Family Physician / GP
The backbone of Canadian healthcare - a trusted, well-compensated career with lifelong impact.
Family Physician / GP Salary in Canada
Family Physician / GPs in Canada earn about $180,000 at entry level and around $400,000 in senior roles.
- Entry level: $180,000
- Senior level: $400,000
Figures are gross billings before practice overhead. Varies by province and practice model - Quebec and rural areas often pay more through billing.
About the Career
Canada faces a significant family physician shortage - demand is very high across all provinces.
Job Outlook
High Growth demand. Canada faces a significant family physician shortage - demand is very high across all provinces.
How to Get There
- 4-yr undergrad (any) → 4-yr MD → 2-yr Family Medicine residency
- Time to career: 10-11 years post-Grade 12
Degrees That Lead Here
- Health Sciences – 95%+ average plus strong supplemental - Canada's most competitive undergrad
- Life Sciences – high 80s to low 90s depending on school
- Biochemistry – high 80s
Key Skills
- Diagnosis & Clinical Reasoning
- Patient Communication
- Preventive Care
- Empathy & Trust-Building
- Lifelong Learning
Typical Employers
- Hospitals & family health teams
- Community health centres
- Private family practices
- Walk-in & telehealth clinics
- Rural & remote health authorities
High School Roadmap
- Focus on Biology and Science. Start volunteering at a local hospital, retirement home, or community health clinic. Join science club.
- Take Chemistry and continue Biology. Increase hospital or medical volunteering hours. Research the difference between MD programs across Canada.
- Aim for 90%+ average. Shadow a physician if possible - reach out to your family doctor or local clinic. Join or lead a health awareness club.
- Maintain top grades. Research MCAT timelines. Apply to McMaster Health Sci, UofT Life Sciences, or UBC Science. Prepare a strong personal statement.
Top Universities for This Path
- McMaster University – Hamilton, ON
- University of Toronto – Toronto, ON
- McGill University – Montreal, QC
- University of British Columbia – Vancouver, BC
- University of Alberta – Edmonton, AB
Insider Tips
- McMaster's MD program is widely considered Canada's most innovative - Health Sciences undergrad is a common but not guaranteed pathway.
- Volunteering in healthcare settings is essential - most MD programs expect 200+ hours of direct patient or community care experience.
- The MCAT is written after 2nd or 3rd year of undergrad - start preparing early.
- Rural and underserved community experience is increasingly valued in Canadian MD admissions.