FI-04: Director-equivalent financial roles. CFO-level responsibilities in smaller departments, senior financial executives. Starting at $117,501, capping at $151,719.
The FI-02 to FI-03 transition is one of the biggest salary jumps in the federal public service — from a max of $110,607 at FI-02 to a starting rate of $104,239 at FI-03, with progression to $134,326. Many FI professionals spend the bulk of their career at the FI-02 and FI-03 levels.
FI Collective Agreement & Pay History
The FI group is represented by ACFO (Association of Canadian Financial Officers) under a separate collective agreement from the PA (Program and Administration) bargaining unit. The most recent agreement brought rates effective November 7, 2024, and November 7, 2025. Prior to 2023, rates had been set in a previous multi-year agreement.
FI salaries have increased substantially since 2023 — FI-03 Step 1 was $96,561 in September 2023 and is now $104,239, a gain of approximately 8% over two years. This reflects both the recent collective agreement increases and the retroactive payments many FI employees received.
For full step-by-step rates and salary history for each FI level, see:
- FI-01 salary scale — $66,982 to $93,965
- FI-02 salary scale — $81,534 to $110,607
- FI-03 salary scale — $104,239 to $134,326
- FI-04 salary scale — $117,501 to $151,719
You can also compare FI with other classifications or view the full FI pay scale.