PM Group Salary in the Federal Government (PM-01 to PM-06, 2026)
People constantly confuse PM and AS — including, sometimes, the people classified under them. The PM and AS groups share the exact same pay scale, which surprises most people when they first hear it. The intended distinction is that PM covers program delivery and client-facing work, while AS covers internal administration. In practice, the line blurs constantly — I know PM-04s at IRCC processing immigration cases and PM-04s at PCO doing work that looks identical to an AS-04.
Here's the full PM salary breakdown for 2026 — all six levels, a take-home example at PM-04, and what the classification actually means for your career.
PM Group Pay Scale — 2026
PM salary rates are set under the PA (Program and Administration) collective agreement, with the most recent rates effective June 21, 2024. There are six levels (PM-01 through PM-06).
| Level | Min (Step 1) | Max |
|---|---|---|
| PM-01 | $61,786 | $69,106 |
| PM-02 | $68,849 | $74,180 |
| PM-03 | $73,798 | $79,511 |
| PM-04 | $80,612 | $87,108 |
| PM-05 | $96,235 | $104,044 |
| PM-06 | $112,834 | $129,017 |
PM vs AS: Same Pay, Different Work
One of the most important things to know about the PM group is that it shares an identical pay scale with the AS (Administrative Services) group. PM-04 and AS-04 both pay $80,612–$87,108; PM-05 and AS-05 both pay $96,235–$104,044.
The difference is in the type of work: PM positions focus on program delivery, grants and contributions, case management, and service delivery to the public, while AS positions are internal administrative roles (HR, finance, procurement, general administration). Both groups are covered under the same PA (Program and Administration) collective agreement and are represented by PSAC.
PM-04 Take-Home Pay Example (British Columbia, 2026)
A PM-04 is a mid-career level in the Programme Administration group — typically a senior program officer or entry-level manager. Service Canada and IRCC have large PM workforces in BC, so here's an approximate take-home calculation for PM-04 Step 1 in British Columbia with a Group 2 pension:
| Gross annual salary | $80,612 |
| − Federal income tax | −$9,860 |
| − BC provincial tax | −$2,980 |
| − CPP contributions | −$3,897 |
| − CPP2 contributions | −$396 |
| − EI premiums | −$1,049 |
| − PSPP pension (Group 2) | −$6,973 |
| Total deductions | −$25,155 |
| Net annual take-home | $55,457 |
| Net biweekly paycheque | ≈ $2,126 |
A PM-04 Step 1 in British Columbia takes home approximately $55,457 per year (about $2,126 biweekly). Since PM and AS have identical pay scales, this same calculation applies to an AS-04 Step 1 as well.
For other provinces, levels, or pension group calculations, use the take-home pay calculator.
PM Career Path and Levels
The PM group covers a wide range of roles and career stages in the federal public service:
- PM-01 / PM-02: Entry-level program delivery roles. Client service agents, processing officers at CRA or IRCC, program support roles. Starting at $61,786.
- PM-03: Experienced program officer, case officer, grants officer. Starting at $73,798.
- PM-04: Senior program officer or entry-level manager. Often the target level for laterals from the EC or AS groups. Starting at $80,612.
- PM-05: Senior manager or project manager. Significant responsibility and independence. Starting at $96,235.
- PM-06: Director equivalent within the PM classification. Starting at $112,834, capping at $129,017.
A key feature of PM levels PM-01 through PM-05 is that most have only 3 steps, meaning progression to the level maximum happens in just 2 years rather than the 4–7 years typical in other groups. This makes PM salary growth relatively fast compared to IT or EC, which have 5–8 steps per level.
PM Group in Context
Compared to other groups, the PM/AS pay scale is roughly in the middle of the federal salary range. EC-03 ($77,690–$87,907) overlaps with PM-04 starting salary. IT-02 ($85,854–$105,080) starts higher than PM-04 and surpasses PM-05. For federal employees in policy or technical work, a reclassification to EC or IT often means a significant pay increase over comparable PM levels.
That said, PM positions are among the most widely available jobs in the federal government — most Service Canada, CRA, IRCC, and ESDC positions are PM classifications. The PM group is the largest by headcount in the federal public service.
For step-by-step rates and salary history for each PM level, see:
- PM-01 salary scale — $61,786 to $69,106
- PM-02 salary scale — $68,849 to $74,180
- PM-03 salary scale — $73,798 to $79,511
- PM-04 salary scale — $80,612 to $87,108
- PM-05 salary scale — $96,235 to $104,044
- PM-06 salary scale — $112,834 to $129,017
You can also compare PM with other classifications or view the full PM pay scale. For the AS group (identical pay scale) see the AS group salary guide.