Cross-country comparison
DS-4 (Canada) vs GS-12 (United States)
Canada · Core Public Administration classification
DS-4
Defence Scientific Service — DS-4.
$114,539 – $145,934
FY 2026 · annual base · CAD
View full DS-4 detail →United States · General Schedule (GS)
GS-12
Senior specialist and first-line supervisor level. Most common grade for experienced federal professionals.
$76,463 – $99,404
FY 2026 · annual base · USD
View full GS-12 detail →How they compare
A DS-4 in the Canada federal civil service earns between $114,539 and $145,934 per year at base rates, while a GS-12 in the United States federal civil service earns between $76,463 and $99,404. Both figures are annual base in each country’s currency, before locality adjustments, allowances, or bonuses.
Responsibilities at these grades are not directly comparable — each country’s civil service uses its own classification framework. See the linked authoritative sources for role scoping.