Highest paying careers in Canada

These careers are ordered by what they pay at a senior level in Canada. Entry-level pay is listed beside each, because the highest ceilings often come with the longest training.

$200,000 and up

  1. Surgeon $700,000+ – Entry $300,000 · 15-17 years post-Grade 12
  2. Investment Banker $500,000+ – Entry $110,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  3. Psychiatrist $400,000 – Entry $250,000 · 13 years post-Grade 12
  4. Family Physician / GP $400,000 – Entry $180,000 · 10-11 years post-Grade 12
  5. Lawyer $300,000+ – Entry $70,000 · 7 years post-Grade 12
  6. Dentist $280,000 – Entry $120,000 · 8 years post-Grade 12
  7. Patent Lawyer / Agent $250,000+ – Entry $90,000 · 7-8 years post-Grade 12
  8. Management Consultant $250,000+ – Entry $80,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  9. Cloud Architect $220,000+ – Entry $100,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  10. AI / Machine Learning Engineer $200,000+ – Entry $95,000 · 5-8 years post-Grade 12
  11. Optometrist $200,000 – Entry $90,000 · 7-8 years post-Grade 12
  12. Actuary $200,000 – Entry $80,000 · 4+ years post-Grade 12 (full designation takes longer)
  13. Environmental Lawyer $200,000+ – Entry $70,000 · 7-8 years post-Grade 12
  14. Real Estate Developer $200,000+ – Entry $70,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  15. Film Director / Producer $200,000+ – Entry $45,000 · 4+ years post-Grade 12

$150,000 to $199,999

  1. Blockchain Developer $180,000+ – Entry $90,000 · 3-4 years post-Grade 12
  2. DevOps Engineer $180,000+ – Entry $90,000 · 4-5 years post-Grade 12
  3. Software Engineer $180,000+ – Entry $85,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  4. Professor / Academic $180,000 – Entry $80,000 · 12-14 years post-Grade 12
  5. Aerospace Engineer $175,000 – Entry $75,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  6. Data Engineer $170,000+ – Entry $90,000 · 4-5 years post-Grade 12
  7. Veterinarian $165,000 – Entry $80,000 · 7-8 years post-Grade 12
  8. Crown Attorney / Prosecutor $160,000 – Entry $75,000 · 7-9 years post-Grade 12
  9. Diplomat / Foreign Service Officer $160,000 – Entry $75,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  10. Human Resources (HR) Director $160,000+ – Entry $60,000 · 5-7 years post-Grade 12
  11. Electrical Engineer $155,000 – Entry $75,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  12. Nurse Practitioner (NP) $150,000 – Entry $100,000 · 7-8 years post-Grade 12
  13. Cybersecurity Analyst $150,000 – Entry $75,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  14. Chiropractor $150,000+ – Entry $70,000 · 7 years post-Grade 12
  15. Data Scientist $150,000 – Entry $70,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  16. Financial Analyst / CFA $150,000 – Entry $65,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12

$100,000 to $149,999

  1. Chemical Engineer $145,000+ – Entry $75,000 · 4-5 years post-Grade 12
  2. Pharmacist $140,000 – Entry $85,000 · 6-7 years post-Grade 12
  3. Civil Engineer $140,000 – Entry $70,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  4. Mechanical Engineer $140,000 – Entry $70,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  5. Geneticist / Genomics Scientist $140,000 – Entry $65,000 · 6-10 years post-Grade 12
  6. Geoscientist / Geologist $140,000+ – Entry $65,000 · 4-5 years post-Grade 12
  7. Supply Chain Manager $140,000 – Entry $65,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  8. UX / Product Designer $140,000 – Entry $65,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  9. Accountant / CPA $140,000 – Entry $60,000 · 6-7 years post-Grade 12
  10. Climate / Environmental Scientist $140,000 – Entry $60,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  11. Neuroscientist $140,000 – Entry $60,000 · 10-12 years post-Grade 12
  12. Research Scientist $140,000 – Entry $60,000 · 10-12 years post-Grade 12
  13. Biomedical Engineer $130,000 – Entry $70,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  14. Epidemiologist $130,000 – Entry $70,000 · 6 years post-Grade 12
  15. Game Developer $130,000 – Entry $65,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  16. Policy Analyst / Public Servant $130,000 – Entry $65,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  17. Animator / Visual Effects Artist $130,000 – Entry $45,000 · 3-4 years post-Grade 12
  18. Midwife $120,000 – Entry $80,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  19. Intelligence Officer (CSIS/CSE) $120,000 – Entry $70,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  20. Urban Planner $120,000 – Entry $60,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  21. Architect $120,000 – Entry $55,000 · 7-9 years post-Grade 12
  22. Marketing Manager $120,000+ – Entry $55,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  23. Musician / Music Professional $120,000+ – Entry $35,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  24. Physiotherapist $110,000 – Entry $70,000 · 6 years post-Grade 12
  25. Speech-Language Pathologist $110,000 – Entry $70,000 · 6 years post-Grade 12
  26. Registered Nurse (RN) $110,000 – Entry $65,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  27. Meteorologist / Atmospheric Scientist $110,000 – Entry $60,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  28. Special Education Teacher $110,000 – Entry $55,000 · 5-6 years post-Grade 12
  29. Occupational Therapist (OT) $105,000 – Entry $70,000 · 6 years post-Grade 12
  30. Radiation Therapist $105,000 – Entry $70,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  31. Teacher $105,000 – Entry $50,000 · 5-6 years post-Grade 12
  32. School Counsellor $100,000 – Entry $60,000 · 6-8 years post-Grade 12
  33. Forensic Scientist $100,000 – Entry $55,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  34. Industrial Designer $100,000 – Entry $50,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  35. Marine Biologist $100,000 – Entry $50,000 · 4-8 years post-Grade 12

Under $100,000

  1. Paramedic $95,000 – Entry $55,000 · 2-3 years post-Grade 12
  2. Journalist $95,000 – Entry $45,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  3. Social Worker (RSW) $90,000 – Entry $50,000 · 4-6 years post-Grade 12
  4. Graphic Designer $90,000 – Entry $45,000 · 4 years post-Grade 12
  5. Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) $70,000 – Entry $45,000 · 4-5 years post-Grade 12

How this list is built

Salaries are the estimates shown on each career page, in Canadian dollars, drawn from public sources. Pay varies by province, employer and experience. Careers without a fixed salary range are left out.

More rankings

← All rankings