Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Canadian federal public service salaries, classifications, step increments, and pay deductions.
What is a classification in the federal public service?
A classification is a code that identifies your job type and level in the federal government. It consists of a group code (e.g., AS, EC, IT, PM) and a level number (e.g., AS-01, EC-04). Your classification determines your pay scale, collective agreement, and bargaining agent. There are over 60 classification groups covering everything from administrative services to engineering to border services.
How do step increments work in the federal government?
Most federal classifications have multiple pay steps within each level. You typically advance one step per year on your anniversary date until you reach the maximum step. For example, an IT-02 has 8 steps — starting at $85,854 and reaching $105,080 at step 8. Step increases happen automatically based on satisfactory performance and don't require a promotion.
What is acting pay in the federal government?
Acting pay is the salary you receive when you temporarily perform the duties of a higher-level position. If you act in a higher classification for more than a specified period (usually 3 consecutive working days for most groups), you're paid at the higher rate. Your acting rate is typically set at the step in the higher level that gives you at least a pay increase over your substantive position.
What is the difference between Group 1 and Group 2 pension?
Group 1 applies to employees who joined the federal public service before January 1, 2013 — they can retire with an unreduced pension at age 60 with 2+ years of service, or at age 55 with 30 years of service. Group 2 applies to those who joined on or after January 1, 2013, with a normal retirement age of 65. Group 2 contribution rates are slightly lower, but members must wait longer to receive an unreduced pension.
How is federal take-home pay calculated?
Your take-home pay is your gross salary minus mandatory deductions: federal income tax, provincial income tax, Canada Pension Plan (CPP/CPP2), Employment Insurance (EI), and the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP). Additional deductions may include union dues, health/dental insurance premiums, and disability insurance. The exact amounts depend on your province of residence, salary level, and pension group.
How often do federal pay rates change?
Pay rates are updated when new collective agreements are signed between the Treasury Board and bargaining agents (unions like PSAC, PIPSC, etc.). Collective agreements typically cover 3-4 year periods, though negotiations can take months or years to complete. When a new agreement is ratified, retroactive pay adjustments are common — meaning you may receive back pay for the period between the old agreement's expiry and the new one's signing.
What are the highest-paid federal government jobs?
The highest-paid classifications in the federal public service are Medical Specialists (MD-MSP) at up to $266,454/year, Medical Officers (MD-MOF) at up to $264,917, and Executives (EX-05) at up to $260,719. Law Practitioners (LP-03) can earn up to $228,084. Among non-executive, non-specialist roles, IT-05 tops out at $174,076 — which is actually more than an EX-01 at minimum ($137,524).
What is the lowest-paid federal classification?
The lowest-paid annual classification is DD-1 (Drafting & Illustration) at $37,260/year at step 1, followed by CR-01 (Clerical & Regulatory) at $41,947. That means a CR-01 at step 1 earns approximately $21.50/hour. The pay gap between the lowest-paid (DD-1) and highest-paid (MD-MSP-02) classification is over 7x within the same employer.
Are federal government salaries public information?
Yes. Federal public service pay rates are established through collective agreements negotiated between the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and bargaining agents. These agreements are public documents available on the Treasury Board website. FedPay.ca compiles this data into an easy-to-use format so you can quickly look up any classification's salary, compare pay scales, and track historical raises.
How do I find my classification and level?
Your classification and level appear on your letter of offer, your pay stub (in Phoenix or the Pay Centre portal), and in your PeopleSoft (MyGCHR) profile. It's formatted as a group code followed by a level number — for example, AS-01, EC-04, or IT-02. If you're unsure, ask your manager or HR advisor. Once you know your classification, you can look up your pay scale on FedPay.ca.
Do federal salaries keep up with inflation?
In recent years, federal pay raises have generally not kept pace with inflation. For example, AS-01 received approximately 12.6% in cumulative raises from 2020 to 2024, while Canadian CPI rose approximately 18% over the same period — meaning a real purchasing power loss. Some classifications fared slightly better (IT-02 received 14.4% over 3 years), but most fell behind the cost of living.
What is the difference between AS and PM classifications?
AS (Administrative Services) and PM (Programme Administration) are separate classification groups with different job descriptions, but they share the exact same pay scale. AS-01 and PM-01 both earn $61,786 to $69,106. The distinction is primarily in the type of work — PM positions tend to focus on program delivery and client service, while AS positions are more broadly administrative. Both fall under the same collective agreement (PA group, represented by PSAC).
What is a bilingual imperative position in the federal government?
A bilingual imperative position requires the successful candidate to meet specific language proficiency levels in English and French at the time of appointment. These levels are expressed as a three-letter code like BBB/BBB or CBC/CBC, covering reading, writing, and oral interaction in each official language. Level A is basic, B is intermediate, and C is advanced. Most policy and management positions in the National Capital Region are bilingual imperative at the BBB/BBB level or higher.
How does the Phoenix pay system affect federal employees?
Phoenix is the Government of Canada's pay system, launched in 2016, which has been plagued by processing errors including overpayments, underpayments, and delayed payments. As of 2026, a backlog of pay issues persists, and the government has committed to replacing Phoenix with a new system. Employees affected by Phoenix errors may be entitled to damages negotiated through their union's collective agreement. If you suspect a pay error, compare your pay stub to the rates on your collective agreement's pay scale.
What is deployment in the federal public service?
A deployment is a lateral transfer to another position at the same classification group and level — or to a position with a maximum salary that does not exceed your current maximum by more than a small threshold. Deployments do not require a competitive staffing process. They're the fastest way to move between departments or teams: you and the receiving manager agree, HR processes the paperwork, and you start. Deployments are only available to indeterminate (permanent) employees.
How long does it take to get hired by the federal government?
The federal hiring process typically takes 3 to 12 months from application to start date. External advertised processes involve several stages: application screening, written exam or assessment, interview, reference checks, language testing (if bilingual), and security clearance. Security clearance alone can take 2-6 months depending on the level required. Internal processes for existing public servants can be faster, particularly deployments which can happen within weeks.