Covering 1996–2025 · 3,271,569 total records across all years
When Ontario first published the Sunshine List in 1996, just 4,501 public sector employees earned $100,000 or more. By 2025, that number has exploded to 404,922 — a 90x increase over 29 years. The average salary has also climbed from $121,495 to $134,229, a 10% increase.
The single biggest jump came in 2024, when the list grew by 77,201 employees in a single year (from 300,680 to 377,881).
| Year | Employees | Avg Salary | Median Salary | Total Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 4,501 | $121,495 | $113,423 | $547M |
| 1997 | 5,378 | $121,940 | $113,833 | $656M |
| 1998 | 6,296 | $122,127 | $112,006 | $769M |
| 1999 | 8,125 | $124,580 | $112,914 | $1.0B |
| 2000 | 10,352 | $126,235 | $113,847 | $1.3B |
| 2001 | 13,144 | $129,685 | $115,801 | $1.7B |
| 2002 | 16,691 | $129,392 | $116,976 | $2.2B |
| 2003 | 20,368 | $128,339 | $115,350 | $2.6B |
| 2004 | 23,253 | $129,255 | $115,563 | $3.0B |
| 2005 | 27,461 | $127,926 | $115,653 | $3.5B |
| 2006 | 34,199 | $129,059 | $116,135 | $4.4B |
| 2007 | 42,766 | $128,895 | $115,813 | $5.5B |
| 2008 | 53,817 | $128,841 | $115,001 | $6.9B |
| 2009 | 64,218 | $128,542 | $115,274 | $8.3B |
| 2010 | 71,684 | $127,888 | $115,250 | $9.2B |
| 2011 | 79,714 | $127,563 | $115,352 | $10.2B |
| 2012 | 88,542 | $127,518 | $115,302 | $11.3B |
| 2013 | 97,916 | $127,424 | $115,414 | $12.5B |
| 2014 | 111,655 | $127,171 | $115,782 | $14.2B |
| 2015 | 115,920 | $127,070 | $115,332 | $14.7B |
| 2016 | 124,445 | $127,252 | $115,440 | $15.8B |
| 2017 | 131,909 | $127,622 | $115,881 | $16.8B |
| 2018 | 151,375 | $127,230 | $115,487 | $19.3B |
| 2019 | 167,098 | $127,396 | $115,284 | $21.3B |
| 2020 | 205,855 | $125,870 | $113,876 | $25.9B |
| 2021 | 244,456 | $123,742 | $111,295 | $30.2B |
| 2022 | 266,948 | $124,938 | $112,439 | $33.4B |
| 2023 | 300,680 | $126,933 | $115,292 | $38.2B |
| 2024 | 377,881 | $132,497 | $125,365 | $50.1B |
| 2025 | 404,922 | $134,229 | $122,262 | $54.4B |
Headcount went from 4,501 to 8,125 (+3,624 employees, 81% growth). Average salary moved from $121,495 to $124,580.
Headcount went from 10,352 to 64,218 (+53,866 employees, 520% growth). Average salary moved from $126,235 to $128,542.
Headcount went from 71,684 to 167,098 (+95,414 employees, 133% growth). Average salary moved from $127,888 to $127,396.
Headcount went from 205,855 to 404,922 (+199,067 employees, 97% growth). Average salary moved from $125,870 to $134,229.
The $100,000 threshold has not been adjusted since 1996. Using the Bank of Canada's inflation calculator, $100,000 in 1996 is worth approximately $175,000 in today's dollars. If the threshold had been indexed to inflation, the 2025 Sunshine List would be dramatically shorter — likely closer to the original intent of disclosing only senior executives and highly paid specialists.
Instead, the frozen threshold means that many mid-career professionals — teachers, nurses, police officers, and other front-line workers — now qualify for disclosure simply because wages have risen over three decades. The median salary of $122,262 in 2025 suggests that about half of all listed employees earn between $100,000 and $122,262.
Data source: All figures are derived from the Government of Ontario's Public Sector Salary Disclosure, published annually under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996. This site is an independent tool and is not affiliated with the Government of Ontario. Data may contain inaccuracies or omissions present in the original source. Always verify individual records against the official disclosure.