Average Salary in Canada 2026

Currency: CAD · Updated for 2026

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How much money does a person working in Canada make?

Average Monthly Salary

5,498 CAD

( 65,974 CAD yearly )

~ 4,013 USD per month ( 48,156 USD yearly )

LOW

1,100 CAD

803 USD

AVERAGE

5,498 CAD

4,013 USD

HIGH

21,991 CAD

16,052 USD

A person working in Canada typically earns around 5,498 CAD per month. Salaries range from 1,100 CAD (lowest average) to 21,991 CAD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).

This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.

Distribution of Salaries in Canada

Median and salary distribution monthly Canada

1,100 CAD
Minimum
2,750 CAD
25th
4,673 CAD
Median
5,498 CAD
Average
8,247 CAD
75th
21,991 CAD
Maximum

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What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated.

The median (4,673 CAD) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (5,498 CAD) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers, and can be skewed by extremely high or low salaries.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

  1. 0–2 Years (Entry Level)32,987 CAD
  2. 2–5 Years (Junior)42,882 CAD
  3. 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)56,078 CAD
  4. 10–15 Years (Experienced)65,974 CAD
  5. 15+ Years (Senior)79,168 CAD

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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.

Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average +30% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.

Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average +31% more than those with five years or less of work experience.

As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by +18% and an additional +20% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.

“On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years experience mark.”

Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

  1. High School39,585 CAD
  2. Certificate46,181 CAD
  3. Associate52,779 CAD
  4. Bachelor's65,974 CAD
  5. Master's79,168 CAD
  6. PhD92,363 CAD

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High SchoolCertificate

+17%

CertificateBachelor's

+43%

Bachelor'sMaster's

+20%

Master'sPhD

+17%

It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.

Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average +17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.

Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn +43% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.

Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are +20% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, PhD holders earn +17% more than Master's Degree holders on average.

Salary Comparison By Gender

Salary comparison by gender monthly Canada

65,974 CAD
Male+9%
60,036 CAD
Female-9%

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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Canada earn 9% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.

Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Canada

How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?

12%

Average Raise

18 months

Review Frequency

9%

Annualized Increase

Employees in Canada are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 12% every 18 months.

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Canada is 9%.

Bonus and Incentive Rates in Canada

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?

56%

Received Bonus

44%

No Bonus

56% of surveyed staff in Canada reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.

Average Bonus Rate

3%

of annual salary

Types of Bonuses Considered:

• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

• Company Performance Bonuses

• Goal-Based Bonuses

• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

Finance: HighSales: HighInformation Technology: High

Top 5 Highest Paying Industries

Annual average salaries

  1. Legal89,065 CAD
  2. Aviation85,766 CAD
  3. Information Technology85,766 CAD
  4. Banking82,467 CAD
  5. Pharmaceuticals82,467 CAD

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Salaries for Popular Jobs

Sample job titles and their average salaries

Job TitleAnnual SalaryMonthly Salary
Surgeon164,934 CAD13,745 CAD
Pilot131,947 CAD10,996 CAD
Software Developer118,753 CAD9,896 CAD
Data Scientist112,155 CAD9,346 CAD
Financial Manager105,559 CAD8,797 CAD
Database Administrator98,961 CAD8,247 CAD
Engineer92,363 CAD7,697 CAD
Marketing Manager85,766 CAD7,147 CAD
Project Manager82,467 CAD6,872 CAD
Accountant72,572 CAD6,047 CAD
Hotel Manager65,974 CAD5,498 CAD
Nurse59,376 CAD4,948 CAD
Graphic Designer56,078 CAD4,673 CAD
Chef49,480 CAD4,124 CAD
Teacher46,181 CAD3,848 CAD

Salary Comparison By City

Average annual salaries by city

CityAverage Salary
Ottawa75,869 CAD
Toronto69,273 CAD
Vancouver69,273 CAD
Montreal69,273 CAD
Calgary69,273 CAD
Edmonton69,273 CAD
Quebec City69,273 CAD
Winnipeg69,273 CAD

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more?

5,222 CAD

Private Sector

5,773 CAD

Public Sector

+11%

Public sector employees in Canada earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.

Average Hourly Wage in Canada

32 CAD

per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Canada is 32 CAD. This means that the average person in Canada earns approximately 32 CAD for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)

Cost of Living in Canada

Estimated monthly expenses

Rent

843 CAD

/month

Food

270 CAD

/month

Transport

101 CAD

/month

Utilities

134 CAD

/month

Compare Your Salary

See how your salary compares with the average in Canada and explore top-paying jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary in Canada?
The average salary in Canada is approximately 65,974 CAD per year, or 5,498 CAD per month before taxes. Salaries range from 1,100 CAD (minimum) to 21,991 CAD (maximum).
What is the difference between median and average salary?
The median salary (4,673 CAD) is the middle value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (5,498 CAD) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers. If your salary is higher than both, you are doing very well. If lower than both, there is room for improvement.
Which careers pay the most in Canada?
The highest paying industries in Canada include Legal, Aviation, Information Technology. View all top jobs →
How is this salary data calculated?
Average gross monthly salary data from the Economic Research Institute (ERI) and SalaryExpert. Figures are estimates and may vary based on experience, location, industry, and other factors. Local currency conversions use market exchange rates.

Salary data on this page is based on research from the Economic Research Institute (ERI) and SalaryExpert. Figures are estimates and may vary based on experience, location, industry, and other factors.