FO Rates of Pay – Forestry (Government of Canada)
FO rates of pay for all FO (Forestry) levels in the Canadian federal public service, 2026. Salaries range from $70,393 to $142,436 across 4 levels. Category: Science & Policy. Source: Treasury Board collective agreements.
FO – Forestry
$70,393 – $142,436
$2,707 – $5,478 biweekly (before deductions)
4 levels · Salary data from Treasury Board collective agreements
Rates effective from 2025-10-01 · Last verified 2026-04-16 · methodology
All FO Levels
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About the FO Classification
The FO (Forestry) group covers foresters, forest scientists, and forest management professionals working for Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Canadian Forest Service, and Parks Canada. FO employees conduct research on forest health, wildfire behaviour, climate change impacts on forests, timber resource assessment, and sustainable forest management practices. Canada's forests cover 347 million hectares — nearly 9% of the world's forested area — making federal forestry research a globally significant program.
FO-01 covers junior foresters and research assistants. FO-02 is the working-level research forester or forest management specialist. FO-03 covers senior scientists and regional program leads. FO-04 is a director-level position managing major forestry research programs. Most FO positions require a degree in forestry, forest science, or a closely related discipline, with graduate degrees increasingly expected for research-focused roles.
The FO group is represented by PIPSC under the Applied Science and Patent Examination (SP) collective agreement. Federal forestry work is distinct from provincial forest management — federal foresters focus on research, national-level policy, and forest health monitoring rather than operational timber harvesting (which is a provincial responsibility). FO scientists have been at the forefront of wildfire research and climate adaptation science, work that has taken on urgent importance as wildfire seasons in Canada have become longer and more severe.
Want to know your take-home pay after taxes and deductions? Use the take-home pay calculator or compare FO with other classifications.