Vancouver workers will see their salaries rise by an average of 2.8% next year, but private sector workers will get larger raises than government employees, according to an annual salary survey released by global management consulting firm Hay Group.

Vancouver's average wage hike is forecast to be on par with all of B.C. (2.7%) and Canada (2.9%), but less than oil-producing provinces like Alberta (3.6%), Saskatchewan (3.2%) and Newfoundland (3.4%).

B.C. workers in private industries, including the financial and industrial sectors, will see average raises of around 3% whereas non-unionized public sector workers will receive just 2.3%, according to Vancouver-based Hay Group consultant Tracy Bosch.

Unionized government employees are forecast to receive the smallest raises averaging just 1.8%, said Bosch, explaining that this group is already better paid than their private sector counterparts, whereas their non-unionized co-workers, who are largely management, are still underpaid.

"There is still a lot of catching up to do (with the private sector)," said Bosch.

Some industries are also more financially rewarding than others, according to the Hay survey. Workers in oil and gas, mining, and chemicals will see raises ranging from 3.4% to 3.9% across Canada, while those working in healthcare, media and telecommunications can expect just 2.0% to 2.3%.

More than 500 Canadian public and private sector employers took part in the annual survey.