Paramedic Salary Canada 2026 (By Province & Certification)

Updated

The average paramedic salary in Canada is $55,000-$85,000 per year. This guide breaks down paramedic pay by province, certification level, and experience.

Paramedic Salary by Province

Province PCP ACP
Alberta $75,000 $95,000
Ontario $72,000 $92,000
British Columbia $70,000 $88,000
Quebec $58,000 $75,000
Saskatchewan $68,000 $85,000
Manitoba $65,000 $82,000
Nova Scotia $58,000 $75,000
New Brunswick $55,000 $72,000
Newfoundland $60,000 $78,000
PEI $52,000 $68,000
Territories $85,000+ $105,000+

PCP = Primary Care Paramedic, ACP = Advanced Care Paramedic

Salary by Certification Level

Level Training Salary Range
EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) 80 hours $35,000-$45,000
PCP (Primary Care Paramedic) 1-2 years $55,000-$78,000
ACP (Advanced Care Paramedic) 2-3 years $75,000-$100,000
CCP (Critical Care Paramedic) 3-4 years $90,000-$115,000
Flight Paramedic ACP + specialty $85,000-$110,000

Salary by Experience

Experience PCP Salary ACP Salary
New Graduate $52,000 $70,000
2-5 years $62,000 $82,000
5-10 years $70,000 $90,000
10+ years $75,000 $98,000
Supervisor $85,000 $105,000

Take-Home Pay (Ontario Example)

Gross Salary Annual Take-Home Monthly Net
$65,000 $50,000 $4,165
$80,000 $60,500 $5,040
$95,000 $69,500 $5,790

Overtime & Total Compensation

Paramedics often earn significant overtime:

Factor Details
Base Hours 40-44/week
Overtime Rate 1.5x after 44 hours
Shift Premium $1-3/hour nights/weekends
Typical Overtime 200-400 hours/year
Total with OT $75,000-$120,000

Benefits Package

Benefit Typical Value
Pension OMERS/LAPP (defined benefit)
Health/Dental 100% employer-paid
Life Insurance 2x salary
Sick Leave 12-18 days/year
Vacation 3-5 weeks
PTSD Support Mental health programs

Work Schedule

Schedule Type Hours
12-hour shifts Most common
Day/Night rotation 4 on/4 off typical
On-call Some rural areas
Holidays Required (premium pay)

Career Progression

Milestone Timeline Earnings
PCP Certification 1-2 years —
Entry-level PCP Year 1 $55,000
Senior PCP Year 5+ $72,000
ACP Upgrade Year 3-5 $80,000
Supervisor/Manager Year 10+ $95,000+

Is Paramedicine a Good Career in Canada?

Pros:

  • Meaningful, life-saving work
  • Good pension and benefits
  • Job security (always in demand)
  • Variety in daily work
  • Team environment
  • Compressed work week (days off)

Cons:

  • High stress and trauma exposure
  • PTSD risk
  • Physical demands (lifting)
  • Shift work disrupts life
  • Burnout common
  • Relatively lower pay for stress level
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