Nova Scotia Compensation Disclosure — 2025 Public Sector Salary Disclosure
17,073
2025 Records
Latest year
$2.1B
Total Payroll
Total compensation disclosed (2025)
$122,222
Average Compensation
Across all records (2025)
$472,142
Highest Compensation
David Dingwall
65
Employers
Unique organizations
8
Sectors
Industry categories
Top 10 Earners
Sector Overview
Health
7,654 people
Education
5,426 people
Universities & Colleges
3,580 people
Crown Corporations
210 people
Government Agencies
126 people
Community Services
42 people
Housing
27 people
Culture & Recreation
8 people
Year-over-Year Trends
| Year | Records | Avg Compensation | Median Compensation | Total Payroll | Headcount Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3,231 | $128,344 | $118,267 | $414.7M | — |
| 2018 | 3,557 | $127,880 | $117,360 | $454.9M | +10.1% |
| 2019 | 7,644 | $124,822 | $116,820 | $954.1M | +114.9% |
| 2020 | 4,349 | $127,465 | $116,421 | $554.3M | -43.1% |
| 2021 | 5,259 | $125,925 | $115,453 | $662.2M | +20.9% |
| 2022 | 5,802 | $127,297 | $115,948 | $738.6M | +10.3% |
| 2023 | 6,338 | $125,861 | $115,298 | $797.7M | +9.2% |
| 2024 | 11,164 | $125,862 | $116,951 | $1.4B | +76.1% |
| 2025 | 17,073 | $122,222 | $113,863 | $2.1B | +52.9% |
Note: Nova Scotia's $100,000 disclosure threshold has been unchanged since the Act passed in 2010 and is not indexed to inflation, so the number of people disclosed grows as wages rise past a fixed line — year-over-year growth is not by itself evidence of rising pay or headcount. Two further caveats: the province paid out frozen public-sector service awards as lump sums in 2018 and 2019, which pushed a one-time cohort over the threshold in those years; and until 2019 school boards reported under the Education Act rather than this Act, so their earlier figures come from a differently-titled (but equivalent) remuneration schedule.
About the 2025 Nova Scotia Sunshine List
The 2025 Nova Scotia compensation disclosure names 17,073 public-sector employees who earned $100,000 or more, across 65 employers in 8 sectors. The average disclosed compensation was $122,222 and the median was $113,863. The list grew 53% from 2024, when 11,164 names were disclosed.
The highest-paid name on the 2025 list is David Dingwall at Cape Breton University, at $472,142. Every name, employer, and compensation on this page links to a full profile with year-by-year history — or search all 17,073 records in the data explorer.
This site covers the Nova Scotia disclosure from 2017 through 2025 — see any year’s complete list, top earners, and sector breakdown on its own page (for example, Nova Scotia Sunshine List 2025), browse pay by analytics, or read how the compensation disclosure works.
Nova Scotia Sunshine List — frequently asked questions
- Does Nova Scotia have a sunshine list?
- Yes. Nova Scotia officially calls it the Nova Scotia Compensation Disclosure, but it works like Ontario’s Sunshine List: each year the province discloses the names, employers, and compensation of public-sector employees who earned $100,000 or more. The most recent 2025 list covers 17,073 employees, all searchable here by name, employer, and sector.
- What is the Nova Scotia sunshine list salary threshold?
- The 2025 Nova Scotia Compensation Disclosure includes every public-sector employee who earned $100,000 or more in the fiscal year ending March 31.
- When is the Nova Scotia sunshine list released?
- Nova Scotia’s compensation disclosure is typically published summer (june–september), covering the fiscal year ending March 31. See the release-date calendar for how every province’s timing compares.
- Who is the highest-paid person on the Nova Scotia sunshine list?
- On the 2025 list, the highest compensation belongs to David Dingwall at Cape Breton University, at $472,142.
- How many people are on the Nova Scotia sunshine list?
- 17,073 public-sector employees appear on the 2025 Nova Scotia Compensation Disclosure, across 65 employers and 8 sectors. Browse the full list by year, employer, sector, or search every record in the data explorer.