An average teacher’s salary in Canada can be high based on your experience and qualifications. For example, a high school teacher’s salary is generally higher an a primary teacher’s salary. If you have a passion for teaching, you can go far with a teaching career. It is possible to earn a lot of money with a career in teaching. And, teaching is a highly valued career where you can expect attractive salaries and work benefits. Other factors can determine a teaching salary such as:
- Grade level you qualify to teach
- Years of teaching experience
- Additional qualification
- Province and city where you teach.
Based on these factors, you can get an idea of the average teacher salary in Canada. For example, if you have recently started teaching, you’ll likely be paid on the lower end of the pay scale. However, if you have more than 10 years of experience, you may be paid on the higher end of the scale.
While money is essential, your salary is only part of the equation. Most importantly, you must have a passion for teaching. A career in teaching is different from almost every other career out there. To succeed as a teacher, loving your job is of utmost importance.
Four Factors that Determine a Teacher Salary in Canada
Generally, a teacher’s salary is based on your:
- years of post-secondary education
- experience.
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However, there are other factors that influence salary. Let’s look at those factors more closely:
1. Grade Level That You Qualify to Teach
Depending on the level you teach, an average teacher’s salary in Canada can vary. For instance, a high school teaching salary (or a secondary school teacher) pays more than an primary school teacher in Canada.
| Grade Level | National Median Wage/Hour Source: Canada Job Bank 2022 |
|---|---|
| Primary School Teacher | $40.49 |
| Secondary School Teacher (high school) | $42.31 |
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?
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3. Additional Qualifications (AQs)
Teachers can continue their professional development and obtain additional qualifications (AQs). For instance, you can get AQs from the Ontario College of Teachers when you:
- Add subjects or divisions that you qualify to teach
- Increase your knowledge to teach in the French language system
- Acquire knowledge to teach students with functional needs.
Based on these AQs, you can expect to increase your teacher salary.
4. Province or City Where You Teach
Often, you can find teaching jobs outside of large cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. This makes it essential to research what provinces have high demand, and what cities are searching for teachers. If you’re willing to move to a small or mid-sized city, you may find more opportunities and potentially make more money.
As of 2022, Nunavut pays teachers the highest salaries while New Brunswick pays the lowest salaries for secondary school teachers. To get a better idea of which region pays the best salaries, it is a good idea to research individual cities. Toronto and London are great cities in Ontario to consider for teaching. In Ontario, qualified teachers can expect to earn between $28.13 and $57.69 per hour.
Other Compensation Included 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.
Teaching is attractive because of the job security, pension plan, and other benefits included in the total salary. A pension plan is a fund that your employer contributes to on a regular basis. These funds are available to teachers after they retire. In addition to being a great financial perk, pension plans are becoming rare. 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.
Pay Scale for a High School Teacher Salary in Canada
Secondary school teachers in Canada can expect to earn a teacher salary between $26.92/hour and 53.85/hour. Keep in mind that this is the national average. Wages will vary from region to region and city to city. However, teachers in Canada are generally well-paid.
The following chart shows the pay scale for a high school teacher’s salary across Canada in 2022.
| Regional Pay Scales | Low | Medium | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 26.92 | 42.31 | 53.85 |
| Alberta | 26.20 | 43.27 | 50.00 |
| British Columbia | 27.47 | 38.46 | 51.28 |
| Manitoba | 24.04 | 40.11 | 51.28 |
| New Brunswick | 25.00 | 33.65 | 42.56 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 26.25 | 43.27 | 56.00 |
| Northwest Territories | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nova Scotia | 25.48 | 40.38 | 52.53 |
| Nunavut | 27.51 | 55.43 | 69.18 |
| Ontario | 28.13 | 47.12 | 57.69 |
| Prince Edward Island | 24.04 | 38.46 | 43.59 |
| Quebec | 26.44 | 40.00 | 49.63 |
| Saskatchewan | 28.18 | 40.87 | 52.75 |
Key Takeaways About Teaching Salary:
It’s important to know what’s included in an average teacher’s salary in Canada, including base pay plus benefits.
Many factors determine an average teacher’s salary. Generally, teachers are well-paid in Canada.
Some factors that determine pay include:
- Grade level that you qualify to teach
2. Years of teaching experience
3. Additional qualifications, and
4. Province or city where you choose to teach. Region or city where you choose to teach.
With a passion for teaching and the correct education pathway, you can find a well-paying teaching job in Canada.
My name is Zain Usmani and I am a freelance content writer who currently resides in Mississauga, Ontario. I immigrated from Pakistan to Canada 5 years ago and have lived in many cities ever since. I have lived in Calgary AB, Edmonton AB, Regina SK, London ON, and Mississauga ON, while visiting over 40 Canadian cities and towns. I have a great passion for writing and I love helping people through it.