PC Salary 2026: $73,901$150,988Physical Sciences (Government of Canada)

Effective Date: 2025-10-01 · Verified 2026-04-26

PC rates of pay for all PC (Physical Sciences) levels in the Canadian federal public service, 2026. Salaries range from $73,901 to $150,988 across 5 levels. Category: Science & Policy. Source: Treasury Board collective agreements.

PC (Physical Sciences) annual rates of pay by level and step, effective 2025-10-01
LevelStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Step 6
PC-01
$73,901
~$53K net
$76,955
~$54K net
$80,005
~$56K net
$83,062
~$58K net
$86,119
~$60K net
PC-02
$84,382
~$59K net
$87,726
~$61K net
$91,057
~$63K net
$94,405
~$65K net
$97,740
~$67K net
$101,162
~$69K net
PC-03
$101,672
~$70K net
$105,530
~$72K net
$109,409
~$74K net
$113,263
~$77K net
$117,127
~$79K net
$120,986
~$81K net
PC-04
$117,799
~$80K net
$121,918
~$82K net
$126,040
~$84K net
$130,164
~$87K net
$134,281
~$89K net
$138,404
~$91K net
PC-05
$132,710
~$88K net
$137,265
~$90K net
$141,841
~$93K net
$146,416
~$95K net
$150,988
~$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

PC-01

$73,901$86,119

$2,842$3,312 biweekly (before deductions)

Rates effective from 2025-10-01 · Last verified 2026-04-26 · methodology

PC-01 pay raise history (rates from previous collective agreements)
Previous PC-01 rates of pay, by effective date and step.
Effective DateStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5
2025-10-01$73,901$76,955$80,005$83,062$86,119
2024-10-01$72,452$75,446$78,436$81,433$84,430
2023-10-01$70,854$73,782$76,706$79,637$82,568
2022-10-01$68,448$71,277$74,101$76,933$79,764
2021-10-01$65,317$68,016$70,711$73,414$76,115

PCPhysical Sciences

$73,901$150,988

$2,842$5,807 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 PC Classification

The PC (Physical Sciences) group covers physicists, meteorologists, hydrologists, geologists, and other physical scientists working in the federal government. PC employees are the scientists behind Canada's weather forecasts, climate monitoring, geological surveys, and environmental physics research. The largest employer is Environment and Climate Change Canada's Meteorological Service, where PC meteorologists produce the weather forecasts and warnings that Canadians rely on daily.

PC-01 covers junior scientists and meteorologists in training. PC-02 is the working-level operational meteorologist or research scientist. PC-03 covers senior scientists, chief meteorologists, and regional program leads. PC-04 and PC-05 are director-level science managers. Operational meteorologists often work rotating shifts to provide 24/7 weather forecasting coverage, and their compensation includes shift premiums on top of base salary.

The PC group is represented by PIPSC under the Applied Science and Patent Examination (SP) collective agreement. PC scientists play a critical role in Canadian public safety — severe weather warnings, flood forecasting, earthquake monitoring, and climate change research all depend on PC expertise. The classification offers unique career opportunities: few other employers offer the chance to work with Canada's supercomputer-powered weather prediction models, national seismic monitoring networks, or Arctic climate observatories.

PC Tools and Related Resources

Other Science & Policy classifications

PC salary — frequently asked questions

What is the PC salary range?

The PC (Physical Sciences) salary range is $73,901 to $150,988 per year as of 2025-10-01, across 5 levels (PC-01, PC-02, PC-03, PC-04, PC-05). Rates are sourced from publicly published collective agreements.

What does PC stand for in the Government of Canada?

PC is the Treasury Board classification code for Physical Sciences positions in the Government of Canada. It covers 5 levels (PC-01, PC-02, PC-03, PC-04, PC-05) reflecting different levels of responsibility and seniority.

How much does a PC-01 make?

A PC-01 earns $73,901 (Step 1) to $86,119 (Step 5) per year as of 2025-10-01.

How much does a PC-02 make?

A PC-02 earns $84,382 (Step 1) to $101,162 (Step 6) per year as of 2025-10-01.

How much does a PC-03 make?

A PC-03 earns $101,672 (Step 1) to $120,986 (Step 6) per year as of 2025-10-01.

How much does a PC-04 make?

A PC-04 earns $117,799 (Step 1) to $138,404 (Step 6) per year as of 2025-10-01.

How much does a PC-05 make?

A PC-05 earns $132,710 (Step 1) to $150,988 (Step 5) per year as of 2025-10-01. PC-05 is the senior-most level in the PC group.

When was the PC pay scale last updated?

The current PC pay scale on FedPay.ca is effective 2025-10-01, with a total of 28 pay steps across 5 levels. Data is verified against Treasury Board collective agreements regularly.

What is the PC take-home pay after taxes?

PC 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 PC level and step.