Highest Paying Federal Jobs

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

#	Classification	Levels	Min Salary	Max Salary ↓
1	MD-MSPMedicine - Medical Specialist	2	$225,257	$266,454
2	MD-MOFMedicine - Medical Officer	4	$154,431	$264,917
3	EXExecutive	5	$137,524	$260,719
4	LPLaw Practitioner	3	$93,262	$228,084
5	ACActuarial Science	3	$87,938	$199,274
6	ETPEngineering Test Pilot	1	$158,684	$186,445
7	DSDefence Scientific Service	6	$66,932	$183,376
8	ENEngineering & Land Survey	11	$79,774	$182,954
9	SO-MAOShips' Officers - Marine Operations	12	$73,984	$176,539
10	ARArchitecture & Town Planning	6	$77,884	$176,475
11	SEScientific Research	7	$68,264	$176,445
12	RM-AMERCMP - Aircraft Maintenance Engineer	3	$112,295	$174,303
13	ITInformation Technology	5	$69,361	$174,076
14	CAICivil Aviation Inspector	5	$113,124	$172,529
15	RM-PTRCMP - Police Training	3	$117,764	$167,064
16	NUNursing	15	$92,983	$166,967
17	SG-PATScientific Regulation - PAT	6	$82,617	$166,701
18	DEDentistry	3	$104,698	$166,437
19	UTUniversity Teaching	4	$71,942	$165,100
20	CTComptrollership	14	$66,982	$162,673
21	FSForeign Service	4	$81,792	$162,462
22	HPSHelicopter Pilot and Supervisor	3	$123,994	$161,771
23	MAMathematics	6	$68,826	$160,009
24	AIAir Traffic Control	7	$65,761	$159,933
25	SO-INSShips' Officers - Inspection	2	$112,176	$159,697
26	ECEconomics and Social Science Services	8	$62,871	$159,046
27	VMVeterinary Medicine	5	$86,409	$157,818
28	FBBorder Services	8	$75,051	$156,825
29	PSPsychology	5	$67,094	$155,409
30	COCommerce	4	$69,552	$152,845
31	SG-SREScientific Regulation - SRE	7	$74,408	$151,751
32	FIFinancial Management	4	$66,982	$151,719
33	PCPhysical Sciences	5	$73,901	$150,988
34	AUAuditing	6	$69,070	$150,692
35	BIBiological Sciences	5	$72,458	$150,293
36	CHChemistry	5	$72,458	$150,293
37	AGAgriculture	5	$72,458	$150,293
38	MTMeteorology	6	$73,196	$149,017
39	PHPharmacy	3	$103,437	$148,657
40	FOForestry	4	$70,393	$142,436
41	ELElectronics	9	$42,776	$139,038
42	LSLibrary Science	5	$73,440	$137,979
43	TRTranslation	5	$67,270	$137,916
44	GTGeneral Technical	8	$51,899	$137,872
45	NDNutrition & Dietetics	11	$83,561	$136,264
46	HRHistorical Research	5	$73,250	$135,867
47	SWSocial Work	8	$63,810	$135,009
48	PGPurchasing & Supply	6	$53,647	$133,203
49	FRFirefighters	6	$83,445	$132,900
50	EGEngineering & Scientific Support	8	$53,898	$132,037
51	SO-FLPShips' Officers - Fleet	7	$80,287	$131,711
52	RM-SERCMP - Special Equipment	5	$69,356	$129,996
53	ASAdministrative Services	7	$61,786	$129,017
54	PMProgramme Administration	6	$61,786	$129,017
55	ISInformation Services	6	$61,786	$129,017
56	EDEducation	7	$59,274	$128,784
57	OPOccupational & Physical Therapy	3	$95,159	$128,149
58	PRSPrinting Operations (Supervisory)	5	$62,268	$126,930
59	PEPersonnel Administration	5	$64,261	$126,079
60	TITechnical Inspection	8	$54,407	$123,889
61	SRCShip Repair Chargehand (East)	1	$106,907	$123,105
62	RORadio Operations	7	$34,543	$115,488
63	PIPrimary Products Inspection	7	$57,328	$112,019
64	CXCorrectional Services	3	$77,510	$111,905
65	SRShip Repair (East)	12	$71,104	$109,004
66	SO-RADShips' Officers - Radio	3	$85,400	$104,955
67	PO-TCOPolice Operations - Telecommunications	4	$65,714	$104,489
68	LES-TOLaw Enforcement Support - Technical Operations	4	$65,714	$104,489
69	EUEducational Support	3	$46,772	$102,314
70	DDDrafting & Illustration	9	$37,260	$100,408
71	PO-IMAPolice Operations - Intelligence	3	$60,763	$95,864
72	LES-IMLaw Enforcement Support - Immigration	3	$60,763	$95,864
73	RM-PRORCMP - Professional	2	$72,639	$92,620
74	CRClerical and Regulatory	7	$41,947	$85,533
75	LILightkeepers	9	$46,061	$85,274
76	SCShips' Crew	7	$65,640	$78,708
77	STDSteward	7	$65,640	$78,708
78	PYPhotography	7	$41,191	$78,067

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Rates last updated: April 2026

Highest Paying Government of Canada Jobs

The Government of Canada employs over 300,000 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)

MD-MSP – Medical Specialist: up to $266,454
MD-MOF – Medical Officer: up to $264,917
EX-05 – Executive 5: up to $260,719
EX-04 – Executive 4: up to $228,430
LP-03 – Law Practitioner 3: up to $228,084
EX-03 – Executive 3: up to $202,000
EX-02 – Executive 2: up to $184,100
IT-05 – IT Director: up to $174,076
LC-04 – Law Management 4: up to $170,400
EC-08 – Senior Economist: up to $159,046

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 $138,415 (EX-01) and $260,719 (EX-05) per year. EX salaries are set by the Governor in Council rather than through collective bargaining. Total compensation for executives also includes performance pay, a car allowance, and enhanced benefits.

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 ($228K), LP-03 ($228K), EX-03 ($202K), EX-02 ($184K), IT-05 ($174K), LC-04 ($170K), 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 $69,288 (IT-01, Step 1) to $174,076 (IT-05, max step). An IT-03 earns $101,343–$112,569, making it competitive with private sector salaries when pension and benefits are included.