Pay Raise History vs Inflation
Track how federal pay raises compare to CPI inflation over time. See whether your classification kept pace with the cost of living.
| Effective Date | Salary | Raise | Inflation (CPI) | Real Raise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-06-21 | $54,878 | — | — | — |
| 2021-06-21 | $55,701 | +1.5% | 3.4% | -1.9% |
| 2022-06-21 | $58,372 | +4.8% | 6.8% | -2.0% |
| 2023-06-21 | $60,424 | +3.5% | 3.9% | -0.4% |
| 2024-06-21 | $61,786 | +2.3% | 2.4% | -0.1% |
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Over 4 pay adjustments, estimated purchasing power changed by -4.4%.
Based on annual CPI inflation. Actual purchasing power depends on personal spending patterns.
Data last updated: April 2026
Understanding Federal Pay Raises and Inflation
Federal public service pay rates are set through collective agreements negotiated between the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and bargaining agents such as PSAC, PIPSC, CAPE, and others. These agreements typically cover 3 to 4 year periods and include scheduled pay increases — often called economic increases — that are applied to all employees in the bargaining unit.
However, a pay raise on paper does not always translate to an increase in purchasing power. If inflation — measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) — rises faster than your pay, your real income declines even though your nominal salary went up. This tool tracks the difference between your collective agreement raises and CPI inflation to show whether your classification actually kept pace with the cost of living.
In recent years, many federal classifications have seen their purchasing power erode. Between 2020 and 2024, Canadian CPI rose approximately 18%, driven by post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, energy costs, and housing inflation. During the same period, most PA group (AS, PM, CR) raises totalled roughly 12–13%, leaving a gap of about 5 percentage points — a meaningful decline in real purchasing power for employees in those groups.
Select your classification, level, and step above to see exactly how your pay history compares to national inflation year by year.