Accountant Salary Canada 2026 (By Designation & Province)
By Wealthvieu
·
Updated
The average accountant salary in Canada is $55,000-$100,000. This guide covers accounting pay by designation, province, and industry.
Accountant Salary by Designation
| Designation |
Entry Level |
Mid-Career |
Senior |
| Bookkeeper |
$40,000 |
$50,000 |
$60,000 |
| Accounting Clerk |
$42,000 |
$52,000 |
$62,000 |
| Staff Accountant |
$50,000 |
$65,000 |
$80,000 |
| CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) |
$60,000 |
$90,000 |
$130,000+ |
| CPA, CA (legacy) |
$65,000 |
$95,000 |
$140,000+ |
A CPA designation adds $20,000-$40,000 to your earning potential.
CPA Salary by Role
| Role |
Salary Range |
| Staff Accountant |
$55,000-$70,000 |
| Senior Accountant |
$70,000-$90,000 |
| Manager |
$90,000-$120,000 |
| Senior Manager |
$110,000-$140,000 |
| Director |
$130,000-$170,000 |
| VP Finance |
$160,000-$220,000 |
| CFO |
$200,000-$400,000+ |
Accountant Salary by Province
| Province |
Non-CPA |
CPA |
| Ontario |
$60,000 |
$95,000 |
| Alberta |
$58,000 |
$92,000 |
| British Columbia |
$58,000 |
$90,000 |
| Quebec |
$52,000 |
$80,000 |
| Saskatchewan |
$55,000 |
$85,000 |
| Manitoba |
$52,000 |
$82,000 |
| Nova Scotia |
$50,000 |
$78,000 |
| New Brunswick |
$48,000 |
$75,000 |
Salary by Industry
| Industry |
Average CPA Salary |
| Investment Banking |
$120,000+ |
| Big 4 (Partner track) |
$90,000-$300,000+ |
| Mining/Oil & Gas |
$100,000+ |
| Technology |
$95,000+ |
| Banking/Financial Services |
$90,000+ |
| Manufacturing |
$85,000 |
| Government |
$80,000 |
| Non-profit |
$70,000 |
Big 4 Accounting Firm Salaries
| Level |
Salary |
Years |
| Staff |
$55,000-$65,000 |
0-2 |
| Senior |
$70,000-$85,000 |
2-4 |
| Manager |
$90,000-$115,000 |
4-7 |
| Senior Manager |
$120,000-$150,000 |
7-10 |
| Director |
$150,000-$200,000 |
10-12 |
| Partner |
$300,000-$1,000,000+ |
12+ |
Take-Home Pay (Ontario)
| Gross Salary |
Annual Take-Home |
Monthly Net |
| $60,000 |
$46,500 |
$3,875 |
| $80,000 |
$59,500 |
$4,960 |
| $100,000 |
$72,500 |
$6,040 |
| $130,000 |
$90,000 |
$7,500 |
CPA Designation Path
| Requirement |
Details |
| Education |
Degree + prerequisite courses |
| CPA PEP |
2-year program ($15,000-$20,000) |
| CFE Exam |
3-day Common Final Exam |
| Experience |
30 months practical experience |
| Timeline |
3-5 years total |
Public vs Private Accounting
| Factor |
Public (Big 4/Firm) |
Industry |
| Starting salary |
$55,000-$65,000 |
$60,000-$75,000 |
| Hours |
50-80/week in busy season |
40-50/week |
| Career progression |
Faster early, partnership track |
Steady |
| Exit opportunities |
Excellent |
Limited |
| Work variety |
High |
Focused |
| Work-life balance |
Poor in busy season |
Better |
Is Accounting a Good Career?
Pros:
- Stable demand
- Clear career path
- Good salaries (with CPA)
- Multiple industries
- Work-life balance (industry)
- Remote work possibilities
Cons:
- CPA designation expensive/time-consuming
- Long hours (public accounting)
- Busy season stress
- Repetitive work
- Automation concerns for lower roles
