CH Salary 2026: $72,458–$150,293 — Chemistry (Government of Canada)
Effective Date: 2025-10-01 · Verified 2026-04-26
CH rates of pay for all CH (Chemistry) levels in the Canadian federal public service, 2026. Salaries range from $72,458 to $150,293 across 5 levels. Category: Science & Policy. Source: Treasury Board collective agreements.
| Level | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH-01 | $72,458 ~$52K net | $75,162 ~$53K net | $77,868 ~$55K net | $80,570 ~$56K net | $83,280 ~$58K net | $85,423 ~$59K net | — | — |
| CH-02 | $74,292 ~$53K net | $77,774 ~$55K net | $81,255 ~$57K net | $84,756 ~$59K net | $88,218 ~$61K net | $91,521 ~$63K net | $96,340 ~$66K net | $101,162 ~$69K net |
| CH-03 | $93,431 ~$64K net | $97,624 ~$67K net | $101,804 ~$70K net | $105,991 ~$72K net | $110,176 ~$75K net | $114,363 ~$77K net | $118,547 ~$80K net | $120,292 ~$81K net |
| CH-04 | $115,894 ~$78K net | $120,056 ~$81K net | $124,223 ~$83K net | $128,388 ~$86K net | $132,710 ~$88K net | $137,710 ~$91K net | — | — |
| CH-05 | $128,349 ~$86K net | $133,432 ~$88K net | $138,514 ~$91K net | $143,592 ~$93K net | $146,416 ~$95K net | $150,293 ~$97K net | — | — |
Net estimates assume Ontario, no dependents, PSPP Group 2 (post-2013 hire). Use the calculator for your full situation including province, marital status, RRSP, union dues, and pension group.
Select a level for full step breakdown
CH-01
$72,458 – $85,423
$2,787 – $3,286 biweekly (before deductions)
Rates effective from 2025-10-01 · Last verified 2026-04-26 · methodology
CH-01 pay raise history (rates from previous collective agreements)
| Effective Date | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-01 | $72,458 | $75,162 | $77,868 | $80,570 | $83,280 | $85,423 |
| 2024-10-01 | $71,037 | $73,688 | $76,341 | $78,990 | $81,647 | $83,748 |
| 2023-10-01 | $69,471 | $72,063 | $74,658 | $77,248 | $79,846 | $81,901 |
| 2022-10-01 | $67,112 | $69,616 | $72,123 | $74,625 | $77,135 | $79,120 |
| 2021-10-01 | $64,042 | $66,432 | $68,824 | $71,212 | $73,607 | $75,500 |
CH – Chemistry
$72,458 – $150,293
$2,787 – $5,781 biweekly (before deductions)
5 levels · Salary data from Treasury Board collective agreements
Rates effective from 2025-10-01 · Last verified 2026-04-26 · methodology
About the CH Classification
The CH (Chemistry) group covers chemists and chemical scientists working in federal laboratories and research facilities. CH employees conduct analytical chemistry, environmental testing, forensic analysis, food safety testing, and research chemistry across departments including Health Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the National Research Council, Natural Resources Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police forensic laboratories.
CH-01 covers junior chemists and laboratory assistants. CH-02 is the working-level analytical or research chemist conducting independent analyses and investigations. CH-03 covers senior chemists and laboratory managers. CH-04 and above are director-level positions managing chemistry programs and research divisions. Most CH positions require a degree in chemistry or a closely related field, with graduate degrees preferred for research-oriented roles.
The CH group is represented by PIPSC under the Applied Science and Patent Examination (SP) collective agreement. Federal chemistry work spans a remarkable range: from testing drinking water quality on First Nations reserves to analyzing seized narcotics for RCMP criminal cases to conducting cutting-edge materials research at the National Research Council. CH scientists often operate highly specialized instrumentation — mass spectrometers, chromatography systems, and spectroscopic equipment — that represents millions of dollars in federal research infrastructure.
CH Tools and Related Resources
CH net pay after federal + provincial tax, CPP, EI, PSPP
Compare with other classificationsSide-by-side CH vs AS, EC, IT, FI, PM
CH raise history vs CPICumulative raise vs Statistics Canada inflation
Other Science & Policy classifications
CH salary — frequently asked questions
What is the CH salary range?
The CH (Chemistry) salary range is $72,458 to $150,293 per year as of 2025-10-01, across 5 levels (CH-01, CH-02, CH-03, CH-04, CH-05). Rates are sourced from publicly published collective agreements.
What does CH stand for in the Government of Canada?
CH is the Treasury Board classification code for Chemistry positions in the Government of Canada. It covers 5 levels (CH-01, CH-02, CH-03, CH-04, CH-05) reflecting different levels of responsibility and seniority.
How much does a CH-01 make?
A CH-01 earns $72,458 (Step 1) to $85,423 (Step 6) per year as of 2025-10-01.
How much does a CH-02 make?
A CH-02 earns $74,292 (Step 1) to $101,162 (Step 8) per year as of 2025-10-01.
How much does a CH-03 make?
A CH-03 earns $93,431 (Step 1) to $120,292 (Step 8) per year as of 2025-10-01.
How much does a CH-04 make?
A CH-04 earns $115,894 (Step 1) to $137,710 (Step 6) per year as of 2025-10-01.
How much does a CH-05 make?
A CH-05 earns $128,349 (Step 1) to $150,293 (Step 6) per year as of 2025-10-01. CH-05 is the senior-most level in the CH group.
When was the CH pay scale last updated?
The current CH pay scale on FedPay.ca is effective 2025-10-01, with a total of 34 pay steps across 5 levels. Data is verified against Treasury Board collective agreements regularly.
What is the CH take-home pay after taxes?
CH take-home pay depends on your level, step, province, and pension group. Use the FedPay.ca take-home pay calculator at fedpay.ca/take-home to see your net pay after federal tax, provincial tax, CPP, EI, and Public Service Pension Plan contributions for any CH level and step.