So, how much are we earning? The average Canadian salaries by industry and region

Peter Harris| February 27, 2015 09:12 am 

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[Updated February 2015] Wondering how much money we’re making at the start of 2015? Statistics Canada has just released their latest report on how the average salaries that Canadians are earning. And it turns out that we’re taking home a little more than we were a year earlier.

At the end of last year, as of December 2014, the average wage for Canadian employees was $943 a week – or just over $49,000 a year. This marks a 2% increase over the same period a year earlier.

Average Canadian salary by province

• Newfoundland and Labrador – $52,572
• New Brunswick – $44,044
• Nova Scotia – $42,992
• Prince Edward Island – $41,184
• Quebec – $44,621
• Ontario – $49,088
• Manitoba – $45,760
• Saskatchewan -$51,792
• Alberta – $60,476
• British Columbia – $46,900

Average Canadian wage changes by industry sector

Over the past year, the largest gains in salary were seen in the professional, scientific and technical services field where earnings increased 5.0% to $70,310. These gains were spread across most industries in this sector. The largest increase was in architectural, engineering and related services, followed by accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services.

Those in the accommodation and food services trade also saw their incomes go up over last year by 4.2% to $19,656.

• Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction – $109,844
• Utilities – $96,279
• Construction – $64,240
• Manufacturing – $54,256
• Retail – $28,136
• Transportation and warehousing – $55,305
• Information and cultural industries – $61,373
• Finance and insurance – $60,011
• Real estate and rental and leasing – $50,226
• Professional, scientific and technical services – $70,310
• Educational services – $51,305
• Health care and social assistance – $44,863
• Arts, entertainment and recreation – $30,186
• Accommodation and food services – $19,656

So who’s making well above the average wage?

Well, Specialist Physicians top the list of well compensated professionals at a whopping $350,000 a year. Judgesare also high earners, bringing in an average of $260,000 annually.

Other high-earning positions:

Senior managers of financial, communications, and other businesses – $225,500/year [View jobs]
Senior managers of goods production, utilities, transportation, and construction – $205,000/year [View jobs]
General practitioners and family physicians – $180,000/year [View jobs]
Dentists – $175,000/year [View jobs]
Lawyers – $165,000/year [View jobs]
Actuaries earn $155,000 [View jobs]
Engineering managers – $137,000 [View jobs]
Top paid Airline Pilots make $138,000 [View jobs]

Looking the qualifications needed to land one of the highest paying gigs, the lesson seems to be: if you want to earn the big bucks, stay in school.

The salaries for the 10 job titles with the most online job postings in Canada

Retail sales people – $24,128 [View jobs]
Customer and information services representatives $33,700 [View jobs]
Retail managers $50,000 [View jobs]
Sales and account representatives $50,000 [View jobs]
Cooks $25,000 [View jobs]
Transport truck drivers $41,600 [View jobs]
Registered and registered psychiatric nurses $72,800 [View jobs]
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related occupations $21,840 [View jobs]
Administrative officers $45,000 [View jobs]
Computer programmers and interactive media developers $70,000 [View jobs]

And how about our national leaders? The Prime Minister, Stephen Harper makes $327,400 a year. Members of Parliament make $163,700 a year and the Governor General earns $270,602 annually. Senators make $135,200 – plus y’know… expenses.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Parliament of Canada

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Peter Harris