Highest Paying Federal Jobs

Rankings of the highest-paying federal public service classifications in Canada, from EX and LC to IT, EC, and FI.

#ClassificationLevelsMin SalaryMax Salary ↓
1CEOCrown Corporation CEOs8$161,000$674,700
2GCQGovernor in Council Quasi-judicial Appointees10$105,500$474,100
3DMDeputy Minister4$248,400$420,600
4GCGovernor in Council Appointees10$95,700$393,900
5OFFROfficer (Canadian Armed Forces, General Service)10$34,956$355,428
6MD-MSPMedicine - Medical Specialist2$225,257$266,454
7MD-MOFMedicine - Medical Officer4$154,431$264,917
8EXExecutive5$137,524$260,719
9EXExecutive (CRA)6$137,524$260,719
10LPLaw Practitioner3$93,262$228,084
11ACActuarial Science3$87,938$199,274
12ACActuarial Science (CRA)3$74,578$188,385
13ETPEngineering Test Pilot1$158,684$186,445
14DSDefence Scientific Service6$66,932$183,376
15ENEngineering & Land Survey11$79,774$182,954
16SE-RESScientific Research - Research Scientist (CRA)5$70,394$181,949
17UNMAUnison Market Allowance (CSE - CS / Engineering)8$66,959$178,023
18CSComputer Systems (CRA)5$72,984$177,568
19SO-MAOShips' Officers - Marine Operations12$73,984$176,539
20ARArchitecture & Town Planning6$77,884$176,475
21SEScientific Research7$68,264$176,445
22ESEconomics, Sociology and Statistics (CRA)8$62,411$176,380
23RM-AMERCMP - Aircraft Maintenance Engineer3$112,295$174,303
24ITInformation Technology5$69,361$174,076
25CAICivil Aviation Inspector5$113,124$172,529
26SE-REMScientific Research - Research Manager (CRA)2$112,699$169,612
27CSISCSIS Pay Scale (Canadian Security Intelligence Service)11$42,579$168,915
28RM-PTRCMP - Police Training3$117,764$167,064
29NUNursing15$92,983$166,967
30SG-PATScientific Regulation - PAT6$82,617$166,701
31DEDentistry3$104,698$166,437
32UTUniversity Teaching4$71,942$165,100
33SISocial Science Support (CRA)8$62,411$164,819
34AUAuditing (CRA)6$73,100$164,719
35CTComptrollership14$66,982$162,673
36FSForeign Service4$81,792$162,462
37HPSHelicopter Pilot and Supervisor3$123,994$161,771
38COCommerce (CRA)4$67,858$160,985
39MAMathematics6$68,826$160,009
40AIAir Traffic Control7$65,761$159,933
41SO-INSShips' Officers - Inspection2$112,176$159,697
42UNIUnison (CSE - General)11$45,878$159,565
43ECEconomics and Social Science Services8$62,871$159,046
44EN-ENGEngineering (CRA)6$56,527$158,073
45VMVeterinary Medicine5$86,409$157,818
46FBBorder Services8$75,051$156,825
47SISocial Science Support (CFIA)8$57,685$155,655
48PSPsychology5$67,094$155,409
49PCPhysical Sciences (CRA)5$44,292$154,773
50MG-AFSManagement - Audit, Financial and Scientific (CRA)6$68,920$153,072
51COCommerce4$69,552$152,845
52SG-SREScientific Regulation - SRE7$74,408$151,751
53FIFinancial Management (CRA)4$66,950$151,745
54FIFinancial Management4$66,982$151,719
55PCPhysical Sciences5$73,901$150,988
56AUAuditing6$69,070$150,692
57RMRegular Member (RCMP)5$71,191$150,524
58BIBiological Sciences5$72,458$150,293
59CHChemistry5$72,458$150,293
60AGAgriculture5$72,458$150,293
61MG-SPSManagement - Services and Programs (CRA)6$67,133$149,100
62MTMeteorology6$73,196$149,017
63FIFinancial Administration (CFIA)4$65,004$148,759
64PHPharmacy3$103,437$148,657
65CHChemistry (CRA)5$44,786$148,213
66HRHuman Resources (CRA)7$44,894$144,765
67PSPsychology (CRA)5$60,046$144,572
68LSLibrary Science (CRA)5$74,764$144,406
69FOForestry4$70,393$142,436
70ASAdministrative Services (CFIA)8$63,331$140,565
71PMProgramme Administration (CFIA)7$63,331$140,565
72ELElectronics9$42,776$139,038
73GTGeneral Technical (CFIA)8$52,315$138,975
74LSLibrary Science5$73,440$137,979
75TRTranslation5$67,270$137,916
76GTGeneral Technical8$51,899$137,872
77SPServices and Programs (CRA)10$46,904$137,273
78WPWelfare Programmes6$46,685$136,340
79NDNutrition & Dietetics11$83,561$136,264
80HRHistorical Research5$73,250$135,867
81EDSEducation Services - Language Teaching (CRA)5$83,759$135,105
82SWSocial Work8$63,810$135,009
83PGPurchasing & Supply6$53,647$133,203
84FRFirefighters6$83,445$132,900
85ISInformation Services (CFIA)6$63,331$132,244
86EGEngineering & Scientific Support8$53,898$132,037
87EGEngineering and Scientific Support (CFIA)8$53,548$132,030
88NCMNon-Commissioned Member (Canadian Armed Forces)7$52,044$132,012
89SO-FLPShips' Officers - Fleet7$80,287$131,711
90RM-SERCMP - Special Equipment5$69,356$129,996
91ASAdministrative Services7$61,786$129,017
92PMProgramme Administration6$61,786$129,017
93ISInformation Services6$61,786$129,017
94EDEducation7$59,274$128,784
95OPOccupational & Physical Therapy3$95,159$128,149
96PRSPrinting Operations (Supervisory)5$62,268$126,930
97PEPersonnel Administration5$64,261$126,079
98TITechnical Inspection8$54,407$123,889
99SRCShip Repair Chargehand (East)1$106,907$123,105
100RORadio Operations7$34,543$115,488
101PIPrimary Products Inspection7$57,328$112,019
102NUNursing - Medical Adjudicator (CRA)2$90,654$111,956
103CXCorrectional Services3$77,510$111,905
104SRShip Repair (East)12$71,104$109,004
105SO-RADShips' Officers - Radio3$85,400$104,955
106PO-TCOPolice Operations - Telecommunications4$65,714$104,489
107LES-TOLaw Enforcement Support - Technical Operations4$65,714$104,489
108EUEducational Support3$46,772$102,314
109DDDrafting & Illustration9$37,260$100,408
110PO-IMAPolice Operations - Intelligence3$60,763$95,864
111LES-IMLaw Enforcement Support - Immigration3$60,763$95,864
112RM-PRORCMP - Professional2$72,639$92,620
113CRClerical and Regulatory (CFIA)7$42,283$86,215
114CRClerical and Regulatory7$41,947$85,533
115LILightkeepers9$46,061$85,274
116SCShips' Crew7$65,640$78,708
117STDSteward7$65,640$78,708
118PYPhotography7$41,191$78,067
119CMCommunications7$37,933$76,137

Rates last updated: April 2026

Highest Paying Government of Canada Jobs

The Government of Canada employs over 360,000 public servants across more than 60 classification groups, with salaries ranging from $42,000 to over $266,000. The highest-paying positions are concentrated in the Medical (MD), Executive (EX), Law (LP/LC), Information Technology (IT), and Economics (EC) groups. All salary rates are determined by Treasury Board collective agreements and updated when new agreements are signed.

Top 10 Highest Paying Federal Classifications (2026)

  1. MD-MSP – Medical Specialist: up to $266,454
  2. MD-MOF – Medical Officer: up to $264,917
  3. EX-05 – Assistant Deputy Minister: up to $260,719
  4. EX-04 – Associate ADM: up to $232,676
  5. LP-03 – Law Practitioner 3: up to $228,084
  6. EX-03 – Director General: up to $202,918
  7. DS-7 – Senior Defence Scientist: up to $183,376
  8. EX-02 – Senior Director: up to $181,365
  9. DS-6 – Defence Scientist: up to $176,619
  10. IT-05 – Senior IT Director: up to $174,076

Source: Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat collective agreements, 2026 rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest paying government job in Canada?

The highest-paying Government of Canada job is Medical Specialist (MD-MSP) at up to $266,454 per year. This is followed by Medical Officer (MD-MOF, $264,917), Executive 5 (EX-05, $260,719), and Law Practitioner 3 (LP-03, $228,084). Among non-executive, non-medical roles, IT-05 ($174,076) and EC-08 ($159,046) are the top earners.

How much do federal government executives make in Canada?

Federal government executives (EX group) in Canada earn between $137,524 (EX-01 minimum) and $260,719 (EX-05 maximum) per year. EX salaries are set by the Governor in Council on Treasury Board advice rather than through collective bargaining. Total compensation for executives also includes at-risk performance pay (up to 12% at EX-01–03 and up to 26% at EX-04/05), plus an additional Outstanding-rating bonus.

What are the highest paying federal government classifications?

The top 10 highest-paying federal classifications by maximum salary are: MD-MSP ($266K), MD-MOF ($265K), EX-05 ($261K), EX-04 ($233K), LP-03 ($228K), EX-03 ($203K), EX-02 ($181K), DS-7 ($183K), IT-05 ($174K), and EC-08 ($159K). These figures reflect 2026 Treasury Board rates.

Do federal government IT jobs pay well in Canada?

Yes. The IT classification group is one of the highest-paying non-executive groups in the federal government. IT salaries range from $69,361 (IT-01, Step 1) to $174,076 (IT-05, max step). An IT-03 earns $101,343–$125,914, making it competitive with private sector salaries when pension and benefits are included.