Why does the Sunshine List exist?

It was created to promote transparency and accountability in how public funds are spent in Ontario’s public sector.

Who gets included on the Ontario Sunshine List?

Any employee of a public-sector organization—including ministries, municipalities, hospitals, school boards, universities, colleges, and public utilities—who earns $100,000 or more in the year.

Why is the salary threshold $100,000?

The threshold was set in 1996 and has never been adjusted for inflation, resulting in more employees qualifying over time.

When is the Sunshine List released each year?

Typically in late March, although the exact release date varies slightly each year.

How accurate is the Sunshine List data?

The data is reported by public-sector employers and is generally accurate, although occasional reporting errors may occur.

What types of compensation are included?

Included amounts are salary paid and taxable benefits. Non-taxable allowances and pension contributions are excluded.

Do bonuses count toward the Sunshine List?

Yes. All taxable bonuses are included in the total salary disclosed.

How do I search for someone on the Sunshine List?

Platforms such as PublicPayPulse.com allow users to search by name, job title, employer, salary range, and more.

How can I view year-over-year salary changes?

PublicPayPulse provides historical comparisons showing changes in compensation over time.

Are part-time employees included?

Yes, as long as they earn $100,000 or more during the year.

Does overtime count toward Sunshine List eligibility?

Yes. Overtime earnings are taxable income and therefore included.

Which organizations must report salaries?

All Ontario public-sector organizations, including ministries, municipalities, hospitals, school boards, universities, colleges, transit agencies, and crown corporations.

How many employees appear on the Sunshine List each year?

The list now includes over 300,000 employees, a number that has grown due to inflation and wage increases.

What sectors have the most Sunshine List employees?

Health care, education, municipal government, provincial ministries, and policing are the most represented sectors.

How do employers submit Sunshine List data?

Each employer submits a formal digital report to the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

Is it possible to be removed from the Sunshine List?

No. Once published, the list becomes a permanent public record, except for corrections to reporting errors.

Are pensions or retirement packages included?

No. Pension payments and most severance packages are not considered taxable salary for the purposes of the list.

Can I request corrections to Sunshine List data?

Requests must be made directly to the employer, who may submit an amendment if needed.

Where can I find more detailed Sunshine List analysis?

PublicPayPulse.com provides advanced charts, comparisons, sector overviews, and tools for deeper salary analysis.

Ontario Sunshine List – Complete Guide, Data & Insights

The Ontario Sunshine List is the annual public disclosure of public-sector employees earning $100,000 or more. This page brings together the latest data, trends, highest-paid positions, sector analysis, and expert insights to help journalists, watchdogs, researchers, and the public understand how public sector compensation is evolving in Ontario.

Use this page as your central source for data breakdowns, reports, salary analysis, and coverage of new disclosures every year.

👉 Explore the Interactive Dashboard Now

What Is the Ontario Sunshine List?

The Ontario Sunshine List is released annually under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, requiring all public sector organizations to report:

Employee name
Employer
Job title
Salary
Taxable benefits

It covers sectors including:

Ontario Public Service (OPS)
Municipalities
Police services
Hospitals & healthcare
Universities & colleges
School boards
Agencies, boards & commissions

For a full breakdown, see:
👉 How the Ontario Sunshine List Works

Latest Sunshine List Highlights (2025)

Snapshot of the most recent Sunshine List data.

Total employees earning $100,000+: 377,665
New entrants: 76,985
Year-over-year growth: 25.60%
Fastest-growing sector: School Boards
Top compensated role: CEO (Ontario Power Generation) – $2,010,896
Average salary on the list: $133,143.08
Total expenditure: $50.28 Billion (+ 31.02%)

Full analysis:
👉 The Ontario Sunshine List Predictions for 2026
👉Explore the Interactive Dashboard
👉Search the Ontario Sunshine List Effectively: Tips, Filters & Hidden Features

🏆 Hall of Fame: Top 10 Earners

				Total Compensation

👉Hall of Fame – All Years

Sunshine List Insights & Deep Dives

Salary Trends & Growth Analysis

Highest-Paid Employees in Ontario

Understanding Government Compensation

Featured Posts

Highest-Paid Hospital Executives in Ontario

tl;dr Ontario hospital CEOs are among the highest-paid leaders in the public health system, with compensation often reaching the high six figures. Using Sunshine List data, this article breaks down who earns the most, why hospital executive pay looks the way it does, and how it fits into broader public-sector compensation trends in Ontario. Hospital…
How Much Does Mark Carney Get Paid Per Year?

As Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney’s salary is determined by federal statute under the Salaries Act, which sets compensation for Members of Parliament and cabinet roles. Prime minister pay is standardized and does not vary by individual. According to the Government of Canada and Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s total annual…
What Jobs Pay $500,000 a Year in Canada?

Jobs that pay $500,000 a year or more in Canada are extremely rare and concentrated at the top of specific professions. In the private sector, this income level is most common among senior corporate executives, investment bankers, private equity professionals, hedge fund managers, and partners at large law firms. Compensation at this level usually reflects…
Who Is the Highest-Paid CEO in Canada?

The highest-paid CEO in Canada changes from year to year, but the role is almost always held by the leader of a major bank, energy company, or multinational corporation. In recent years, CEOs of Canada’s largest financial institutions have topped compensation rankings, with total pay packages often exceeding $10 million annually. These figures usually include…
Are Doctors on the Ontario Sunshine List?

Yes, some doctors are on the Ontario Sunshine List, but many are not and that’s where a lot of confusion comes from. The Sunshine List only includes public-sector employees who are paid directly by a public employer and earn more than $100,000 in a calendar year. That means doctors who work as hospital employees, academic…
Who Is the Highest Paid Public Employee in Canada?

As of the most recent disclosures released in March 2025, the answer is clear. Kenneth Hartwick, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), is the highest paid public employee in Canada. According to the latest data, he earned $2,018,436 in 2024. This continues a long-running pattern where OPG’s top executive consistently sits…
How much is Doug Ford’s salary?

If you’re browsing the Ontario Sunshine List and spot Doug Ford’s name, the next question is usually straightforward: how much does the premier actually get paid? Based on the Sunshine List data surfaced on PublicPayPulse, Doug Ford’s total reported compensation is just over $200,000 per year. This amount reflects his combined pay as a Member…
Who Is the Highest Paid on the Sunshine List?

When you look at the actual Sunshine List data on PublicPayPulse, a clear pattern shows up at the very top and it’s not hospitals. Year after year, the highest paid individual on Ontario’s Sunshine List is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Power Generation (OPG). Based on the most recent data, Kenneth Hartwick,…
Sunshine List vs. OPS Statistics What’s the Difference?

tl;dr The Sunshine List shows individual public sector salaries over $100,000.OPS statistics show workforce-wide data like headcounts, averages, and trends.They answer different questions and are often misunderstood as the same thing. If you’ve spent any time looking up public sector pay in Ontario, you’ve probably run into both the Sunshine List and OPS statistics. And…
Search the Ontario Sunshine List Effectively: Tips, Filters & Hidden Features

Introduction If you’ve ever tried to search the Ontario Sunshine List and felt underwhelmed, you’re not alone. Most Sunshine List tools only offer a basic search box and a long table of names. That’s fine if you already know exactly who you’re looking for—but it doesn’t help much if you want context or trends. This…

Tools & Resources

Interactive Tools

Salary Distribution
Sunshine List by Sector
Payroll Growth vs Employee Growth
Historical Sunshine List Data Explorer
OPS Job Salary Tables (Coming Soon)
Newsletter: Sunshine List Alerts 👉 Subscribe for updates on new disclosures and analysis. (Coming Soon)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is included in the Sunshine List?

Public sector employees earning $100,000+ in salary and taxable benefits.

Why does the Sunshine List keep growing?

Inflation, collective bargaining increases, salary progression, and the lack of salary threshold indexation.

Are bonuses included?

Yes — if the bonus is considered taxable income, it is included.
Non-taxable benefits (e.g., some allowances) are not included.

When is the Sunshine List released?

Usually late March each year.

Can an employee be removed?

No. Records remain permanently once published.

How accurate is the Sunshine List?

The data is provided directly by public-sector employers. It is generally accurate but may include:
– Small rounding differences
– Occasional errors by employers
– Variations in how taxable benefits are reported
PublicPayPulse cleans and standardizes data for easier analysis.

How do I search for an individual on the Sunshine List?

You can search by name, employer, position, or sector using the Sunshine List search tool on PublicPayPulse

What sectors have the most employees on the Sunshine List?

Typically:
– Healthcare (nurses, doctors, executives)
– Education (school boards, universities)
– Municipalities
– Policing & emergency services

Why do some salaries seem unusually high?

Possible reasons include:
– Overtime (common in healthcare & policing)
– Retroactive payments
– Payout of unused vacation or severance
– Temporary acting assignments

Are police officers included on the Sunshine List?

Yes. Police services and emergency workers are among the most commonly listed due to overtime and collective agreements.

Are teachers included on the Sunshine List?

Yes — especially principals, vice-principals, board administrators, and senior educators whose pay exceeds $100,000.

How do I find the highest-paid employees in Ontario?

PublicPayPulse provides rankings by:
– Top 100 earners
– Sector
– Employer
– Position
Your users can sort by salary, year, and organization.

Does the Sunshine List include part-time employees?

Yes — if total earnings exceeded $100,000, even part-time employees are included.

How do overtime and benefits affect Sunshine List salary totals?

Overtime can dramatically increase salary totals, particularly in healthcare, transit, and policing.
Only taxable benefits are included, not full benefits packages.

Are pensions included in Sunshine List earnings?

No. Pension contributions, employer-paid benefits, and non-taxable allowances are not included.

How far back does Sunshine List data go?

The Sunshine List has been published annually since 1996.
PublicPayPulse may publish historical trends and multi-year comparisons.

About Public Pay Pulse

Public Pay Pulse is an independent platform dedicated to government compensation transparency. We provide in-depth salary analysis, sector breakdowns, and public-sector workforce insights to support journalists, watchdog organizations, researchers, and the public.

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