A software engineer leads the development of applications for computers and other devices. Their primary responsibility is to plan, design and implement software applications that are used by businesses and individuals or within a computer system. These applications may be part of a larger network that allows the sharing of information between users and devices.
How much does a Software Engineer make in Canada? What are the average starting and average ending salaries for a Software Engineer? A software engineer makes an average salary of $69,896 per year based on 458 salaries. A software engineer makes an average salary of $84,130 per year based on 445 salaries.
Salary For Software Engineer In Canada Overview
The average software engineer salary in Canada is $74,000 CAD per year, or about $55.00 CAD per hour. But that’s not the whole story! There are many factors that can affect your salary as a software engineer in Canada—from your specialization to where you live and work.
Here are some of the most common factors that can affect your salary as a software engineer in Canada:
- Your specialization: Some specializations will pay more than others—for example, front-end development pays more than back-end development, and mobile development pays more than desktop development.
- Where you live: The cost of living varies greatly from city to city and province to province. If you’re looking at moving from one province or city to another, it’s important to take into account how this could affect your salary.
- Years of experience: The longer you work as a software engineer, the more experienced you become—and the higher your salary can be!
How Much Do Software Engineers Earn in Canada?
Software engineers earn well above the national average salary. And because software engineers are in high demand, employers are willing to pay higher salaries. The national median salary is $92,506 a year or $48.08 per hour. Entry-level engineers earn a little lesser, starting at $55,507 a year or $28.85 per hour. Senior software engineers that are well-established in their jobs can earn up to $133,391 a year or $69.33 per hour.
Of course, not every province is even when it comes to job opportunities and salaries for engineers. Some provinces have a higher demand for them than others. For example, British Columbia and Ontario tend to pay much higher wages than other provinces. Let’s take a look at the best Canadian cities for software engineers.
1. Toronto, Ontario
Toronto has consistently had the fastest-growing tech sector of any North American city for the past few years. As a result, Toronto is now the largest tech hub in Canada and the 3rd-largest in North America. Unsurprisingly, Toronto has no shortage of tech jobs, and software engineers, especially, are in high demand. The Greater Toronto Area as a whole has a high demand for skilled tech workers. From sports and entertainment to finance, many businesses in Toronto are looking for engineers. There is a good chance you will find a job in the industry you want to work for.
Some of the biggest employers for software engineers in Toronto are IBM, Amazon, Google, Scotiabank, RBC, BMO, and Ceridian. As well, many private businesses employ software developers. As a result, engineers can be found in almost every type of business in the Greater Toronto Area.
2. Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver has seen massive growth as a tech hub in the past few years. It is hard to deny that Vancouver has earned a place as an emerging global tech hub. The arrival of tech giants such as Amazon and Shopify has only bolstered the growth of Vancouver’s tech sector. As of 2022, Vancouver is still going strong with plenty of software engineering jobs on the market.
The biggest employers for software engineers in Vancouver are Amazon, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, and SAP. And as more and more companies establish firms in Vancouver, the demand is sure to increase.
What is the Median Software Engineer Salary in Vancouver?
Compared to Toronto, software engineers in Vancouver earn quite a bit more. The median salary is $101,741 or $52.88 per hour. Wages can range from $56,739 a year to $138,759 a year depending on your position, experience, and how long you have been with your employer.
3. Ottawa, Ontario
This next city brings us back to Ontario. The capital city of Canada is unsurprisingly brimming with opportunities for software engineers. In fact, Ottawa has the highest concentration of tech workers in Canada, with almost 10% of Ottawa’s workforce employed in the tech sector. Another benefit of working in Ottawa is that it has a lot of government-related jobs for software engineers. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the Government of Canada are some of the biggest employers of software engineers in Ottawa. Other big employers include IBM, Cisco, Ciena, Shopify and Blackberry.
What is the Median Software Engineer Salary in Ottawa?
Ottawa boasts some of the highest salaries for software engineers in the country. The median salary in Ottawa for software engineers is $101,741 a year or $52.88 per hour. New engineers start with a pretty high salary of $68,206, which is $35.45 per hour. For a senior software engineer’s salary, you can expect to earn up to $139,144.
4. Calgary, Alberta
If you don’t mind having snow for seven months a year, moving to Calgary is a good option for software engineers. Calgary has quietly been developing into a tech hub for the past few years, making it a great city for engineers. And, it’s one of the best cities when it comes to quality of life in Canada.
The city has a diverse economy, and software engineers can work in many different fields. Calgary does not have one or two big companies that employ a big portion of Calgary’s software engineers. Instead, the market comprises multiple small companies that each hire a handful of software engineers. This allows Calgarians to choose the fields in which they want to put their skills to use. The top employers for software engineers in Calgary are Morgan Stanley, SMART Technologies, Shaw, University of Calgary, and Cisco.
What is the Median Software Engineer Salary in Calgary?
In Calgary, a software engineer can make an average of $90,659 a year or $47.12 per hour. If you are a new engineer, you can hope to make around $50,871 a year. A senior software engineer’s salary can be up to $134,122 a year.
5. Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
The success of Toronto’s tech sector is radiating out to nearby municipalities. Kitchener-Waterloo, especially, has benefited from the outflow of tech opportunities from Toronto. And even though its tech sector is not nearly as established as Toronto’s, Kitchener-Waterloo is well on its way to becoming a major center for innovation and technology.
The Kitchener-Waterloo area has recently caught the attention of Google. The tech giant is planning on opening new offices in Waterloo, creating the need for many software developers. Even before the arrival of Google, Kitchener-Waterloo had many opportunities. Some of the top tech employers in Kitchener-Waterloo include Google, BlackBerry, Sandvine and McAfee. And since the region is currently experiencing massive growth in its tech sector, job growth is promising.
What is the Median Salary in Kitchener-Waterloo?
The Kitchener-Waterloo area is doing pretty well when it comes to salaries. The median salary for software engineers is $94,719 a year or $49.23 per hour in Kitchener-Waterloo. Although it is not the highest salary in Canada, it is above the national average. Entry-level engineers are met with a median salary of $64,743, which is $33.65 per hour. For a senior software engineer’s salary, you can make up to $138,759/year with extensive experience.
Average Hourly (Median) Wages for Software Engineers in Canada
| Location | Low Wage $ per hr | Average Wage $ per hr | High Wage $ per hr | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary – Alberta* | 34.13 | 48.08 | 64.02 | 2019 |
| Edmonton – Alberta* | 31.25 | 40.14 | 95.00 | 2019 |
| Vancouver / Lower Mainland – British Columbia | 25.00 | 42.07 | 67.31 | 2018 |
| Winnipeg – Manitoba | 17.00 | 45.00 | 66.67 | 2018 |
| Fredericton / Oromocto – New Brunswick | 25.35 | 43.59 | 53.85 | 2018 |
| Halifax – Nova Scotia | 23.20 | 35.71 | 47.81 | 2018 |
| Toronto – Ontario | 28.93 | 45.67 | 72.82 | 2018 |
| Ottawa – Ontario | 33.65 | 45.67 | 72.00 | 2018 |
| Hamilton / Niagara Peninsula Region – Ontario | 28.85 | 45.67 | 72.00 | 2018 |
| Kitchener / Waterloo / Barrie – Ontario | 31.25 | 45.24 | 62.50 | 2018 |
| Prince Edward Island | 25.24 | 36.56 | 48.08 | 2018 |
| Montreal – Quebec | 25.00 | 38.46 | 57.00 | 2018 |
| Saskatoon / Biggar – Saskatchewan* | 20.00 | 36.06 | 59.63 | 2018 |
