DD Rates of Pay – Drafting & Illustration (Government of Canada)

DD rates of pay for all DD (Drafting & Illustration) levels in the Canadian federal public service, 2026. Salaries range from $37,260 to $100,408 across 9 levels. Category: Technical & IT. Source: Treasury Board collective agreements.

DD – Drafting & Illustration

$37,260 – $100,408

$1,433 – $3,862 biweekly (before deductions)

9 levels · Salary data from Treasury Board collective agreements

Rates effective from 2024-06-22 · Last verified 2026-04-16 · methodology

All DD Levels

Level	Steps	Step 1	Max Step
DD-1	8	$37,260	$46,884
DD-2	8	$45,912	$58,307
DD-3	5	$56,498	$64,678
DD-4	7	$58,196	$71,193
DD-5	5	$68,093	$78,187
DD-6	5	$73,075	$83,944
DD-7	5	$79,365	$91,261
DD-8	5	$83,525	$96,110
DD-9	5	$87,225	$100,408

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About the DD Classification

The DD (Drafting and Illustration) group covers technical drafters, illustrators, and graphic production specialists working in the federal government. DD employees create technical drawings, engineering diagrams, cartographic products, and visual materials for federal departments. While the group was historically larger when manual drafting was the standard, DD positions still exist in departments that require specialized technical illustration and design work.

DD work has evolved significantly with the adoption of computer-aided design (CAD) and digital illustration tools. Modern DD employees typically work with software like AutoCAD, GIS systems, and digital design platforms rather than traditional drafting tables. Positions are concentrated at departments with significant infrastructure and engineering programs — National Defence, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and Natural Resources Canada.

The DD group is one of the smaller classifications in the federal public service and has been shrinking over time as digital tools have consolidated drafting, illustration, and design functions. Many functions that were historically DD work have been absorbed into other classifications or contracted out. However, specialized technical illustration — particularly for military technical manuals, geological surveys, and engineering blueprints — remains a federal requirement that DD employees fulfill.

Want to know your take-home pay after taxes and deductions? Use the take-home pay calculator or compare DD with other classifications.