Nurse Salary Canada 2026 (By Province & Experience)
By Wealthvieu
·
Updated
The average nurse salary in Canada is $75,000-$95,000 per year. This guide breaks down RN pay by province, specialization, and experience.
Nurse Salary by Province
| Province |
RN Average |
Entry Level |
Experienced |
| Alberta |
$95,000 |
$78,000 |
$110,000 |
| Ontario |
$85,000 |
$68,000 |
$102,000 |
| British Columbia |
$88,000 |
$72,000 |
$105,000 |
| Quebec |
$72,000 |
$58,000 |
$88,000 |
| Saskatchewan |
$88,000 |
$72,000 |
$100,000 |
| Manitoba |
$82,000 |
$68,000 |
$95,000 |
| Nova Scotia |
$80,000 |
$65,000 |
$95,000 |
| New Brunswick |
$75,000 |
$62,000 |
$88,000 |
| Newfoundland |
$78,000 |
$65,000 |
$92,000 |
| PEI |
$73,000 |
$60,000 |
$85,000 |
| Territories |
$105,000+ |
$85,000 |
$125,000 |
Nurse Salary by Type
| Nursing Role |
Average Salary |
Hourly Rate |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) |
$55,000 |
$26 |
| Registered Nurse (RN) |
$85,000 |
$41 |
| Registered Psychiatric Nurse |
$82,000 |
$39 |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) |
$115,000 |
$55 |
| Nurse Manager |
$105,000 |
$50 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist |
$100,000 |
$48 |
Salary by Specialization
| Specialty |
Average Salary |
| General/Medical-Surgical |
$80,000 |
| Emergency Room |
$92,000 |
| ICU/Critical Care |
$95,000 |
| Operating Room |
$93,000 |
| Labour & Delivery |
$88,000 |
| Pediatrics |
$84,000 |
| Oncology |
$90,000 |
| Dialysis |
$85,000 |
| Travel Nurse |
$110,000+ |
Salary by Experience
| Experience |
RN Salary |
Hourly |
| New grad (0-1 years) |
$70,000 |
$34 |
| 2-5 years |
$80,000 |
$38 |
| 5-10 years |
$90,000 |
$43 |
| 10+ years |
$100,000+ |
$48+ |
Most unionized nurses reach top pay after 8-10 years.
Take-Home Pay (Ontario Example)
| Gross Salary |
Annual Take-Home |
Monthly Net |
| $70,000 |
$53,500 |
$4,460 |
| $85,000 |
$63,000 |
$5,250 |
| $100,000 |
$72,500 |
$6,040 |
Benefits & Compensation
Beyond base salary, nurses typically receive:
| Benefit |
Value |
| Pension (HOOPP/OMERS) |
8-12% of salary |
| Health benefits |
$2,000-$5,000/year |
| Shift premiums |
+$2-$5/hour evenings/nights |
| Overtime (1.5x) |
Common, significant income |
| Weekend premiums |
+$3-$5/hour |
High-Paying Nursing Opportunities
- Travel nursing: $110,000-$150,000+ (temporary contracts)
- Remote/Northern nursing: $100,000-$130,000 + housing
- Agency nursing: $50-$75/hour (flexible scheduling)
- US nursing: $90,000-$140,000 USD (relocation)
Is Nursing a Good Career in Canada?
Pros:
- Consistent shortage = job security
- Union protection
- Excellent benefits
- Predictable wage increases
- Multiple career paths
- Work anywhere in Canada
Cons:
- High stress, burnout
- Shift work (nights, weekends)
- Physical demands
- Staffing shortages
- Mandatory overtime in some settings
