Salary in Canada – An Overview for Study Abroad Aspirants

Canada offers a decent salary to its residents and citizens to live a comfortable life. The average salary in Canada ranges between CAD 54,600 and CAD 105,00, varying based on the job type, skills, experience, and employers. Also, the country is one of the popular study-abroad destinations due to its lower tuition fees and high ROI compared to the US, UK, and Australia. In 2025, understanding Canada's salary landscape is vital for job seekers and employers alike. Influenced by tech advancements and the pandemic, the job market is ever-changing. The average wage has seen a moderate raise, varying widely across provinces and sectors. This article serves as your guide to the latest statistics and trends in Canadian salaries.

What is the average Salary in Canada?

The average salary in Canada is $20.16 per hour or $41,933 per year, calculated based on a 40-hour work week.

Average Salary in Canada by Province 2025

The minimum salary and average salary per year in Canada vary by province and territory, and is subject to change. It's important to note that some provinces have different minimum wage rates for certain categories of workers, such as students, homeworkers and hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides. Moreover, the federal minimum wage exclusively applies to employees in federally regulated industries, while those working in other industries adhere to the minimum wage rate set by their respective province or territory.

Here is the minimum wage per hour and average salary per year in the different Canadian provinces:

Province	Minimum wage per hour	Average salary per year
Alberta	$15.00	$41,589
British Columbia	$16.75	$58,497
Manitoba	$15.30	$44,321
New Brunswick	$14.75	$65,756
Newfoundland and Labrador	$15.00	$67,803
Northwest Territories	$16.05	$48,484
Nova Scotia	$15.00	$64,981
Nunavut	$16.00	$72,280
Ontario	$16.55	$45,858
Prince Edward Island	$15.00	$67,754
Quebec	$15.25	$40,858
Saskatchewan	$14.00	$39,773

Canada labour salary per hour

The salary of a general worker is paid on an hourly basis. Actually, it is given another name instead of salary per hour; jobs are paid as wages. On average, a general worker gets a wage of 33,150 CAD per year, which makes it 17 CAD per hour.

However, the salaries can range from as low as 29,135 CAD per year for an entry-level worker and can go as high as 44,856 CAD per year for an experienced one.

Salary in Tech Industry

The tech industry is one of the most lucrative industries in Canada, and salaries for tech workers vary greatly depending on experience and skill level.

Software Developer

The average salary for a software engineer is around $97,000 based on calculations reported from multiple sources. Software professionals write, modify, integrate, and test computer codes for communications software and data processing.

IT Business Analyst

The average salary for an IT Business Analyst in Canada is around $84,750 based on calculations reported from multiple sources.

Data Scientist

Data science course provides a promising and high-paying career, especially when employees are skilled and experienced. The average salary for a Data Scientist in Canada is around $140,000 based on calculations reported from multiple sources.

Recruitment Specialist

The recruitment specialist takes care of the entire recruitment, staffing, and talent acquisition responsibilities. The average salary for a Recruitment Specialist in Canada is around $63,200 based on calculations reported from multiple sources.

Network Engineer

Network engineer manages data programs, networks, and servers. The Remote working concept raised the demand for network engineers. The average salary for a Network Engineer in Canada is around $93,600 based on calculations reported from multiple sources.

Salary for Healthcare Professionals

The average healthcare salary in Canada is $92,296 per year or $47.33 per hour, with entry-level positions starting at $46,800 per year according to Talent.com.

Registered Nurses in Canada

Glassdoor reports that the estimated salary for a nurse in Canada is CA$81,762 per year, while Talent.com reports that the average registered nurse salary in Canada is $73,185 per year or $37.53 per hour. According to Job Bank Canada, registered nurses in Canada usually earn between $27.03 per hour and $49.00 per hour, with a median hourly wage of $40.00 per hour.

Medical Doctors in Canada

The average gross clinical income for family medicine physicians and medical specialists in Canada ranges from $331,615 to $643,215 per year, depending on the province and specialty.

Pharmacists in Canada

The hourly wages for pharmacists in Canada range from $20.89 per hour to $61.70 per hour, with a median hourly wage of $48.00 per hour. The average gross clinical income for pharmacists in Canada ranges from $100,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on the province and other factors.

Dentists in Canada

The average dentist salary in Canada is $207,541 per year or $106 per hour, with entry-level positions starting at $127,330 per year. The salary can vary widely depending on factors such as location, experience, and whether the dentist owns their own practice. Some dentists reported earning over $500,000 per year, while others reported earning $50 per hour.

Physiotherapists in Canada

The average salary for a physiotherapist in Canada is around $44.40 to $49.35 per hour or $70,000 to $90,000 per year. According to Job Bank Canada, physiotherapists in Canada usually earn between $25.00 per hour and $49.68 per hour, with a median salary of $41.03 per hour.

Dental Hygienists in Canada

One source says that the average salary for a dental hygienist in Canada is around $47.63 to $49.35 per hour or $68,250 to $84,750 per year. According to Talent.com, the average dental hygienist salary in Canada is $84,750 per year or $43.46 per hour, with entry-level positions starting at $68,250 per year.

Salary in Canada: Other Professions

Factory worker salary in Canada per month

Depending on factors like experience, location and industry, the average salary for a factory worker in Canada is around $17.94 to $49.35 per hour or $28,275 to $111,397 per year.

Teacher salary in Canada

According to Job Bank Canada, primary school teachers in Canada usually earn between $25.00 per hour and $53.27 per hour, with a median hourly wage of $41.21 per hour. According to Glassdoor, the estimated salary for a teacher in Canada is CA$74,474 per year.

Average driver salary in Canada

Truck drivers in Canada usually earn between $16.50/hour and $33.72/hour, with a median hourly wage of $24.00. Entry-level positions start at $40,631 per year, while most experienced workers earn up to $80,000 per year.

Per hour salary in Canada for international students

The average per hour salary in Canada is $40,916 per year or $20.98 per hour. For Entry-level positions, the salary range typically starts at $33,678 per year, while most experienced workers can earn as much as $73,518 per year. International students can earn from $13 an hour as a store clerk to $25 an hour as a writer. For simplicity’s sake, if we can set the median hourly wage to be $18 and if the student is typically allowed to work for 20 hours a week, they can make around $1440 a month.

Jobs that Pay Highest Salary Levels in Canada

Salary can vary depending on factors like experience, industry, and location. Below are typically 15 of the highest-paying jobs in Canada along with their average annual salary.

1. Cardiologists - $338,909
2. Surgeons - $376,130
3. Orthodontists - $343,456
4. Psychiatrists - $299,760
5. Physicians - $292,407
6. Cloud Architects - $138,063
7. Cloud Systems Engineers - $118,648
8. IT Project Managers - $115,774
9. Business Intelligence Analysts - $96,742
10. Full Stack Developers - $94,365
11. Construction Project Managers - $93,526
12. Chief Marketing Officers - $185,322
13. Dentists - $169,958
14. Accountants - $61,156
15. Finance professionals - $60,531
16. Mining, Oil, and Gas Extraction -  $113,506
17. Airline Pilots- $35,233 to $146,274

It does not mean that there is less scope for other job opportunities. Canada welcomes employees who are full-time workers in financial services and less known, like the gas extraction industry, where they can have a smart weekly salary.

Difference Between Median Salary and Average Salary

The median salary is like the middle point in a line of salaries, where half of the people earn more and half earn less. So, if your salary is the median or higher, you're doing well.

On the other hand, the average salary is the total of everyone's income divided by the number of people. If your salary is higher than the average, it means you're earning more than most people in that profession.

In Canada, the maximum average salary is quite high, around 534,000 CAD per year, while the median is about 112,000 CAD. If your salary is above these numbers, you're doing well; if it's below, there's room for improvement. Your salary also depends on your education, skills, and experience. Companies in Canada often aim to pay employees around the average or median to balance costs.

Taxes in Canada

In Canada, the tax system is progressive, meaning that individuals pay higher rates of tax as their income increases. The federal and provincial governments determine the income ranges and the applicable tax rates for those ranges, which are reset each year to account for inflation. Here are some key points about tax brackets in Canada:

Provincial Tax Rates in Canada for 2025

Province	Bracket 1	Bracket 2	Bracket 3	Bracket 4	Bracket 5
Alberta	10% up to $142,292	12% up to $170,751	13% up to $227,668	14% up to $341,502	15% over $341,502
British Columbia	5.06% up to $45,654	7.7% up to $91,310	10.5% up to $104,835	12.29% up to $127,299	14.7% over $127,299
Manitoba	10.8% up to $36,842	12.75% up to $79,625	17.4% over $79,625
New Brunswick	9.4% up to $47,715	14% up to $95,431	16% up to $176,756	19.5% over $176,756
Newfoundland & Labrador	8.7% up to $41,457	14.5% up to $82,913	15.8% up to $148,027	17.8% up to $207,239	19.8% over $207,239
Nova Scotia	8.79% up to $29,590	14.95% up to $59,180	16.67% up to $93,000	17.5% up to $150,000	21% over $150,000
Ontario	5.05% up to $49,231	9.15% up to $98,463	11.16% up to $150,000	12.16% up to $220,000	13.16% over $220,000
Prince Edward Island	9.8% up to $31,984	13.8% up to $63,969	16.7% over $63,969
Quebec	15% up to $49,275	20% up to $98,540	24% up to $119,910	25.75% over $119,910
Saskatchewan	10.5% up to $49,720	12.5% up to $142,058	14.5% over $142,058

Your tax bracket -  The combined federal and provincial tax rates are known as the effective tax rate, and vary depending on your income and where you live in Canada.

The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is a separate tax system that applies to individuals with high income and certain tax preferences. The federal AMT rate is set to increase from 15% to 20.5% in 2023, with the exemption increasing from CAD 40,000 to the start of the second tax bracket.

It's important to note that tax laws and rates can change from year to year, so it's always a good idea to consult with a tax professional or use a tax software program to ensure you're filing your taxes correctly.

Conclusion 

In 2025, the Canadian job market is diverse, with salaries varying by province and industry. Tech, healthcare, finance, and construction offer lucrative opportunities. Canada ranks 8th among high-paying countries, but factors like taxes and living costs influence this comparison. The progressive tax system means rates differ by province, requiring awareness of local tax laws. Salary information can change, so consulting professionals for accurate details is advisable. Understanding the average salary in Canada is crucial for job seekers and employers navigating the evolving job market.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much is rent in Canada?

The average rent in Canada is around $2,000 per month. It is around 9.6% higher than the previous year.

2. What is the average salary of mechanical engineers in Canada?

The average salary for mechanical engineers in Canada is approximately $60,000 to $100,000 per year, with variations based on experience, location, and specific industry.

3. How much is the average salary after MS in Canada?

The average salary after completing an MS in Canada varies widely, typically ranging from $50,000 to $90,000 annually.

4. How much is the average salary in Canada after an MS in computer science?

The average salary in Canada after obtaining an MS in computer science can range from $70,000 to $100,000 or more annually.

5. How is income distributed by age in Canada?

The average income for Canadians aged 16-24 is $17,300 per year, with an average monthly salary of $1,400. The average salary for Canadians aged 35-44 is $63,700 per year, with an average monthly salary of $5,308. The average salary for Canadians aged 45-54 is $66,700 per year, with a monthly salary of $5,558, on average.

6. What is the average salary in Canada per month?

The average (mean) salary in Canada is $73,973 per year or $6,149 per month for full-time employees, according to 2025 figures.

7. How much do Indians make in Canada?

The average salary in Canada an Indian can make is $36,688 per year or $18.81 per hour. For entry-level positions it is $31,200 per year, while most experienced workers can earn upto $50,700 per year.

8. What is the minimum wage in Canada?

Canada introduced a new federal minimum wage of $16.65 per hour on April 1, 2023, replacing the previous model where minimum wages were determined at the provincial or territorial level. This newly established federal minimum wage is designed to be periodically adjusted by the government to account for inflation.