SE-RES Salary 2026: $70,394–$181,949 — Scientific Research - Research Scientist (CRA) (Government of Canada)
Effective Date: 2025-12-22 · Verified 2026-04-26
SE-RES rates of pay for all SE-RES (Scientific Research - Research Scientist (CRA)) levels in the Canadian federal public service, 2026. Salaries range from $70,394 to $181,949 across 5 levels. Category: Science & Policy. Source: Treasury Board collective agreements.
| Level | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE-RES-01 | $70,394 ~$50K net | $74,099 ~$53K net | $77,804 ~$55K net | $81,512 ~$57K net | $85,214 ~$59K net | $88,913 ~$62K net | $92,615 ~$64K net | $96,323 ~$66K net | — | — |
| SE-RES-02 | $87,410 ~$61K net | $92,849 ~$64K net | $98,292 ~$67K net | $103,738 ~$71K net | $109,179 ~$74K net | $114,612 ~$78K net | $120,060 ~$81K net | $125,498 ~$84K net | $130,930 ~$87K net | $136,360 ~$90K net |
| SE-RES-03 | $110,463 ~$75K net | $114,822 ~$78K net | $119,181 ~$80K net | $123,540 ~$83K net | $127,902 ~$86K net | $132,262 ~$88K net | $136,622 ~$90K net | $140,979 ~$92K net | $145,338 ~$94K net | $149,703 ~$97K net |
| SE-RES-04 | $132,289 ~$88K net | $137,129 ~$90K net | $141,969 ~$93K net | $146,809 ~$95K net | $151,646 ~$98K net | $156,485 ~$100K net | $161,326 ~$102K net | $166,167 ~$105K net | — | — |
| SE-RES-05 | $144,845 ~$94K net | $150,149 ~$97K net | $155,446 ~$99K net | $160,745 ~$102K net | $166,046 ~$105K net | $171,352 ~$107K net | $176,648 ~$110K net | $181,949 ~$113K net | — | — |
Net estimates assume Ontario, no dependents, PSPP Group 2 (post-2013 hire). Use the calculator for your full situation including province, marital status, RRSP, union dues, and pension group.
Select a level for full step breakdown
SE-RES-01
$70,394 – $96,323
$2,707 – $3,705 biweekly (before deductions)
Rates effective from 2025-12-22 · Last verified 2026-04-26 · methodology
SE-RES-01 pay raise history (rates from previous collective agreements)
| Effective Date | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-22 | $70,394 | $74,099 | $77,804 | $81,512 | $85,214 | $88,913 | $92,615 | $96,323 |
| 2024-12-22 | $69,013 | $72,646 | $76,278 | $79,913 | $83,543 | $87,169 | $90,799 | $94,434 |
| 2023-12-22 | $67,490 | $71,043 | $74,595 | $78,150 | $81,699 | $85,245 | $88,796 | $92,351 |
| 2022-12-22 | $65,198 | $68,629 | $72,061 | $75,495 | $78,924 | $82,350 | $85,780 | $89,214 |
| 2021-12-22 | $62,215 | $65,489 | $68,764 | $72,041 | $75,313 | $78,582 | $81,855 | $85,132 |
SE-RES – Scientific Research - Research Scientist (CRA)
$70,394 – $181,949
$2,707 – $6,998 biweekly (before deductions)
5 levels · Salary data from Treasury Board collective agreements
Rates effective from 2025-12-22 · Last verified 2026-04-26 · methodology
About the SE-RES Classification at Canada Revenue Agency
The SE-RES (Scientific Research) group at CRA covers research scientists conducting original research in areas relevant to tax administration: tax compliance behaviour, statistical modelling of audit selection, data science applied to tax data, and applied research in forensic accounting and economic crime. SE-RES is distinct from the SE-REM (Research Management) classification, which covers managers of research teams. Most SE-RES positions at CRA sit within the Scientific Research Directorate or the agency's chief data office.
SE-RES-01 ($70,394 to $96,323) is the entry-level research scientist position, typically requiring a PhD in a relevant field. SE-RES-02 ($87,410 to $136,360) is the working-level research scientist, with an unusually wide 10-step grid. SE-RES-03 ($110,463 to $149,703) covers senior research scientists with established publication records. SE-RES-04 ($132,289 to $166,167) is a principal research scientist position. SE-RES-05 ($144,845 to $181,949) is the most senior SE-RES classification, typically a senior principal researcher or principal scientist with national-level expertise in a specific research domain.
SE-RES at CRA falls under the PIPSC Audit, Financial and Scientific (AFS) collective agreement. Compared to academic research positions, CRA SE-RES offers comparable pay at the entry and working levels and somewhat higher pay at the senior levels (academic tenure-track salaries in Canada often plateau well below SE-RES-05). Compared to private-sector industrial research, federal SE-RES pay sits below tech-industry research scientist compensation but offers access to CRA's microdata (one of the largest applied-research datasets in Canadian government) and the Public Service Pension Plan.
SE-RES salary — frequently asked questions
What is the SE-RES salary range?
The SE-RES (Scientific Research - Research Scientist (CRA)) salary range is $70,394 to $181,949 per year as of 2025-12-22, across 5 levels (SE-RES-01, SE-RES-02, SE-RES-03, SE-RES-04, SE-RES-05). Rates are sourced from Canada Revenue Agency's publicly published pay scales.
What does SE-RES stand for at Canada Revenue Agency?
SE-RES is the classification code for Scientific Research - Research Scientist (CRA) positions at Canada Revenue Agency. It covers 5 levels (SE-RES-01, SE-RES-02, SE-RES-03, SE-RES-04, SE-RES-05) reflecting different levels of responsibility and seniority.
How much does a SE-RES-01 make?
A SE-RES-01 earns $70,394 (Step 1) to $96,323 (Step 8) per year as of 2025-12-22.
How much does a SE-RES-02 make?
A SE-RES-02 earns $87,410 (Step 1) to $136,360 (Step 10) per year as of 2025-12-22.
How much does a SE-RES-03 make?
A SE-RES-03 earns $110,463 (Step 1) to $149,703 (Step 10) per year as of 2025-12-22.
How much does a SE-RES-04 make?
A SE-RES-04 earns $132,289 (Step 1) to $166,167 (Step 8) per year as of 2025-12-22.
How much does a SE-RES-05 make?
A SE-RES-05 earns $144,845 (Step 1) to $181,949 (Step 8) per year as of 2025-12-22. SE-RES-05 is the senior-most level in the SE-RES group at Canada Revenue Agency.
When was the SE-RES pay scale last updated?
The current SE-RES pay scale on FedPay.ca is effective 2025-12-22, with a total of 44 pay steps across 5 levels. Data is verified against Canada Revenue Agency's primary source regularly.
What is the SE-RES take-home pay after taxes?
SE-RES take-home pay depends on your level, step, province, and pension group. Use the FedPay.ca take-home pay calculator at fedpay.ca/take-home to see your net pay after federal tax, provincial tax, CPP, EI, and pension contributions for any SE-RES level and step.