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-MOFMedicine - Medical Officer5$154,431$307,408
7MD-MSPMedicine - Medical Specialist3$225,257$301,276
8EXExecutive5$137,524$260,719
9EXExecutive (CRA)6$137,524$260,719
10DSDefence Scientific Service9$66,932$260,718
11LCLaw Management4$169,714$257,737
12RM-COCommissioned Officer (RCMP)6$157,916$256,893
13LPLaw Practitioner3$93,262$228,084
14ACActuarial Science3$87,938$199,274
15ETPEngineering Test Pilot2$158,684$196,143
16ACActuarial Science (CRA)3$74,578$188,385
17SG-PATScientific Regulation - PAT7$82,617$186,064
18ENEngineering & Land Survey11$79,774$182,954
19SE-RESScientific Research - Research Scientist (CRA)5$70,394$181,949
20UNMAUnison Market Allowance (CSE - CS / Engineering)8$66,959$178,023
21CSComputer Systems (CRA)5$72,984$177,568
22SO-MAOShips' Officers - Marine Operations12$73,984$176,539
23ARArchitecture & Town Planning6$77,884$176,475
24SEScientific Research7$68,264$176,445
25ESEconomics, Sociology and Statistics (CRA)8$62,411$176,380
26RM-AMERCMP - Aircraft Maintenance Engineer3$112,295$174,303
27ITInformation Technology5$69,361$174,076
28CAICivil Aviation Inspector5$113,124$172,529
29SE-REMScientific Research - Research Manager (CRA)2$112,699$169,612
30CSISCSIS Pay Scale (Canadian Security Intelligence Service)11$42,579$168,915
31RM-PTRCMP - Police Training3$117,764$167,064
32NUNursing15$92,983$166,967
33DEDentistry3$104,698$166,437
34UTUniversity Teaching4$71,942$165,100
35SISocial Science Support (CRA)8$62,411$164,819
36AUAuditing (CRA)6$73,100$164,719
37CTComptrollership14$66,982$162,673
38FSForeign Service4$81,792$162,462
39PM-MCOProgramme Administration - Mediation Conciliation4$96,394$161,893
40HPSHelicopter Pilot and Supervisor3$123,994$161,771
41SR-MGTShip Repair - Management (West)2$125,199$161,464
42COCommerce (CRA)4$67,858$160,985
43MTMeteorology7$73,196$160,441
44MAMathematics6$68,826$160,009
45AIAir Traffic Control7$65,761$159,933
46SO-INSShips' Officers - Inspection2$112,176$159,697
47UNIUnison (CSE - General)11$45,878$159,565
48ECEconomics and Social Science Services8$62,871$159,046
49EN-ENGEngineering (CRA)6$56,527$158,073
50VMVeterinary Medicine5$86,409$157,818
51FBBorder Services8$75,051$156,825
52SISocial Science Support (CFIA)8$57,685$155,655
53PSPsychology5$67,094$155,409
54PCPhysical Sciences (CRA)5$44,292$154,773
55MG-AFSManagement - Audit, Financial and Scientific (CRA)6$68,920$153,072
56COCommerce4$69,552$152,845
57SG-SREScientific Regulation - SRE7$74,408$151,751
58FIFinancial Management (CRA)4$66,950$151,745
59FIFinancial Management4$66,982$151,719
60FRFirefighters8$83,445$151,417
61PCPhysical Sciences5$73,901$150,988
62AUAuditing6$69,070$150,692
63RMRegular Member (RCMP)5$71,191$150,524
64BIBiological Sciences5$72,458$150,293
65CHChemistry5$72,458$150,293
66AGAgriculture5$72,458$150,293
67MG-SPSManagement - Services and Programs (CRA)6$67,133$149,100
68FIFinancial Administration (CFIA)4$65,004$148,759
69PHPharmacy3$103,437$148,657
70CHChemistry (CRA)5$44,786$148,213
71HRHuman Resources (CRA)7$44,894$144,765
72PSPsychology (CRA)5$60,046$144,572
73LSLibrary Science (CRA)5$74,764$144,406
74WPWelfare Programmes7$46,685$143,124
75FOForestry4$70,393$142,436
76ASAdministrative Services (CFIA)8$63,331$140,565
77PMProgramme Administration (CFIA)7$63,331$140,565
78PEPersonnel Administration7$41,400$139,847
79ELElectronics9$42,776$139,038
80GTGeneral Technical (CFIA)8$52,315$138,975
81LSLibrary Science5$73,440$137,979
82TRTranslation5$67,270$137,916
83GTGeneral Technical8$51,899$137,872
84SPServices and Programs (CRA)10$46,904$137,273
85ASAdministrative Services8$61,786$137,135
86NDNutrition & Dietetics11$83,561$136,264
87HRHistorical Research5$73,250$135,867
88EDEducation9$59,274$135,181
89EDSEducation Services - Language Teaching (CRA)5$83,759$135,105
90SWSocial Work8$63,810$135,009
91PGPurchasing & Supply6$53,647$133,203
92ISInformation Services (CFIA)6$63,331$132,244
93EGEngineering & Scientific Support8$53,898$132,037
94EGEngineering and Scientific Support (CFIA)8$53,548$132,030
95NCMNon-Commissioned Member (Canadian Armed Forces)7$52,044$132,012
96SO-FLPShips' Officers - Fleet7$80,287$131,711
97RM-SERCMP - Special Equipment5$69,356$129,996
98PMProgramme Administration6$61,786$129,017
99ISInformation Services6$61,786$129,017
100OPOccupational & Physical Therapy3$95,159$128,149
101PRSPrinting Operations (Supervisory)5$62,268$126,930
102TITechnical Inspection8$54,407$123,889
103SRCShip Repair Chargehand (East)1$106,907$123,105
104PIPrimary Products Inspection8$57,328$122,963
105CXCorrectional Services4$77,510$121,498
106OMOrganization and Methods6$32,477$116,185
107RORadio Operations7$34,543$115,488
108NUNursing - Medical Adjudicator (CRA)2$90,654$111,956
109SRShip Repair (East)12$71,104$109,004
110SO-RADShips' Officers - Radio3$85,400$104,955
111PO-TCOPolice Operations - Telecommunications4$65,714$104,489
112LES-TOLaw Enforcement Support - Technical Operations4$65,714$104,489
113EUEducational Support3$46,772$102,314
114DDDrafting & Illustration9$37,260$100,408
115PO-IMAPolice Operations - Intelligence3$60,763$95,864
116LES-IMLaw Enforcement Support - Immigration3$60,763$95,864
117RM-PRORCMP - Professional2$72,639$92,620
118CRClerical and Regulatory (CFIA)7$42,283$86,215
119CRClerical and Regulatory7$41,947$85,533
120LILightkeepers9$46,061$85,274
121SCShips' Crew7$65,640$78,708
122STDSteward7$65,640$78,708
123PYPhotography7$41,191$78,067
124CMCommunications7$37,933$76,137

Rates last updated: July 2026

Highest Paying Government of Canada Jobs

The Government of Canada employs over 360,000 public servants across more than 100 classification groups, with salaries ranging from $32,000 to over $307,000. The highest-paying positions are concentrated in the Medical (MD), Executive (EX), Defence Science (DS), and Law Management (LC) 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-MOF-05 – Senior Medical Officer: up to $307,408
  2. MD-MSP-03 – Medical Specialist 3: up to $301,276
  3. MD-MSP-02 – Medical Specialist 2: up to $266,454
  4. MD-MOF-04 – Medical Officer 4: up to $264,917
  5. EX-05 – Assistant Deputy Minister: up to $260,719
  6. DS-8 – Senior Defence Scientist: up to $260,718
  7. LC-04 – Law Management 4: up to $257,737
  8. LC-03 – Law Management 3: up to $251,516
  9. LC-02 – Law Management 2: up to $244,726
  10. EX-04 – Associate ADM: up to $232,676

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 Senior Medical Officer (MD-MOF-05) at up to $307,408 per year. This is followed by Medical Specialist 3 (MD-MSP-03, $301,276), Medical Specialist 2 (MD-MSP-02, $266,454), and Executive 5 (EX-05, $260,719). Among non-executive, non-medical roles, Defence Scientist (DS-8, $260,718) and Law Management 4 (LC-04, $257,737) 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-MOF-05 ($307K), MD-MSP-03 ($301K), MD-MSP-02 ($266K), MD-MOF-04 ($265K), EX-05 ($261K), DS-8 ($261K), LC-04 ($258K), LC-03 ($252K), LC-02 ($245K), and EX-04 ($233K). 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.