The average architect salary in Canada is $75,000-$110,000 per year. This guide breaks down architect pay by province, firm type, and experience level.
Table of Contents
Architect Salary by Province
Province
Intern
Licensed
Principal
Ontario
$55,000
$95,000
$150,000
British Columbia
$58,000
$98,000
$155,000
Alberta
$60,000
$100,000
$160,000
Quebec
$50,000
$85,000
$130,000
Saskatchewan
$52,000
$88,000
$135,000
Manitoba
$50,000
$85,000
$130,000
Nova Scotia
$48,000
$80,000
$120,000
New Brunswick
$46,000
$78,000
$115,000
Newfoundland
$50,000
$82,000
$125,000
PEI
$45,000
$75,000
$110,000
Salary by Experience Level
Level
Salary Range
Intern Architect (0-3 years)
$50,000-$65,000
Junior Architect (3-5 years)
$65,000-$80,000
Project Architect (5-10 years)
$80,000-$110,000
Senior Architect (10-15 years)
$100,000-$130,000
Associate/Partner
$120,000-$180,000
Principal/Owner
$150,000-$300,000+
Salary by Firm Type
Firm Type
Average Salary
Large Corporate Firm (500+)
$90,000-$130,000
Mid-size Firm (50-500)
$80,000-$110,000
Small Firm (10-50)
$70,000-$95,000
Boutique/Design-focused
$75,000-$100,000
Government
$80,000-$105,000
Development Company
$90,000-$120,000
Salary by Specialization
Specialization
Average Salary
Commercial
$85,000-$115,000
Residential
$75,000-$100,000
Healthcare
$90,000-$120,000
Institutional
$85,000-$115,000
Industrial
$85,000-$110,000
Interior Architecture
$70,000-$95,000
Landscape Architecture
$70,000-$95,000
Sustainable/Green
$80,000-$110,000
Take-Home Pay (Ontario Example)
Gross Salary
Annual Take-Home
Monthly Net
$80,000
$60,500
$5,040
$100,000
$72,500
$6,040
$130,000
$90,000
$7,500
Path to Licensure
Stage
Duration
Typical Pay
Bachelor of Architecture
4 years
Student
Master of Architecture
2 years
Student
Intern Architect Program
3,720 hours (~3 years)
$55,000-$70,000
ExAC Exams
During internship
—
Licensed Architect
Post-exam
$85,000-$110,000
Firm Ownership Economics
Metric
Typical Range
Billable Rate
$150-$300/hour
Firm Revenue per Employee
$120,000-$180,000
Partner Profit Share
$100,000-$300,000+
Firm Value
30-50% of annual revenue
Is Architecture a Good Career in Canada?
Pros:
Creative, design-focused work
Long-term projects with visible results
Growing demand for sustainable design
Respected profession
Principal/ownership potential
Cons:
Very long path to licensure (8-12 years)
Lower pay relative to education/training
Long hours, especially at deadlines
Cyclical with economy
High responsibility, liability concerns