Highest Job Bank median
$419,180
Surgeons · #1
🇨🇦Job Bank / StatCan 2023–2024
Highest Paying Jobs in Canada
Ranked national median wages from Job Bank / StatCan 2023–2024 for 61 occupations — from Surgeons ($419,180) to Massage therapists ($32,867). Compare any two careers, see hourly equivalents, and modeled take-home at each median in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
$419,180
#1 · Surgeons
61
Occupations tracked
15+
Featured compare pairs
4
Take-home · AB · ON · BC · QC
Lowest in this set
$32,867
Massage therapists · #61
Software developers
$100,006
$48.08/hr · rank #19
AB take-home at SW median
$72,887
vs RN $65,935
Key finding: Job Bank medians + take-home
Surgeons lead our 2023–2024 table at $419,180 median; Massage therapists rank last at $32,867 among 61 tracked occupations. Software developers ($100,006) vs registered nurses ($90,002) is one of the most searched tech-vs-care corridors.
Job Bank / StatCan 2023–2024 national medians; take-home uses 2026 paycheck model. Data refreshed 2026-08-26.
Key takeaways
- Software developers vs RNs: $100,006 vs $90,002 Job Bank medians — $72,887 vs $65,935 modeled take-home in Alberta.
- Surgeons top our Job Bank table at $419,180 national median (published annual; ~$201.53/hr equivalent).
- Take-home columns apply our paycheck model at each Job Bank median in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.
- Medians are national — metro COL and provincial licensing can move real offers far above or below these anchors.
- Pair any two occupations below, then open profiles for percentile spreads and calculator deep links.
What this hub covers
This hub ranks 61 Canadian occupations by Job Bank national median annual wage — the midpoint where half of workers in that NOC earn more and half earn less — focusing on NOC unit groups that match common profession salary searches.
Most rows use Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey wages (2023–2024). Physician specialty rows use CIHI/CMA annual figures; a few heavily self-employed occupations use 2021 Census annual wages. Each profile cites the Job Bank source line for that NOC.
Each row links to an occupation profile with Job Bank source pages, hourly equivalents, and modeled take-home at the median in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.
Compare pages pit any two careers head-to-head: gross median gap, hourly spread, rank, and a four-province take-home ladder using the same paycheck rules as our Canada calculator.
The US hub is live with BLS OEWS medians and the UK hub with ONS ASHE medians; Australia is live with ABS EEH averages. New Zealand is live with Stats NZ HLFS major-group medians; Ireland is live with CSO SES medians — same ranking, compare, and profile pattern.
Compare any two careers
Pick two occupations to see Job Bank median wage gaps, hourly equivalents, and take-home in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.
Featured career comparisons
Software developersvsRNs
$10,004 median gap · $100,006 vs $90,002
Software engineersvsSoftware developers
$17,493 median gap · $117,499 vs $100,006
LawyersvsAccountants
$40,352 median gap · $124,301 vs $83,949
Petroleum engineersvsSoftware developers
$34,986 median gap · $134,992 vs $100,006
NPsvsRNs
$38,001 median gap · $128,003 vs $90,002
Family physiciansvsNPs
$104,224 median gap · $232,227 vs $128,003
SurgeonsvsFamily physicians
$186,953 median gap · $419,180 vs $232,227
IT managersvsSoftware developers
$38,668 median gap · $138,674 vs $100,006
Airline pilotsvsSoftware developers
$8,154 median gap · $108,160 vs $100,006
Rankings by Job Bank median (2023–2024)
61 occupations sorted by national median annual wage. Take-home columns apply our 2026 paycheck model at each median — single filer, federal + provincial, employee payroll.
| # | Occupation | Job Bank median | Alberta take-homeat median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specialists in surgeryHealthcare · NOC 31101 | $419,180 | $254,683 |
| 2 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicineHealthcare · NOC 31100 | $311,297 | $197,995 |
| 3 | General practitioners and family physiciansHealthcare · NOC 31102 | $232,227 | $154,892 |
| 4 | Senior managers — financial, communications and other business servicesManagement · NOC 00012 | $199,992 | $136,196 |
| 5 | Computer and information systems managersManagement · NOC 20012 | $138,674 | $98,572 |
| 6 | Petroleum engineersEngineering · NOC 21332 | $134,992 | $96,216 |
| 7 | Nurse practitionersHealthcare · NOC 31302 | $128,003 | $91,743 |
| 8 | VeterinariansHealthcare · NOC 31103 | $124,800 | $89,693 |
| 9 | Lawyers and Quebec notariesLegal · NOC 41101 | $124,301 | $89,373 |
| 10 | Financial managersManagement · NOC 10010 | $123,718 | $89,000 |
| 11 | Software engineers and designersTechnology · NOC 21231 | $117,499 | $85,020 |
| 12 | PharmacistsHealthcare · NOC 31120 | $115,419 | $83,599 |
| 13 | Advertising, marketing and public relations managersManagement · NOC 10022 | $115,003 | $83,310 |
| 14 | PsychologistsHealthcare · NOC 31200 | $109,990 | $79,826 |
| 15 | Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructorsTransportation · NOC 72600 | $108,160 | $78,554 |
| 16 | Electrical and electronics engineersEngineering · NOC 21310 | $105,394 | $76,632 |
| 17 | Police officers (except commissioned)Public & social services · NOC 42100 | $104,000 | $75,663 |
| 18 | Cybersecurity specialistsTechnology · NOC 21220 | $103,002 | $74,970 |
| 19 | Software developers and programmersTechnology · NOC 21232 | $100,006 | $72,887 |
| 20 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionalsHealthcare · NOC 31303 | $97,365 | $71,052 |
| 21 | Audiologists and speech-language pathologistsHealthcare · NOC 31112 | $95,992 | $70,098 |
| 22 | Data scientistsTechnology · NOC 21211 | $95,992 | $70,098 |
| 23 | PhysiotherapistsHealthcare · NOC 31202 | $95,992 | $70,098 |
| 24 | Occupational therapistsHealthcare · NOC 31203 | $95,680 | $69,881 |
| 25 | Mechanical engineersEngineering · NOC 21301 | $94,994 | $69,404 |
| 26 | Secondary school teachersEducation · NOC 41220 | $94,994 | $69,404 |
| 27 | Business systems specialistsTechnology · NOC 21221 | $93,870 | $68,623 |
| 28 | Dental hygienists and dental therapistsHealthcare · NOC 32111 | $93,600 | $68,435 |
| 29 | Professional occupations in business management consultingBusiness & finance · NOC 11201 | $91,728 | $67,134 |
| 30 | Elementary school and kindergarten teachersEducation · NOC 41221 | $90,002 | $65,935 |
| 31 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nursesHealthcare · NOC 31301 | $90,002 | $65,935 |
| 32 | Medical sonographersHealthcare · NOC 32122 | $87,360 | $64,098 |
| 33 | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologistsHealthcare · NOC 32103 | $85,280 | $62,653 |
| 34 | Database analysts and data administratorsTechnology · NOC 21223 | $85,010 | $62,465 |
| 35 | Financial auditors and accountantsBusiness & finance · NOC 11100 | $83,949 | $61,770 |
| 36 | Biologists and related scientistsEngineering · NOC 21110 | $83,200 | $61,279 |
| 37 | Medical radiation technologistsHealthcare · NOC 32121 | $83,200 | $61,279 |
| 38 | Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectorsTrades · NOC 72404 | $81,120 | $59,917 |
| 39 | Medical laboratory technologistsHealthcare · NOC 32120 | $81,120 | $59,917 |
| 40 | Social workersPublic & social services · NOC 41300 | $79,997 | $59,181 |
| 41 | Web developers and programmersTechnology · NOC 21234 | $79,997 | $59,181 |
| 42 | Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanicsTrades · NOC 72402 | $78,000 | $57,873 |
| 43 | Correctional service officersPublic & social services · NOC 43201 | $75,192 | $56,034 |
| 44 | Financial advisorsBusiness & finance · NOC 11102 | $75,005 | $55,912 |
| 45 | Electricians (except industrial and power system)Trades · NOC 72200 | $72,800 | $54,502 |
| 46 | PlumbersTrades · NOC 72300 | $70,720 | $53,181 |
| 47 | Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapiesHealthcare · NOC 41301 | $70,720 | $53,181 |
| 48 | Paralegals and related occupationsLegal · NOC 42200 | $68,744 | $51,927 |
| 49 | Heavy equipment operatorsTrades · NOC 73400 | $67,600 | $51,219 |
| 50 | Licensed practical nursesHealthcare · NOC 32101 | $65,146 | $49,699 |
| 51 | Pursers and flight attendantsTransportation · NOC 64311 | $65,000 | $49,609 |
| 52 | Welders and related machine operatorsTrades · NOC 72106 | $62,400 | $47,999 |
| 53 | Real estate agents and salespersonsBusiness & finance · NOC 63101 | $58,400 | $45,458 |
| 54 | Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistantsHealthcare · NOC 33100 | $56,160 | $43,881 |
| 55 | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupationsHealthcare · NOC 33101 | $56,160 | $43,881 |
| 56 | Transport truck driversTransportation · NOC 73300 | $54,954 | $43,032 |
| 57 | Pharmacy techniciansHealthcare · NOC 32124 | $51,646 | $40,702 |
| 58 | Animal health technologists and veterinary techniciansHealthcare · NOC 32104 | $47,840 | $38,022 |
| 59 | Early childhood educators and assistantsEducation · NOC 42202 | $46,384 | $36,997 |
| 60 | Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistantsHealthcare · NOC 33103 | $41,600 | $33,628 |
| 61 | Massage therapistsHealthcare · NOC 32201 | $32,867 | $27,478 |
Median wages by industry category
Healthcare and surgical specialties dominate the top tier; education and business support roles anchor the lower end of this curated set.
Healthcare
25 occupations tracked
- Top
- Surgeons · $419,180
- Lower in set
- Massage therapists · $32,867
Management
4 occupations tracked
- Top
- Senior managers · $199,992
- Lower in set
- Marketing managers · $115,003
Engineering
4 occupations tracked
- Top
- Petroleum engineers · $134,992
- Lower in set
- Biologists · $83,200
Legal
2 occupations tracked
- Top
- Lawyers · $124,301
- Lower in set
- Paralegals · $68,744
Technology
7 occupations tracked
- Top
- Software engineers · $117,499
- Lower in set
- Web developers · $79,997
Transportation
3 occupations tracked
- Top
- Airline pilots · $108,160
- Lower in set
- Truck drivers · $54,954
Public & social services
3 occupations tracked
- Top
- Police officers · $104,000
- Lower in set
- Correctional officers · $75,192
Education
3 occupations tracked
- Top
- Secondary teachers · $94,994
- Lower in set
- Early childhood educators · $46,384
Business & finance
4 occupations tracked
- Top
- Management consultants · $91,728
- Lower in set
- Real estate agents · $58,400
Trades
6 occupations tracked
- Top
- Aircraft mechanics · $81,120
- Lower in set
- Welders · $62,400
Top 5 medians
- #1Surgeons$419,180
- #2Medical specialists$311,297
- #3Family physicians$232,227
- #4Senior managers$199,992
- #5IT managers$138,674
Lowest 5 in this set
- #61Massage therapists$32,867
- #60Pharmacy assistants$41,600
- #59Early childhood educators$46,384
- #58Veterinary technicians$47,840
- #57Pharmacy technicians$51,646
How to read this ranking
1Step 1
Read the median rank
Occupations sort by Job Bank / StatCan national median annual wage (highest first). #1 is the highest published median in this set.
2Step 2
Scan take-home columns
Alberta, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia show modeled single-filer take-home at each median — federal, provincial, and employee payroll (CPP/EI).
3Step 3
Compare two careers
Use the pair picker or featured corridors (software vs nursing, lawyers vs accountants) for wage gaps, hourly equivalents, and province take-home ladders.
4Step 4
Model your offer
Open an occupation profile or the Canada paycheck calculator for filing status, RRSP, TFSA, and exact province inputs.
Software developers vs registered nurses
Job Bank 2023–2024 lists software developers at $100,006 ($48.08/hr) and registered nurses at $90,002 ($43.27/hr) — a $10,004 median gap. At those medians, modeled Alberta take-home is $72,887 vs $65,935; Quebec’s higher provincial tax narrows net pay to $68,135 vs $61,788.
How provincial tax changes take-home at the same Job Bank median
Gross medians ignore geography. These four occupations show modeled single-filer take-home when gross equals the published Job Bank median — Alberta vs Quebec.
| Occupation | Job Bank median | AB take-home | QC take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeons | $419,180 | $254,683 | $226,274 |
| Software developers | $100,006 | $72,887 | $68,135 |
| RNs | $90,002 | $65,935 | $61,788 |
| Truck drivers | $54,954 | $43,032 | $41,190 |
Quebec provincial tax typically costs $4,752 or more of annual take-home versus Alberta at the same gross median — before rent, commuting, or benefits. Higher gross medians do not automatically survive a high-tax move.
Learn: medians, NOC codes, and take-home
Median vs total compensation
Job Bank cash-wage medians exclude RSU grants, profit sharing, and many bonuses. Tech and finance total comp often runs above Job Bank medians even when base salary matches.
Why Alberta anchors take-home
Alberta typically has one of the lower combined provincial income-tax burdens among large provinces, so it is our primary take-home column — a cleaner baseline before you compare Ontario, British Columbia, or Quebec.
Education and licensing
Surgeons, lawyers, and pilots require years of training; teaching and business rows show how credential barriers interact with published medians.
Percentiles vs median
The median is the 50th percentile — half earn more, half earn less. Job Bank low and high wages (about the 10th and 90th percentiles) show how wide pay is inside one NOC title.
T4 wages — with published exceptions
Most Job Bank rows use employer-reported Labour Force Survey cash wages. Physician specialty rows use CIHI/CMA annual professional income; some heavily self-employed occupations (for example massage therapists and real estate agents) use Census annual figures. Gig and partnership draws outside those published rows still sit off the table.
Geography matters
National medians blend high-COL metros with rural markets. A Toronto software offer and a Prairie RN hospital job can both be 'typical' while far from the national midpoint.
Myths vs facts
Myth: Highest median always means highest lifetime earnings.
Fact: Career length, unemployment risk, student debt, and equity vary by field. A lower-median teaching row can still win on pension, summers, or loan forgiveness programs not in Job Bank.
Myth: Job Bank medians match every job posting.
Fact: Job Bank aggregates employer reports nationally. A senior staff engineer in a major metro can exceed the software developer median while an entry role sits below it.
Myth: Take-home at median is your paycheck.
Fact: The take-home columns are a standardized single-filer model at the published median. Your filing status, pre-tax deductions, and locality change the result.
Myth: Gross median gap equals lifestyle gap.
Fact: A higher-paying occupation in a high-COL city can net less than a lower median in a low-tax, low-rent province. Pair wage tables with metro paycheck and relocation tools.
Myth: All doctors earn the same 'physician' median.
Fact: Job Bank splits physicians by specialty — surgeons, clinical medicine specialists, and family physicians each have distinct NOC codes and medians. Compare the title that matches your target path.
Glossary
- Median wage
- Half of workers in the occupation earn more and half earn less. Job Bank / StatCan publishes national medians by NOC code — not mean/average.
- NOC code
- National Occupational Classification — the taxonomy Job Bank and Statistics Canada use so software developers (21232) and data scientists (21211) stay comparable across surveys.
- Hourly equivalent
- Annual median ÷ 2,080 full-time hours per year — Job Bank convention for salaried roles.
- Take-home at median
- Our paycheck model applied to the Job Bank median gross — single filer, basic personal amount, federal + provincial + employee payroll (CPP/EI) for the reference province.
- National vs metro
- These medians are Canada-wide. Toronto software medians and rural nurse medians can diverge sharply — use metro paycheck examples (Canada) for city context.
Who this helps
Career changers
Compare published medians and modeled take-home before committing to a degree or bootcamp path.
Students & parents
See how physician, nursing, tech, and teaching medians stack nationally — then filter by category.
Recruiters & coaches
Ground offer conversations in Job Bank anchors instead of anecdotal Glassdoor screenshots.
Career salary checklist
- Match the NOC title to the job posting — software developers ≠ web developers
- Read the hourly column when comparing salaried roles to hourly offers
- Check Alberta and Quebec take-home columns if relocation is possible
- Open the occupation profile for percentile spreads when Job Bank publishes them
- Model your exact offer in the Canada paycheck calculator — median vignettes are anchors only
- Pair high medians with training debt and licensing timelines before choosing a path
Common mistakes
- ✕Using national medians as entry-level or senior offers without reading percentiles
- ✕Comparing total compensation (base + bonus + RSU) to cash-wage Job Bank medians
- ✕Ignoring provincial income tax when two occupations have similar gross medians
- ✕Assuming the highest median occupation is best without hours, shift work, or call schedules
- ✕Skipping metro tables when the employer names a specific city
vs other salary & tax tools
| Topic | This hub | Related tool |
|---|---|---|
| Output | Job Bank median wage rank + take-home at median | $100k take-home by province — Fixed $100k salary across provinces |
| Career growth | Static national medians | Career path simulator — 5–15 yr projection with equity |
| City context | Canada-wide medians | Metro paycheck examples — Major Canadian metros at $100k |
| Relocation | Occupation vs occupation | Relocation salary calculator — COL-adjusted city offers |
Planning tips
- Cross-check metro paycheck examples (Canada) when the offer names a specific city.
- Use the career path simulator for promotion and equity scenarios above the Job Bank median.
- Pair wage comparisons with effective tax rate by province when relocation is on the table.
- Open the paycheck calculator with your filing status, RRSP, and TFSA — the median vignette is a starting anchor.
- Compare two careers side-by-side before committing to a multi-year degree or certification path.
Highest paying jobs FAQs
On Job Bank / Statistics Canada 2023–2024 national medians in our table, Surgeons lead at $419,180. Massage therapists anchor the lower end of this curated set at $32,867.
ESDC Job Bank wages (LFS, Census, CIHI/CMA, and related sources), 2023–2024 release. Most occupations use Labour Force Survey medians (2023–2024); physician specialties use CIHI/CMA annual figures; a few heavily self-employed occupations use 2021 Census annual wages. Each profile cites the Job Bank source line for that NOC. Take-home uses our 2026 Canada paycheck model at the published median.
Yes. Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec columns include federal and provincial income tax plus employee CPP and EI for a single-filer vignette.
Yes — use the pair picker on this page or open a featured corridor like software developers vs registered nurses. Compare pages show wage gaps, hourly equivalents, and take-home in four reference provinces.
Healthcare spans high-median surgical specialties and mid-tier nursing roles. Job Bank uses separate NOC codes so you can compare physician paths, advanced practice nursing, and registered nurse medians apples-to-apples.
Job Bank annualizes hourly wages with 2,080 full-time hours unless the source already publishes an annual figure. Our hourly column uses the same convention.
Yes — see Highest paying jobs US for BLS OEWS medians, Highest paying jobs UK for ONS ASHE medians, Highest paying jobs Australia for ABS EEH averages, Highest paying jobs New Zealand for Stats NZ HLFS major-group medians, and Highest paying jobs Ireland for CSO SES medians with the same ranking, compare, and profile pattern.
Job Bank / StatCan publishes software developer low–high wages: low $62,400, median $100,006, high $159,994 (2023–2024).