national median · NOC 21231
$117,499
$56.49/hr · 2,080 hrs/yr
#11 · Technology
Software engineers and designers Salary
Job Bank / StatCan 2023–2024 national median $117,499 ($56.49/hr on 2,080 hours). NOC 21231. Modeled 2026 take-home, training context, and career comparisons below.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Alberta take-home at median
$85,020
27.6% effective
Quebec take-home at median
$78,836
32.9% effective
Key takeaways — Software engineers
- Software engineers and designers ranks #11 of 61 on this hub with a $117,499 Job Bank national median ($56.49/hr; Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024). Common searches mapped here include software engineer salary.
- Modeled Alberta take-home at that median: $85,020 (27.6% effective employee levy rate). Quebec: $78,836.
- One rank above: Financial managers at $123,718 (+$6,219).
- Bonuses, equity, overtime, and self-employment income outside the published Job Bank row are not in this cash-wage median.
About Software engineers and designers wages
Using ESDC Job Bank wages (Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024), the national median annual wage for Software engineers and designers (NOC 21231) is $117,499 — meaning half of workers in this occupation earn more and half earn less across Canada.
We convert the published median to an hourly equivalent using 2,080 full-time hours per year, then apply our 2026 Canada paycheck model so you see modeled take-home, not just gross. That bridges labour-market statistics with the same tax rules as our province calculators.
Use the compare tool to pit Software engineers against another career, or open the paycheck calculator to model an offer above or below the published median.
Technology · rank context
Software engineers sits at rank #11 between Financial managers (#10, $123,718) and Pharmacists (#12, $115,419).
Training & licensing context
Tech medians blend junior and senior engineers nationally. Toronto and Vancouver total comp often exceeds Job Bank cash medians because of equity grants taxed at vest.
Job Bank wage percentiles (2023–2024)
Job Bank low–high wages show how pay spreads inside the Software engineers occupation — the median is the midpoint.
| Job Bank low | Median | Job Bank high |
|---|---|---|
| $72,800 | $117,499 | $190,008 |
Take-home at Job Bank median by province
Single filer, basic personal amount, federal + provincial, employee payroll (CPP/EI) — gross equals the published Job Bank median.
| Province | Take-home | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $85,020 | 27.6% |
| Ontario | $84,212 | 28.3% |
| British Columbia | $85,972 | 26.8% |
| Quebec | $78,836 | 32.9% |
Myths vs facts
Myth: Every Software engineers job pays the Job Bank median.
Fact: The median is a national midpoint. Entry roles, part-time schedules, and low-COL markets sit below; senior specialists in high-demand metros sit above.
Myth: Take-home at median is what you will net.
Fact: Our columns use a single-filer vignette at the Job Bank gross median. Marriage, dependents, RRSP, TFSA, and local taxes change your actual paycheck.
Salary planning checklist
- Confirm the posting matches NOC 21231 (Software engineers and designers)
- Compare Alberta vs Quebec take-home if relocation is on the table
- Read Job Bank percentile tables when published for this occupation
- Use metro paycheck examples (Canada) when the employer names a city
- Model your exact gross in the Canada paycheck calculator
Common mistakes
- ✕Treating $117,499 as a universal offer for all experience levels
- ✕Ignoring licensing and training years when comparing to lower-medians with shorter paths
- ✕Skipping provincial tax when comparing two offers at similar gross medians
Compare Software engineers to other careers
Software engineers salary FAQs
Job Bank lists a $117,499 national median for NOC 21231 (Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024) — about $56.49/hr on a 2,080-hour year.
Modeled single-filer take-home at the Job Bank median: Alberta $85,020, Ontario $84,212, British Columbia $85,972, Quebec $78,836 (2026 rules).
#11 of 61 occupations on this hub by national median wage.
Job Bank / StatCan 2023–2024: low $72,800, median $117,499, high $190,008.
This NOC unit group anchors searches such as software engineer salary.
Financial managers ranks #10 at $123,718 — $6,219 above Software engineers.
Pharmacists ranks #12 at $115,419 — $2,080 below.
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