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Paygrade

Canada · CAD · 2026

Salaries in Canada

What 34 careers pay in Canada, highest first. The middle of the table sits around C$103,002 a year; surgeons lead at C$360,000.

# Career Industry Entry Median Senior Hourly
1 Surgeon Healthcare C$260k C$360,000 C$665k C$173
2 Investment Banker Finance C$130k C$205,000 C$700k C$98.50
3 Quantitative Analyst Finance C$120k C$185,000 C$530k C$89
4 Dentist Healthcare C$120k C$175,000 C$305k C$84
5 Machine Learning Engineer Technology C$115k C$170,000 C$345k C$81.50
6 Air Traffic Controller Aviation C$76k C$145,000 C$205k C$69.50
7 Product Manager Technology C$92k C$135,000 C$250k C$65
8 Actuary Finance C$72k C$130,000 C$260k C$62.50
9 Physician Assistant Healthcare C$100k C$130,000 C$175k C$62.50
10 Nurse Practitioner Healthcare C$87k C$128,003 C$156k C$61.50
11 Lawyer Legal C$63k C$124,301 C$223k C$60
12 Project Manager Technology C$76k C$120,000 C$185k C$57.50
13 DevOps Engineer Technology C$73k C$117,499 C$190k C$56.50
14 Software Engineer Technology C$73k C$117,499 C$190k C$56.50
15 Pharmacist Healthcare C$83k C$115,419 C$139k C$55.50
16 Commercial Pilot Aviation C$50k C$108,160 C$220k C$52
17 Aerospace Engineer Aviation C$70k C$104,000 C$208k C$50
18 Cybersecurity Analyst Technology C$62k C$103,002 C$150k C$49.50
19 UX Designer Technology C$69k C$100,000 C$175k C$48
20 Data Scientist Technology C$62k C$95,992 C$145k C$46
21 Dental Hygienist Healthcare C$67k C$93,600 C$125k C$45
22 Elevator Technician Skilled Trades C$46k C$93,600 C$141k C$45
23 Compliance Officer Legal C$71k C$92,000 C$175k C$44
24 Financial Analyst Finance C$59k C$90,002 C$151k C$43.50
25 Registered Nurse Healthcare C$62k C$90,002 C$113k C$43.50
26 Data Analyst Technology C$60k C$87,000 C$145k C$42
27 Accountant Finance C$52k C$83,949 C$149k C$40.50
28 Aircraft Mechanic Aviation C$51k C$81,120 C$110k C$39
29 HVAC Technician Skilled Trades C$46k C$78,000 C$116k C$37.50
30 Electrician Skilled Trades C$42k C$72,800 C$100k C$35
31 Plumber Skilled Trades C$44k C$70,720 C$96k C$34
32 Paralegal Legal C$45k C$68,744 C$109k C$33
33 Flight Attendant Aviation C$47k C$65,000 C$125k C$31.50
34 Welder Skilled Trades C$46k C$62,400 C$98k C$30

Gross annual pay before tax. Hourly rates assume a standard 40-hour week. How we estimate these figures.

Working in Canada

Canadian pay runs below the US for the same job. In official data, Canadian medians converted to US dollars are about 10% to 20% lower in trades like HVAC, welding, electrical work and plumbing, and roughly 40% to 45% lower in professions like law, pharmacy, software and engineering (Job Bank and BLS medians at current exchange rates). Public healthcare offsets part of the gap, and pay varies a lot by province.

Tax

Federal plus provincial tax; combined top rates exceed 50% in Ontario and Quebec. No employer-tied healthcare costs.

Tools and guides for Canada

Questions about pay in Canada

What is the highest-paying job in Canada?

Of the 34 careers Paygrade tracks, surgeons earn the most in Canada, with a median of about C$360,000 a year in 2026. Investment bankers (C$205,000) and quantitative analysts (C$185,000) follow.

What is the best-paid job in Canada without a degree?

Air traffic controllers earn a median of about C$145,000 a year in Canada, and the usual route in is certification rather than a university degree.

How much tax will I pay on a salary in Canada?

Federal plus provincial tax; combined top rates exceed 50% in Ontario and Quebec. No employer-tied healthcare costs.