Communications Officer Salary – Government of Canada (2026)
How much do federal communications officers make? Classification mapping, salary by level, and career path.
How Communications Officer Roles Are Classified
The Government of Canada doesn't advertise positions as “Communications Officer” — instead, each role is assigned a classification code that determines its pay scale. Here's how communications officer roles map to federal classifications:
What Federal Communications Officers Do
Communications officers in the federal government handle media relations, web content, social media, public affairs, ministerial correspondence, and internal communications. They are classified as IS (Information Services) and work across every department — with the highest-profile positions at central agencies (PCO, TBS), health agencies (Health Canada, PHAC), and departments with significant public visibility (IRCC, DND, Global Affairs). The work ranges from drafting news releases and managing media enquiries to developing multi-channel communications strategies for major policy announcements.
Communications Officer Salary Breakdown
IS shares its pay scale exactly with AS — IS-03 earns the same as AS-03 ($67,624–$72,933), and IS-04 matches AS-04 ($74,180–$80,612). Senior advisors at IS-05 earn $96,235–$104,281, and directors at IS-06 earn $105,081–$113,463. Communications professionals looking for higher salaries often transition to EC classification (policy communications) or move to private-sector government relations and PR firms.
How to Get Hired
IS positions typically require a degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field. Entry is at IS-02 or IS-03 through GC Jobs competitions. Prior experience in journalism, PR agencies, or corporate communications is valued. Bilingualism is essentially mandatory for communications roles at most departments. The IS classification is competitive to enter — particularly at high-profile departments — because there are fewer IS positions than AS or PM positions across government.