The average individual income in Canada is $59,400 per year, based on 2023 data from Statistics Canada. That figure tells part of the story, but the median income, which represents the midpoint where half of earners make more and half make less, is considerably lower at $45,400. The gap between those two numbers reveals how high earners at the top pull the average upward, making the median a better reflection of what a typical Canadian actually brings home.
Average vs. Median: Which Number Matters More
When people search for “average income,” they usually want to know what a normal person earns. The average of $59,400 gets skewed by executives, business owners, and professionals earning well into six figures. The median of $45,400 is the figure that better represents the middle of the pack. If you earn $45,400, you’re making more than roughly half of all income earners in the country.
Both figures exclude people who reported zero income, so they reflect only Canadians aged 15 and older who actually earned something during the year. Keep that in mind when comparing your own income to these benchmarks, since the numbers don’t account for students, retirees, or others outside the workforce entirely.
What You Actually Keep After Taxes
Gross income doesn’t reflect what lands in your bank account. After federal and provincial income taxes, the median Canadian keeps noticeably less. For 2024, the median total income before tax (including government transfers like the Canada Child Benefit or Old Age Security) was $44,400. After taxes, that dropped to $40,500, meaning the median Canadian paid roughly $3,900 in income taxes.
That tax figure looks modest because it represents the median across all earners, including many whose income falls within lower tax brackets or who receive substantial credits and deductions. If you earn above the median, your tax bill will be proportionally higher. Canada’s federal tax system is progressive, with rates starting at 15% on the first bracket and climbing for each additional tier of income. Provincial taxes stack on top, and rates vary depending on where you live.
How Earnings Change With Age
Income in Canada follows a predictable arc over a working life. Earnings climb steeply through your 20s and 30s, plateau in your 40s, and begin declining in your late 50s as some workers reduce hours or transition toward retirement. Census data illustrates the pattern clearly:
- Ages 20 to 24: around $19,000, reflecting entry-level roles and part-time work during school
- Ages 25 to 34: $36,500 to $47,300, as early-career workers gain experience and move into full-time positions
- Ages 35 to 49: $54,400 to $63,100, representing peak earning years
- Ages 50 to 59: $58,600 to $62,100, still strong but beginning to taper
- Ages 60 to 64: around $46,700, as many workers shift to part-time or semi-retirement
The sweet spot for earnings is your mid-40s to early 50s. If you’re in your late 20s earning $36,000 and feeling behind, the data suggests your income has significant room to grow over the next two decades.
Highest and Lowest Paying Industries
What you do matters at least as much as how long you’ve been doing it. Wage gaps across industries are substantial. Based on 2025 average hourly wage data from Statistics Canada, the best-paid sectors include:
- Utilities: $55.90 per hour (roughly $116,000 annualized for full-time work)
- Forestry, fishing, mining, and oil and gas: $51.34 per hour (about $107,000 annualized)
- Professional, scientific, and technical services: $48.60 per hour (about $101,000 annualized)
At the other end of the scale:
- Accommodation and food services: $20.98 per hour (about $43,600 annualized)
- Agriculture: $25.79 per hour (about $53,600 annualized)
- Business and building support services: $28.65 per hour (about $59,600 annualized)
Those annualized figures assume a standard 40-hour work week for 52 weeks, which is a rough conversion. Many roles in lower-paying sectors involve part-time or seasonal schedules, which brings actual annual earnings down further. A utilities worker earns nearly 2.7 times the hourly rate of someone in food services, a gap that compounds dramatically over a full career.
Putting Your Own Income in Context
National averages are a starting point, but your personal benchmark depends on several overlapping factors. Your age, industry, education level, and province all shift the goalpost. A 28-year-old earning $40,000 in food services is well above the industry norm for that age. A 45-year-old earning $55,000 in professional services is below the sector’s average hourly rate.
Geography plays a role as well. Provinces with strong resource extraction and energy sectors tend to report higher average incomes, while provinces with economies built around tourism, agriculture, or smaller service industries trend lower. Cost of living varies accordingly, so a higher salary in one part of the country doesn’t always translate to more purchasing power.
If you’re comparing yourself to the national median of $45,400, remember that figure spans all ages, all industries, and all regions. It includes 18-year-olds working summer jobs and 60-year-olds winding down their careers. For a more meaningful comparison, look at what people in your field, your age group, and your region typically earn. Statistics Canada publishes detailed breakdowns that let you narrow the lens considerably.