Jobs and Salaries in Canada: Minimum Wage and Unemployment Salary
- Murat Koçak
- Nov 15, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Feb 17
Canada is one of the leading countries for various sectors such as IT, health and industry. It is one of the most popular countries that immigrants prefer to go to hoping to find a job. Canada has an employment deficit and every year welcomes large numbers of immigrants. Those who are not satisfied with their salary in their home country apply for migration to Canada.
So what are the differences in living standards? What are the jobs and salaries in Canada? How much are the salaries in Canada, where the education level is high and labor force is needed? We have researched for you the answer to the question of how much the minimum wage, unemployment benefit and other professional salaries are in Canada, which many people are curious about.
What is the Minimum Wage in Canada?
In Canada, salaries are determined differently in each province. Since there are 10 provinces in the country, it can be observed that salaries differ for those in the same job but working in different provinces.
Salaries in Canada are generally determined on an hourly basis. However, minimum wage rates vary by province and territory rather than by individual city.
As of 2026:
In Saskatchewan, the minimum wage is approximately CAD 15.35 per hour.
In Ontario, the minimum wage is CAD 17.60 per hour.
In British Columbia, it is approximately CAD 17.85 per hour.
In Nunavut, the highest minimum wage in Canada, it is CAD 19.75 per hour.
It is important to note that minimum wage is set at the provincial level, not by city. While large cities such as Ottawa or Toronto may have higher average salaries due to living costs and job markets, the legal minimum wage remains the same across the entire province.
We said that salaries in Canada are determined on an hourly basis. So, if you ask how many hours are worked in Canada, we can say that the official working hours are 37-40 hours. In some provinces, weekly working hours can even reach 44-48 hours. The working week is 5 days, similar to Türkiye.
The average minimum wage in Canada ranges between 2,400 Canadian dollars and 2,800 Canadian dollars. Although living on minimum wage in developed cities is quite difficult, in other cities it is very difficult to make ends meet. Especially high house rents make it difficult to live on minimum wage. If you have a family with children, it is important to work for wages higher than the minimum wage in order to make ends meet.
Only 7% of the Canadian Citizen Earn the Minimum Wage
The minimum wage is the lowest wage that a worker can be paid to ensure that they are able to live at least at a minimum level. Canada is a country in need of labor in general. It also receives a lot of immigration from other foreign countries due to the low number of workers. The majority of Canada's own citizens and workers from other countries are self-employed and earn wages well above the minimum wage. Therefore, there are not many people in Canada earning the minimum wage.
Only 7% of the Canadian citizen population earns the minimum wage. Among workers from other countries working in Canada, 30% earn the minimum wage. Of course, these wages can increase over time as workers gain experience and improve their skills.
How much is the unemployment salary in Canada?
We have already mentioned the need for labor in Canada. For this reason, we can say that the unemployment rate in the country is very low and is expected to drop to 0%. However, some people are still unable to work for reasons beyond their control.
In Canada, unemployment benefits are provided through the Employment Insurance (EI) program, administered by the Government of Canada. Employment Insurance supports individuals who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, such as due to layoffs or company closures.
As of 2026:
EI typically provides 55% of a claimant’s average insurable weekly earnings.
The maximum weekly EI benefit is approximately CAD 668 per week (subject to annual adjustment).
The duration of benefits generally ranges from 14 to 45 weeks, depending on the regional unemployment rate and the number of insurable hours worked.
Employment Insurance is not a fixed monthly payment, such as CAD 2,000. Instead, the benefit amount varies based on the individual’s previous earnings and employment history.
Through the EI system, Canada maintains a strong social safety net, providing temporary financial support to eligible workers while they search for new employment.
Employee Wages in Canada by Occupation
Minimum wages and unemployment benefits are only partially sufficient to live on their own in Canada, while most other professions earn Canada offers a high quality of life. Working in Canada, it is possible to earn almost 6-7 times the salary you can earn in Turkey with the same effort and equipment. The salary earned by each profession is different from each other according to various factors.
As of 2023, if you are wondering which profession earns how much in Canada, you can find Canada's highest-paying professions in the table below.
Average earnings represent the total amount earned per year in Canadian dollars and according to official Canadian government data.
Highest-Paid Jobs in Canada (Diploma)
There are high-paying job opportunities for diploma holders in Canada in fields ranging from energy installation to computer engineering technologies. Average earnings range from $128,310 to $52,528.
Highest Paid Occupations (Diploma) | Average Earnings |
Installer and operator of stationary energy sources | $128,310 |
Heavy/industrial equipment maintenance technologies | $74,248 |
Assistance in health diagnostic, intervention and treatment occupations | $69,163 |
Electrical and electronic engineering technologies/technicians | $68,748 |
Land transportation | $66,950 |
Mechanical engineering related technologies/technicians | $64,910 |
Environmental, mining, petroleum and other engineering | $64,382 |
Civil engineering technology/technician | $63,742 |
Drawing, architecture, surveying and mapping technologies | $61,725 |
Precision metalworking and manufacturing processes | $58,691 |
Security and protective services | $58,577 |
Computer engineering technologies/technicians | $58,336 |
Electrical/electronic maintenance and repair technology | $58,104 |
Vehicle maintenance and repair technologies | $57,045 |
Air transportation | $56,471 |
Building/construction completion, management and supervision | $56,072 |
Forestry | $55,881 |
General mechanics and repairers | $55,159 |
Natural resources and conservation | $54,925 |
Computer science | $54,829 |
Nursing | $54,674 |
Other computer and information sciences and support services | $53,926 |
Science technologies/technicians | $53,177 |
Construction sector, general | $52,676 |
Architecture and related disciplines | $52,528 |
Highest-paid Jobs in Canada (Bachelor)
High-paying job opportunities are available for bachelor's graduates in a wide range of fields, from pharmacy to economics. Average earnings range from $109,645 to $55,713.
Highest Paid Occupations (Bachelor's Degree) | Average Earnings |
Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and management | $109,645 |
Chemical engineering and related studies | $91,278 |
Other engineering related fields | $80,003 |
Nursing | $79,896 |
Electrical engineering | $78,225 |
Mechanical engineering | $77,028 |
Geology and earth sciences | $74,454 |
Computer engineering | $73,965 |
Civil engineering and related studies | $73,851 |
Computer science | $69,884 |
Industrial and manufacturing engineering | $69,625 |
Other physical sciences | $68,876 |
Therapy and assessment programs | $66,713 |
Law, legal services and legal studies | $65,063 |
Other computer and information sciences and support | $64,854 |
Mathematics and statistics | $64,407 |
Accounting | $62,052 |
Finance and financial management services | $61,664 |
Business, trade and administrations | $61,412 |
Public health | $58,371 |
Other health professions and related clinical sciences | $57,946 |
Marketing | $55,978 |
Natural resources and conservation | $55,918 |
Social work | $55,800 |
Economy | $55,713 |
Highest-Paid Jobs in Canada (Master's)
High-paying jobs are available for individuals with a master's degree in fields such as finance, pharmacy and accounting. Average earnings range from $106,578 to $78,910.
Highest Paid Jobs (Master's Degree) | Average Earnings |
Finance and financial management services | $106,578 |
Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and management | $103,059 |
Accounting | $102,610 |
Business, trade and administrations | $100,022 |
Law, legal services and legal studies | $98,021 |
Other engineering related fields | $97,008 |
Nursing | $94,734 |
Computer science | $92,521 |
Chemical engineering and related studies | $92,509 |
Computer Engineering | $92,503 |
Civil engineering and related studies | $92,172 |
Industrial and manufacturing engineering | $90,820 |
Mechanical Engineering | $90,624 |
Electrical engineering | $89,487 |
Economy | $85,639 |
Geology and earth sciences/geosciences | $85,158 |
Human resources management and services | $84,570 |
Public Health | $84,399 |
Marketing | $83,958 |
Other health professions and related clinical sciences | $83,523 |
Mathematics and statistics | $83,473 |
Public administration and other social work professions | $80,932 |
Therapy and assessment programs | $80,899 |
Education | $80,507 |
Other computer and information sciences and support | $78,910 |
Highest-paid Jobs in Canada (Medicine)
In the medical sector, professions such as dentistry, optometry and veterinary medicine are characterized by high salaries. Average earnings range from $105,547 to $83,353.
Highest Paid Professions (Medicine) | Average Earnings |
Dentistry | $105,547 |
Optometry | $99,748 |
Veterinary Medicine | $85,063 |
Medicine (MD) | $83,353 |
Highest-paid Jobs in Canada (Technical Occupations)
In technical occupations, fields such as power fitters, heavy equipment maintenance and electrical fitters are notable for high salaries. Average earnings range from $106,656 to $30,656.
Highest Salaried Occupations (Technical Occupations) | Average Earnings |
Installer and operator of stationary energy sources | $106,656 |
Heavy/industrial equipment maintenance technologies | $97,970 |
Electrical and power transmission installers | $88,414 |
Heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration maintenance | $82,983 |
Construction sector, general | $81,536 |
Plumbing and related water supply services | $80,661 |
Precision metalworking and manufacturing activities | $79,316 |
Precision systems maintenance and repair technologies | $74,276 |
Land transportation | $73,305 |
Vehicle maintenance and repair technologies | $68,120 |
Audiovisual and graphic communication technology/technician | $66,550 |
Building/construction completion, management and supervision | $64,619 |
Electrical/electronic maintenance and repair technology | $64,165 |
Carpentry | $63,791 |
General mechanics and repairers | $63,140 |
Masonry | $59,377 |
Security and protective services | $59,009 |
Woodworking | $50,993 |
Agricultural activities and related sciences | $50,039 |
Drawing, architecture, surveying and mapping technologies | $49,020 |
Culinary arts and related services | $44,553 |
Other computer, information science and support services | $40,311 |
Paramedics / assistants / orderlies | $38,355 |
Esthetics and related personal care services | $30,656 |
*Salaries are on an annual basis, without deducting taxes or other deductions.
** The above salary information is provided by the Canadian government. Detailed information and resources can be found on Canada's official job portal Canada Job Bank
***Salary amounts indicated are in CAD - Canadian Dollars.
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