🇨🇦 Compare Your Salary In Canada

We often hear about the "average salary" in Canada, but averages can be misleading due to high earners skewing the data. This website aims to provide a clearer picture of income distribution using percentiles, allowing individuals to see how their earnings compare to others in Canada based on reliable census data and annual surveys.

Individual Salary compares your personal employment income (wages and salaries) to other individuals in your age group using detailed census percentile data (P10, P25, P50, P75, P90, P95, P99). This is best for understanding where your personal earnings stand. Household Income compares the combined income of all people in your household to other Canadian households using quintile data (5 groups of 20% each). This gives a broader picture of your household's economic situation, regardless of how many earners contribute. Note that household data is not age-specific and uses broader income ranges.

The individual salary data comes from Statistics Canada's Census of Population 2021, which is the most comprehensive and reliable source for income distribution in Canad (see also their own income explorer). The census surveys millions of Canadians and provides official government statistics on employment income. The household income data comes from Statistics Canada's annual Household Income Survey (table 36-10-0587-01).

The individual salary data reflects the 2020 calendar year (collected during the 2021 Census). While this is the most recent comprehensive census data available, please note that income levels and distributions may have changed since 2020 due to inflation, economic growth, and other factors. The website will be updated when the next census data becomes available in 2026-2027. The household income data reflects the 2024 calendar year (collected during the 2025 survey). This is the most recent annual household income data available from Statistics Canada.

Gross wages and salaries before deductions for such items as income taxes, pension plan contributions, and employment insurance premiums during the reference period. Source

It's based on the Household Income Survey (table 36-10-0587-01), which doesn't have the same level of detail as the census income data. To get an approximation of the income as we commonly think of it (i.e., the amount we see in our employment contract before taxes), we added back the "current transfers paid" to the disposable income.

The individual salary comparison is based on employment income (wages and salaries), which means it's most relevant for people who are currently employed. If you are a retiree or primarily receive income from sources other than employment (such as pensions, investments, or government transfers), these statistics may not be relevant to your situation. A future version of this tool may address this limitation by including additional income categories.

Additionally, the individual salary data is from the 2020 calendar year. A future version may include an option to inflation-adjust the data to current dollars, which would provide a more accurate comparison by accounting for changes in purchasing power since 2020.

If you have suggestions for other improvements, please feel free to contact me.