Government of Canada Salary: Complete Guide (2026)
When I joined the federal government in 2021, I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to figure out what different jobs actually paid. The collective agreements are buried in 200-page PDFs on the Treasury Board website, and the pay tables use classification codes that mean nothing to an outsider. I built FedPay to solve that problem — but first, here's the big picture.
The Government of Canada employs over 300,000 public servants across more than 60 classification groups. Salaries range from around $50,000 for entry-level clerks to over $260,000 for medical specialists. Below is a category-by-category breakdown of what federal employees actually earn in 2026.
How Government of Canada Salaries Work
Every federal position is assigned a classification group (e.g., EC for economists, IT for information technology, AS for administrative services) and a level within that group (e.g., EC-05, IT-03). Each level has multiple pay steps that employees progress through annually based on satisfactory performance.
Pay rates are negotiated through collective agreements between the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and public service unions. Agreements are typically renegotiated every 3–4 years, with salary increases applied retroactively. All salary figures below reflect the current 2026 Treasury Board rates.
For a deeper explanation of how classifications, levels, and steps work, see our complete guide to the federal pay scale.
Government of Canada Salaries by Category
Administrative & Program Roles
| Classification | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|
| CR-04 | $57,217 | $61,761 |
| AS-02 | $68,849 | $74,180 |
| AS-04 | $80,612 | $87,108 |
| PM-04 | $80,612 | $87,108 |
| PM-05 | $96,235 | $104,044 |
| IS-04 | $96,235 | $104,044 |
Administrative and program roles are the backbone of the federal public service. The AS (Administrative Services) and PM (Programme Administration) groups cover positions like executive assistants, office managers, program officers, and immigration officers. See the full AS pay scale, PM pay scale, or AS vs PM vs EC comparison.
Economics, Policy & Research
| Classification | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|
| EC-02 | $70,338 | $80,642 |
| EC-04 | $83,862 | $97,051 |
| EC-05 | $100,265 | $115,404 |
| EC-06 | $113,278 | $131,375 |
| EC-07 | $127,991 | $146,936 |
The EC (Economics and Social Science Services) group covers economists, policy analysts, researchers, and social scientists. EC is one of the most sought-after classifications and is found in virtually every department. See the full EC pay scale or our EC salary guide.
Information Technology
| Classification | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|
| IT-01 | $69,361 | $89,382 |
| IT-02 | $85,854 | $105,080 |
| IT-03 | $101,343 | $125,914 |
| IT-04 | $116,037 | $144,434 |
| IT-05 | $133,582 | $174,076 |
The IT group covers software developers, systems administrators, IT analysts, architects, and IT managers. IT salaries are competitive with the private sector at senior levels. See the full IT pay scale or our IT salary guide.
Financial Management
| Classification | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|
| 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 financial analysts, accountants, budget officers, and comptrollers. FI employees are represented by ACFO under a separate collective agreement. See the full FI pay scale or our FI salary guide.
Executive Group
| Classification | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|
| EX-01 | $137,524 | $161,773 |
| EX-02 | $154,178 | $181,365 |
| EX-03 | $172,548 | $202,918 |
| EX-04 | $197,774 | $232,676 |
| EX-05 | $221,654 | $260,719 |
The EX group covers senior management: Directors (EX-01), Directors General (EX-03), and Assistant Deputy Ministers (EX-04). Executive compensation also includes performance pay of up to 26% on top of base salary. See the full EX pay scale or our EX salary guide.
Government of Canada Benefits & Total Compensation
Federal public servants receive significant benefits on top of their base salary:
- Defined-benefit pension (PSPP): 2% of your best 5 years' average salary for each year of service. A 30-year career yields ~60% of your salary in retirement income, indexed to inflation.
- Health and dental coverage: Comprehensive group insurance through the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and Public Service Dental Care Plan.
- Vacation leave: 3 weeks to start, increasing to 4 weeks after 8 years and 5 weeks after 18 years. Plus ~11 statutory holidays and additional sick/family leave.
- Maternity/parental leave: Up to 93% salary top-up for parental leave depending on the collective agreement.
- Bilingual bonus: $800/year for employees in bilingual positions who meet language requirements.
When pension and benefits are factored in, federal total compensation is estimated to be 30–40% higher than comparable private sector positions. To see what you actually take home after deductions, use the take-home pay calculator.
How to Look Up Any Government of Canada Salary
FedPay.ca covers every federal classification group — over 60 groups and 1,100+ individual pay levels. To find your salary:
- Go to the salary lookup tool
- Select your classification group (e.g., EC, AS, IT, PM, FI)
- Choose your level (e.g., EC-05, IT-03)
- View your pay by step, biweekly rates, and full salary history
You can also compare classifications side by side, view the highest-paid federal jobs, or browse all 60+ classification groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Government of Canada salary?
The average salary across the federal public service is approximately $85,000 per year. However, this varies widely — entry-level clerical positions start around $50,000, while senior executives and medical specialists earn over $200,000.
How are Government of Canada salaries determined?
Federal salaries are set through collective agreements negotiated between the Treasury Board and public service unions. Each classification group (EC, AS, PM, IT, etc.) has its own pay scale with multiple levels and steps. Employees advance one step per year within their level.
Do Government of Canada employees get paid well compared to the private sector?
Studies show federal employees earn an 8-9% wage premium over private-sector counterparts in similar roles. When pension and benefits are included, total compensation is approximately 30-40% higher than the private sector.
How do I look up a specific Government of Canada salary?
Use the FedPay salary lookup tool — select your classification group (e.g., EC, AS, PM, IT) and level to see exact pay rates by step, biweekly amounts, and salary history from Treasury Board collective agreements.
What are the highest-paying jobs in the Government of Canada?
The highest-paid classifications are Medical Specialists (MD-MSP, up to $266,454), Medical Officers (MD-MOF, up to $264,917), and Executives (EX-05, up to $260,719). Among non-medical roles, IT-05 tops out at $174,076 and EC-08 at $159,046.
All salary figures reflect 2026 rates from Treasury Board collective agreements. FedPay.ca is an independent community tool and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada.