The average engineer salary in Canada varies based on factors such as your area of focus and the region where you live. However, with an increasing demand for engineers in Canada, average salaries fall in the range of $45,000 – $80,000 per year.
To understand what you can expect to earn, it’s important to consider:
- The engineering type that you practice and your job title
2. Level of experience, education, and designations you hold
3. The job outlook for engineering jobs across Canada
4. Provincial and regional labour market conditions.
Salary information is also helpful to know when you apply for jobs in Canada. Because it’s common for employers to ask you for your salary expectations during interviews. And when you know the average engineer salary, you can provide a figure that is based on market conditions.
So to gather information about the average salary for engineering jobs in Canada, we’ll look at the Government of Canada data. This wage information is based on the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code.
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What is the NOC?
The NOC is used to classify different occupations in Canada. It is used for a variety of purposes. And you can use the NOC to gain information about your profession in Canada, including wages and job outlook.
There are a number of different NOC codes for engineering. So be sure to select the NOC that best describes your experience. Find your NOC here.
Factors that Determine an Engineering Salary in Canada:
1. Engineering Type and Job Title
The national median wage per hour for an engineer can vary based on the type of engineering that you practice. And the Government of Canada provides wage information for different engineering types based on the NOC.
You can find wage information for the national average and compare it to the provincial wage per hour. Because you may find that some provinces pay higher than the national average.
As well, you can explore other titles that are related to the engineering type. For example:
- Civil Engineer (NOC 2131)
- Example titles: Bridge Engineer; Construction Engineer; Environmental Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer (NOC 2132)
- Example titles: Design Engineer; Energy Conservation Engineer; Power Generation Engineer
- Electrical Engineer (NOC 2133)
- Example titles: Electrical Design Engineer; Electronics Engineer; Roadway Lighting Design Engineer
- Software Engineer (NOC 2173)
- Example titles: Computer Software Engineer; Software Design Engineer; Software Testing Engineer
- Biomedical Engineer (NOC2148)
Additional Compensation
In addition to a yearly salary, employers provide a benefits package. And these benefits contribute to your total compensation package.
Common benefits may include:
- Dental insurance
- Supplemental medical insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Pension plan for your retirement
- Bonus pay
- Stock options
- And other incentives.
And with these benefits on top of your annual salary, you can make a healthy engineer salary in Canada.
2. Level of Experience and Average Engineer Salary
Your starting salary may be higher or lower than the Canadian national average based on your:
- skills
- credentials, and
- experience.
And to give you an idea of the payscale, the Government of Canada provides Low, Median, and High wage information for different engineer types.
As well, wages vary at the provincial and regional levels. So you may find some regions pay more than the national average based on the demand for engineers. Therefore, this points to the importance of research to get a clear picture of an engineering salary in Canada.
Here are some examples of the average engineer salary in Canada:
3. Job Outlook for Engineering Jobs and Average Salary
Engineers are in high demand in Canada, as they are around the world. And by the year 2024, it’s expected that one in five workers in Canada will retire.
So engineers will continue to be in demand due to:
- the aging Canadian workforce
- projected retirements within engineering
- the growth of population in Canadian cities, and
- large-scale infrastructure projects that are in progress.
And these factors will contribute to high growth and demand within the engineering field. As such, this increased demand will likely contribute to rising salaries.
4. Local Market Conditions for Engineering Jobs
While there is a demand for engineers across Canada, you want to know where the demand is strong. And you can use the Canadian government data to explore which provinces have a higher demand for engineers.
As well, you can research which regions and cities have a demand within the province. And with this information, you can identify Canadian cities where you may want to live.
As an example, we’ll look at labour market conditions for Mechanical Engineers. When you click on the links, you see that the job outlook is rated as Good in several provinces:
Mechanical Engineer (NOC2132)
Based on this data, job opportunities range from fair to good right across the country.
And several provinces show a good outlook including: New Brunswick; Ontario; and Manitoba. We’ll look at New Brunswick more closely.
Provincial Job Outlook:
Here you can explore the provincial outlook in greater detail: New Brunswick job outlook
Regional Outlook:
And within New Brunswick, there are several regions that have a good outlook for jobs including Fredericton-Oromocto .
Where the demand for specific engineers is high, you can expect to see wages that are higher than the national average.
Key Takeaway:
The average salary for engineering jobs in Canada can vary. And when you gather salary information it can help you in many ways. For example, you can gain a general idea of how much you can expect to earn. And this can ensure that you receive a fair market rate for your skills and experience.
For more information, tools, resources, and free webinars visit finding a job in Canada. Get the help you need to achieve your career goals in Canada!