Canada pays its highest salaries to doctors, surgeons and a handful of professionals in dentistry, pharmacy, engineering and technology. If you are choosing a career, comparing offers or planning to immigrate, this guide ranks the top 10 highest paying jobs in Canada in 2026, shows what each one pays in Canadian dollars, and explains what it takes to get there.
Quick answer: The highest paying job in Canada is general surgeon, with a median of roughly CAD $419,000 a year according to Government of Canada Job Bank data. Specialist physicians and anesthesiologists follow at about CAD $311,000.
How to read the numbers: all figures are annual, in Canadian dollars, before tax. Where we cite a Job Bank figure it is a median (half of workers earn more, half earn less). Where a source only publishes an average base salary, we say so. Job Bank and salary sites classify some medical roles differently, so treat the ranking as a guide, not an exact league table.
Top 10 highest paying jobs in Canada (2026)
| Rank | Job | Annual pay (CAD) | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General surgeon | about $419,180 (range $144,482 to $766,730) | Job Bank median |
| 2 | Anesthesiologist | about $311,820 | Average base salary |
| 3 | Specialist physician (for example, psychiatrist) | about $311,297 (range $126,465 to $607,184) | Job Bank median |
| 4 | Physician (general category) | about $232,227 (range $90,826 to $435,240) | Job Bank median |
| 5 | Pharmacist | about $115,000 | Job Bank median |
| 6 | Dentist | about $110,000 | Job Bank median |
| 7 | Financial controller | about $106,807 | Average base salary |
| 8 | Software engineer and designer | about $105,000 | Job Bank median |
| 9 | Civil engineer | about $101,000 | Job Bank median |
| 10 | Data scientist | about $96,000 | Job Bank median |
1. General surgeon
Surgeons sit at the top of every Canadian pay ranking. Job Bank lists a median near CAD $419,000, with the top of the range above $760,000. The path is long: a medical degree followed by several years of surgical residency and licensing by a provincial college. Demand is steady because many regions expect shortages as senior surgeons retire.
2. Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologists average about CAD $311,800 in base salary. The work is hospital based and shift driven, and the specialty is consistently among the best paid in medicine. Major employers include provincial health authorities such as Alberta Health Services and Vancouver Coastal Health.
3. Specialist physician
Psychiatrists and other specialists have a Job Bank median around CAD $311,300. Demand for mental health care is growing across the country, which keeps prospects favourable.
4. Physician (general category)
The broad physician category shows a median above CAD $232,000. This is the figure most people see when they search for what doctors earn in Canada. Family doctors and many hospital roles fall in this range, and pay differs a lot by province and by how the physician is paid (salary, fee-for-service or a blend).
Note for internationally trained doctors: the pathway is competitive because residency places are limited, so plan for licensing exams and a long timeline.
5. Pharmacist
Pharmacists have a median near CAD $115,000. The role requires a pharmacy degree and provincial registration. Expanded prescribing powers in several provinces have widened what pharmacists can do.
6. Dentist
General dentists show a median around CAD $110,000, although owners of busy practices can earn well above that. Specialists such as orthodontists and oral surgeons usually earn more.
7. Financial controller
Controllers in financial services average about CAD $106,800 in base pay. This is the best paid role on the list that does not need a medical degree. Typical employers are the big banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank), insurers and large accounting firms. An accounting designation such as CPA is the usual route.
8. Software engineer and designer
Job Bank puts the median for software engineers and designers near CAD $105,000, and another salary survey puts the average base for software engineers at about $101,400. Pay at large tech firms and in finance can be much higher once bonuses and stock are included. Toronto, Vancouver, Waterloo and Ottawa are the main hubs. Cloud, data and security skills push pay higher.
9. Civil engineer
Civil engineers have a median around CAD $101,000. Infrastructure spending and housing construction keep demand steady. You need an engineering degree and a professional engineer (P.Eng.) licence to progress.
10. Data scientist
Data scientists have a median near CAD $96,000, with a wide range depending on experience and industry. Strong programming and statistics skills matter more than a specific degree title.
Jobs that just missed the top 10
- Lawyers: Job Bank hourly wages run from about $30 to more than $107, so earnings vary enormously between junior and senior lawyers.
- Registered nurses: median about CAD $90,000 a year (about $43 an hour), with strong demand in every province.
- Cloud engineers and IT project managers: senior roles at large tech employers can exceed the figures above in total compensation.
Which industries pay the most in Canada?
Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey ranks industries by median weekly wage. Utilities leads the major sectors with a median of about $110,000 a year (December 2025 data), ahead of finance, insurance and real estate at about $80,000. In May 2026, construction stood at about $83,200 and health care and social assistance at about $64,200. Many people are surprised that utilities beat finance, which is a reminder that high pay is not limited to desk jobs. See our guide to the highest paying jobs in Canada without a degree.
How to choose a high paying career in Canada
- Check the entry cost. Medical careers pay the most but need a decade of study and training. Engineering and tech can pay well within a few years.
- Look at regional pay. Wages differ by province. Read our guides to the highest paying jobs in Ontario and Alberta.
- Match the NOC code if you plan to immigrate. Occupations are classified under the National Occupational Classification, and the code affects Express Entry eligibility. Browse our visas and immigration guides.
- Think about licensing. Doctors, engineers, nurses, pharmacists and lawyers all need provincial registration before they can work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest paying job in Canada?
General surgeon, with a Job Bank median of roughly CAD $419,000 a year. Specialist physicians and anesthesiologists are next at about CAD $311,000.
What is the highest paying job in Canada without a degree?
Skilled trades and utilities roles pay best without a university degree. See our full list of the highest paying jobs in Canada without a degree.
What is a good salary in Canada in 2026?
Median pay varies by industry. Statistics Canada reports typical full-time medians from about $42,000 in accommodation and food services to about $110,000 in utilities, so a six-figure salary puts you near the top of most sectors.
Are these salaries before or after tax?
Before tax. Take-home pay depends on your province, because income tax rates differ.
Which province pays the most?
It depends on the job. Alberta and Ontario are two of the strongest markets. Check Job Bank’s wage report filtered by province for your occupation.
Sources and data notes
- Government of Canada Job Bank (wage reports by occupation and province)
- Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey (median weekly wages by industry)
- Salary data compiled from Job Bank and salary surveys including CourseCompare and HotCoursesAbroad (2026)
Last updated: October 2026. Salary data changes every year, so check Job Bank for the latest figures for your occupation.