DE Rates of Pay – Dentistry (Government of Canada)
DE rates of pay for all DE (Dentistry) levels in the Canadian federal public service, 2026. Salaries range from $104,698 to $166,437 across 3 levels. Category: Health & Safety. Source: Treasury Board collective agreements.
DE – Dentistry
$104,698 – $166,437
$4,027 – $6,401 biweekly (before deductions)
3 levels · Salary data from Treasury Board collective agreements
Rates effective from 2025-10-01 · Last verified 2026-04-16 · methodology
All DE Levels
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About the DE Classification
The DE (Dentistry) group covers dentists, oral surgeons, and dental specialists employed by the federal government. DE employees provide dental care primarily through the Canadian Armed Forces dental services, Correctional Service of Canada institutions, and Indigenous Services Canada health programs. Federal dentists serve populations that don't have ready access to private dental care — military personnel, federal inmates, and residents of remote Indigenous communities.
DE positions require a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree and licensure from a provincial dental regulatory authority. The pay scale reflects the professional qualification requirements, with DE salaries among the higher classifications in the federal public service. However, federal dental compensation is substantially lower than private practice income, which creates persistent recruitment and retention challenges.
Federal dental practice offers unique professional experiences unavailable in private practice: military dentists deploy with Canadian Armed Forces operations, correctional dentists manage complex cases in institutional settings, and dentists in Indigenous communities provide care in remote locations with limited resources. The pension, benefits, and regular working hours (compared to private practice) are the primary draws for dentists who choose federal employment over higher-paying private-sector alternatives.
Want to know your take-home pay after taxes and deductions? Use the take-home pay calculator or compare DE with other classifications.