Teacher Salary in Canada is based on the grade and experience level of teachers. To help you determine the salary you should expect, we have compiled data for average teacher salaries in Canadian provinces and territories, as well as Canadian metropolitan areas with a population of more than 100,000.
Do you want to teach in Canada? If you’ve been looking for a job as a teacher, we have some good news for you: Canada is one of the best countries to work in education. That’s because it has an incredibly high starting salary and an average teacher salary that will make your head spin.
The average starting salary for teachers in Canada is $51,000 CAD per year (that’s around $38,000 USD). This means that if you’re just starting out as a teacher, you can expect to earn more than half of what people earn on average in Canada—and that’s before any other bonuses or benefits!
If you’re already teaching and looking to move countries, there are plenty of opportunities for growth. The average teacher salary in Canada is $68,000 CAD per year (about $52,000 USD), which means that after several years of teaching in Canada, you could be making more than double what many Canadians earn!
How much does a Teacher make in Canada?
$42,900
/ Annual
Based on 5547 salaries
The average teacher salary in Canada is $42,900 per year or $22 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $35,100 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $68,283 per year.
Factors that determine an average teacher salary in Canada
Generally, an average teacher salary is based on your:
- years of post-secondary education, and
- experience.
But there are other factors that influence salary. So let’s look at those factors more closely:
1. Grade level you qualify to teach
Depending on the level that you teach, an average teacher salary in Canada can vary. For instance, a secondary school teacher can make more money than an elementary (primary) school teacher in Canada.
- Elementary/junior school teacher (Kindergarten – Grade 6)
- Junior/Intermediate school teacher (Grades 4 – 10)
- Intermediate/Senior school teacher (Grades 7 – 12)
- Technological education: (Grades 9 – 10 and 11 – 12).
2. Years of teaching experience
To teach in Canada, you must meet provincial or territorial requirements to get your teaching certificate. However, if you have previous teaching experience, your starting salary may be higher. And, you may move up the pay scale based on your career stage. For example, have you recently graduated? Or, do you have several years of experience?
Related Posts:
How to become a teacher in Canada
Teaching Employment & Job Requirements in Canada
Best cities to find teaching jobs in Canada
Average Salary for Accounting Jobs in Canada(Opens in a new browser tab)
Working in Canada: A 5-Step Approach
3. Additional qualifications
Teachers can continue their professional development and obtain additional qualifications (AQs). For instance, AQs from the Ontario College of Teachers include:
- Adding subjects or divisions that you qualify to teach
- Increasing knowledge of teaching in the French language system
- Acquiring knowledge to teach students with special needs.
Therefore, when teachers obtain additional qualifications, they may receive an increase in pay.
4. Region or city where you teach
Often, you can find teaching jobs outside of large cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. So, it’s important to research what provinces have high demand, and what cities are searching for teachers. Because, if you’re willing to move to a small or mid-sized city, you may find more opportunities and less competition for jobs.
Other compensation in an average teacher salary in Canada
In Canada, teachers must join a teachers’ association. The association negotiates the basic salary scale and benefits package with the government. Overall, Canadian teachers are among the highest-paid compared to teachers from around the world.
On top of the base salary, teachers often receive a healthy benefits package. And, the benefits are part of the total compensation package. Benefits may vary in each province or territory, but generally include things such as:
- Dental insurance
- Supplemental medical insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Maternity leave
- Life insurance
- Pension plan for your retirement
So, teaching is attractive because of the job security, pension plan, and other benefits included in the total salary. But again, you must have a passion for teaching to achieve success. If you don’t have a passion for teaching, it’s unlikely to be a great career option for you.
Paying into social security programs
In Canada, all employees must pay into federal social security programs. For instance, programs such as:
- Employment Insurance (EI): provides benefits to people who are unemployed through illness; maternity leave; or lack of suitable work
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP): provides a basic minimum retirement allowance
Average hourly wages for teachers in Canada
Secondary school teachers in Canada can expect to earn a teacher salary between $25.00/hour – 52.88/hour. But, this is a national average. Therefore, wages will vary within the local labour market. Generally, teachers in Canada are well paid.
The following chart shows the average wage secondary school teachers across Canada made in 2019.
| Secondary School Teacher Wages(National Occupational Classification: 4031)Wages/Hour (2019) | |||
| Province (Job Outlook) | Low | Median | High |
| Alberta (fair) | 30.77 | 43.96 | 54.95 |
| British Columbia (good) | 25.38 | 38.46 | 51.28 |
| Manitoba (fair) | 19.23 | 40.00 | 52.88 |
| New Brunswick (fair) | 23.34 | 36.06 | 41.83 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador (fair) | 30.00 | 44.23 | 70.77 |
| Nova Scotia (fair) | 18.75 | 38.46 | 48.08 |
| Ontario (limited) | 24.04 | 45.05 | 56.80 |
| Prince Edward Island (fair) | 25.00 | 36.88 | 41.03 |
| Quebec (good) | 25.00 | 39.56 | 50.00 |
| Saskatchewan (fair) | 25.00 | 37.73 | 50.00 |
| Northwest Territories | 30.00 | 45.02 | 59.90 |
| Nunavut (fair) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Yukon (good) | 31.50 | 47.63 | 51.70 |
| Canada | 25.00 | 41.21 | 52.88 |
Average Hourly (Median) Wages for High School Teachers in Canada
| Location | Low Wage $ per hr | Average Wage $ per hr | High Wage $ per hr | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary – Alberta* | 38.49 | 53.89 | 103.44 | 2019 |
| Edmonton – Alberta* | 29.55 | 45.48 | 51.83 | 2019 |
| Vancouver / Lower Mainland – British Columbia | 25.38 | 38.46 | 51.48 | 2018 |
| Winnipeg – Manitoba | 22.50 | 41.03 | 52.75 | 2018 |
| Fredericton / Oromocto – New Brunswick | 23.34 | 36.06 | 41.83 | 2018 |
| Halifax – Nova Scotia | 22.80 | 40.00 | 45.69 | 2018 |
| Toronto – Ontario | 21.98 | 45.67 | 55.02 | 2018 |
| Ottawa – Ontario | 24.04 | 46.15 | 64.00 | 2018 |
| Windsor / Sarnia – Ontario | 21.15 | 43.27 | 52.88 | 2018 |
| Kitchener / Waterloo / Barrie – Ontario | 31.73 | 45.05 | 56.80 | 2018 |
| Prince Edward Island | 25.00 | 36.88 | 41.03 | 2018 |
| Montreal – Quebec | 25.00 | 35.98 | 50.00 | 2018 |
| Saskatoon / Biggar – Saskatchewan | 24.92 | 35.71 | 48.72 | 2018 |
