Trends
The state of Ontario's public sector payroll
Total compensation disclosed on the Sunshine List ($100k+ earners), since 1996 — and where it goes.
Disclosed payroll (2025)
$54.4 billion
404,922 people
Year-over-year
+8.1%
change in disclosed payroll
Since 1996
4,698 → 404,922
people on the list
Total disclosed payroll by year
Total salaries disclosed ($)
Where it goes — 2025 by sector
Sectors ranked by total disclosed payroll.
| Sector | People | Total payroll | Avg salary | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Boards | 112,654 | $13.9 billion | $122,996 | 25.5% |
| Municipalities and Services | 92,492 | $12.3 billion | $133,194 | 22.7% |
| Hospitals and Boards of Public Health | 74,777 | $9.5 billion | $126,617 | 17.4% |
| Government of Ontario – Ministries | 35,897 | $5.2 billion | $144,785 | 9.6% |
| Universities | 30,975 | $5.1 billion | $165,197 | 9.4% |
| Crown Agencies | 19,087 | $2.7 billion | $139,003 | 4.9% |
| Other Public Sector Employers | 15,721 | $2.1 billion | $135,603 | 3.9% |
| Ontario Power Generation | 10,672 | $1.8 billion | $170,459 | 3.3% |
| Colleges | 10,926 | $1.4 billion | $131,576 | 2.6% |
| Government of Ontario : Judiciary | 733 | $208.4 million | $284,261 | 0.4% |
| Government of Ontario – Legislative Assembly and Offices | 800 | $118.4 million | $147,995 | 0.2% |
| Seconded (Education)* | 132 | $17.2 million | $130,296 | 0.0% |
| Seconded (Solicitor General) | 42 | $6.2 million | $146,576 | 0.0% |
| Seconded (Health) | 4 | $1.4 million | $347,894 | 0.0% |
| Seconded (Citizenship and Multiculturalism)* | 7 | $999,666 | $142,809 | 0.0% |
| Seconded (Children, Community and Social Services)* | 1 | $168,905 | $168,905 | 0.0% |
| Seconded (Tourism, Culture and Gaming)* | 1 | $163,306 | $163,306 | 0.0% |
| Seconded (Cabinet Office)* | 1 | $125,205 | $125,205 | 0.0% |
Figures are nominal dollars as disclosed. See the inflation analysis for how the frozen $100,000 threshold inflates these counts over time.