PY Rates of Pay – Photography (Government of Canada)

PY rates of pay for all PY (Photography) levels in the Canadian federal public service, 2026. Salaries range from $41,191 to $78,067 across 7 levels. Category: Technical & IT. Source: Treasury Board collective agreements.

PY – Photography

$41,191 – $78,067

$1,584 – $3,003 biweekly (before deductions)

7 levels · Salary data from Treasury Board collective agreements

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

All PY Levels

Level	Steps	Step 1	Max Step
PY-01	5	$41,191	$46,248
PY-02	5	$47,052	$53,047
PY-03	5	$51,289	$57,963
PY-04	5	$55,347	$62,712
PY-05	6	$58,403	$67,852
PY-06	6	$62,569	$73,246
PY-07	6	$66,690	$78,067

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About the PY Classification

The PY (Photography) group covers photographers and imaging specialists working for the federal government. PY employees produce official photographs, documentary imagery, forensic photography, aerial photography, and specialized scientific imaging across federal departments. The largest concentrations are at National Defence (military photography and combat camera), the RCMP (forensic photography), and Library and Archives Canada (archival reproduction).

PY-01 through PY-03 cover photographers at various experience levels — from assistants to fully independent photographers handling complex assignments. PY-04 and above are senior specialists and supervisors managing photographic programs. Modern PY work has expanded well beyond traditional photography to include video production, drone imaging, digital asset management, and specialized scientific imaging techniques.

The PY group is relatively small and has evolved considerably with digital technology. Military PY photographers (combat camera operators) deploy with Canadian Armed Forces operations to document military activities — their work appears in official publications, media releases, and historical archives. RCMP PY specialists produce forensic imagery for criminal investigations. While the group has contracted as digital cameras have made basic photography accessible to non-specialists, specialized imaging skills — forensic photography, aerial survey photography, and archival preservation photography — maintain demand for dedicated PY positions.

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