STD Salary 2026: $65,640–$78,708 — Steward (Government of Canada)

About the STD Classification

The STD (Steward) group covers food service workers, cooks, and stewards employed aboard Canadian Coast Guard vessels and at other federal maritime facilities. STD employees prepare meals, manage food storage and provisioning, maintain galley cleanliness, and provide food service aboard federal vessels during voyages that can last weeks at a time. Proper food service at sea is critical to crew morale and operational effectiveness.

STD-01 through STD-04 cover food service workers from entry-level helpers through experienced cooks. STD-05 through STD-07 are senior cooks and chief stewards responsible for managing all food service operations aboard a vessel or at a shore facility. Many STD positions require food safety certification and commercial cooking experience. The work aboard ship involves operating a full commercial kitchen in a moving vessel, often in rough seas.

Federal maritime food service is a specialized niche — STD employees must manage provisioning for extended voyages, prepare meals in compact galley spaces, accommodate dietary requirements and food allergies, and maintain food safety standards in the challenging marine environment. The STD group is represented by PSAC. While the work is demanding and involves extended time at sea, federal maritime food service positions offer better compensation, benefits, and job security than most equivalent positions in the commercial maritime or food service industries.