Physiotherapist
Help people recover from injury and illness - excellent demand and a deeply fulfilling career.
Physiotherapist Salary in Canada
Physiotherapists in Canada earn about $70,000 at entry level and around $110,000 in senior roles.
- Entry level: $70,000
- Senior level: $110,000
Private practice physiotherapists can earn significantly more. Sports physiotherapists working with professional teams earn at the higher end.
About the Career
Canada's aging population keeps demand steady - Job Bank rates prospects moderate to good across provinces, with the strongest need in rural areas.
Job Outlook
Stable demand. Canada's aging population keeps demand steady - Job Bank rates prospects moderate to good across provinces, with the strongest need in rural areas.
How to Get There
- 4-yr undergrad (Kinesiology or Sciences) + 2-yr Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)
- Time to career: 6 years post-Grade 12
Degrees That Lead Here
- Kinesiology – high 80s at most schools
- Health Sciences – 95%+ average plus strong supplemental - Canada's most competitive undergrad
- Biology – mid to high 80s at most schools
Key Skills
- Manual Therapy Techniques
- Exercise Prescription
- Patient Assessment
- Communication & Motivation
- Clinical Reasoning
Typical Employers
- Private physio clinics
- Hospitals & rehab centres
- Sports teams & training facilities
- Home care & community services
- Workplace injury programs
High School Roadmap
- Join a sports team. Take Biology. Volunteer with sports teams or at physio clinics if possible.
- Continue Biology and begin Chemistry. Follow Canadian physiotherapy associations - understand the MPT pathway.
- Take Kinesiology if available. Increase sports participation and volunteer with athletic training programs.
- Apply to Kinesiology or Health Sciences undergrad. Plan for the 2-year MPT program after your degree.
Top Universities for This Path
- University of British Columbia – Vancouver, BC
- University of Toronto – Toronto, ON
- McMaster University – Hamilton, ON
- University of Alberta – Edmonton, AB
- Dalhousie University – Halifax, NS
Insider Tips
- Kinesiology is the most common undergrad pathway to physiotherapy school in Canada.
- Clinical observation hours are required for MPT applications - start accumulating them in undergrad.
- Sports physiotherapy, neurological rehab, and pediatric physio are popular and growing specialisations.