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Employee BenefitsBenefits Canada NewsAverage Registered Nurse Salaries in Canada: A 2025 Look

Average Registered Nurse Salaries in Canada: A 2025 Look

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Registered nurses are vital healthcare professionals who provide skilled nursing care and services across diverse settings in Canada. With the country’s growing healthcare demands and aging population, registered nurses play an increasingly essential role in the Canadian workforce.

But how much do registered nurses earn in Canada, is it higher or lower than the average salaries in Canada? What factors impact their salaries? And which provinces and employers offer the most lucrative opportunities?

This guide examines current average registered nurse salaries in Canada, regional variations, top influencers on nurse pay, and the job outlook for aspiring nurses.

Overview of Registered Nurse Careers in Canada

What are the Factors that Affect the Registered Nurse Salaries in Canada? ebs
What are the Factors that Affect the Registered Nurse Salaries in Canada?

Registered nurses (RNs) deliver a wide range of nursing services from basic patient care to advanced medical procedures. Their key duties include:

  • Assessing and monitoring patients to identify appropriate interventions
  • Administering medications, treatments, and medical equipment usage
  • Providing health education and counselling to patients and families
  • Collaborating with healthcare teams to coordinate high-quality care
  • Supervising licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and other support staff

Registered nurses work in diverse environments, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, private homes, public health agencies, and corporate settings. They may also specialize in areas like critical care, oncology, pediatrics, or community health.

With over 370,000 registered nurses employed, nursing is the largest regulated health profession in Canada. The country is experiencing growing demand for registered nurses, especially as an aging population requires more healthcare services.

What is the Average Salary for Registered Nurses?

Taking care of people’s health is not an easy task, and being a Registered Nurse is not an easy job. So, in a country where the demand for health care is increasing like Canada, how will registered nurses be treated? And are the salary and benefits for registered nurses here the same across the country and territories? Let’s find out:

What is the National Average Salary for Registered Nurses?

According to government data, the average annual salary for registered nurses in Canada is $90,414, which translates to a median hourly wage of $42.00,  which is higher than the national average salaries ($72,800), meanwhile ranked behind the salaries of software developers ($116,727), salaries of engineers ($94,294), salaries of lawyers ($100,891). 

However, nurses’ earnings can vary significantly based on factors like geographical location, experience level, specialty, and employer.

For entry-level registered nurses or those with 1-5 years of experience, salaries typically range from $70,000 to $80,000 annually. After gaining more than 10 years of experience, registered nurses can earn over $100,000 per year depending on their role and province.

What are the Average Registered Nurse Salaries by Province and Territory?

Registered nurse wages demonstrate noticeable differences across Canada’s provinces and territories. Here is an overview of the provincial median hourly wage rates:

Nunavut $64.69 per hour
Northwest Territories$51 per hour
Yukon Territory $48.14 per hour
Alberta $46.62 per hour
Saskatchewan $46 per hour
Manitoba$44 per hour
New Brunswick $42 per hour
Nova Scotia$40 per hour
Prince Edward Island $40 per hour
Ontario$40 per hour
British Columbia$38.85 per hour
Newfoundland and Labrador $41.24 per hour
Quebec$38.5 per hour

The data shows that Canada’s northern territories offer the highest nurse wages, with Nunavut paying $64.69 hourly. This is largely attributed to the higher costs of living and the elevated pay, which attracts healthcare talent to remote regions.

Among the provinces, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba report the highest median hourly wages for registered nurses. Meanwhile, Quebec and Ontario sit on the lower end of the scale at $40 hourly. However, major cities in Ontario and Quebec may offer salaries exceeding the provincial median.

What are the Highest Paying Cities for Registered Nurses?

When examining the metropolitan areas with the top registered nurse salaries, western Canadian cities lead the way:

  • Surrey, British Columbia – $102,313 annually
  • Edmonton, Alberta – $97,226 annually
  • Prince Albert, Saskatchewan – $93,226 annually
  • Calgary, Alberta – $69,710 annually
  • Winnipeg, Manitoba – $83,908 annually

Toronto, Ontario, has an average salary of $83,814, which lags behind the western cities but remains competitive nationally. Quebec’s central city, Montreal, reports an average registered nurse wage of $70,573 annually.

The data indicates that western provinces currently offer the highest salaries for registered nurses in Canada, especially in economically robust cities like Calgary and Edmonton. However, the large metropolitan areas of Toronto and Montreal remain popular destinations for nurses to launch their careers.

Source: https://getgis.org/blog/nurse-salary-in-canada

What are the Factors that Affect the Registered Nurse Salaries in Canada?

So have you ever wondered why there is a difference in salaries among registered nurses in Canada? Are some people favored and others not? No way. Below are factors that can deeply affect the salary of a registered nurse. Let’s find out which factors are in your case!

What are the Factors that Affect the Registered Nurse Salaries in Canada? ebs
What are the Factors that Affect the Registered Nurse Salaries in Canada?

Experience Level Impacts on Registered Nurse Salaries

A registered nurse’s years of experience strongly correlate with their earning potential. Here is a comparison of average annual registered nurse salaries by experience level:

  • Entry-Level (1-5 years): $40,000 – $65,000
  • Mid-Level (5-10 years): $50,000 – $80,000
  • Experienced (10+ years): $60,000 – $130,000+

In the first five years, nurses establish foundational skills in patient care while earning salaries on the lower end of the pay scale. After a decade of sharpening expertise and specializing, experienced nurses can expect to earn over $100,000 annually in roles like nurse management.

Specialized registered nursing roles also receive premium compensation compared to general nursing:

  • Nurse Practitioner: $105,293 annually
  • Critical Care Nurse: $80,420 annually
  • Pediatric Nurse: $72,560 annually

Therefore, both years of experience and niche specializations allow registered nurses to earn higher wages over the course of their careers.

Type of Employer Impacts on Registered Nurse Pay

The employing organization significantly influences total compensation for registered nurses.

Hospitals often offer the highest base registered nurse salaries and the most comprehensive benefits packages. Major hospitals paying on the higher end include:

  • Mayo Clinic: $60,000 – $120,000 annually
  • Cleveland Clinic: $55,000 – $110,000 annually
  • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: $70,000 – $140,000 annually

Meanwhile, nurses working in clinics and private practices may earn varying salaries depending on the organization’s size and resources. Public sector employers tend to offer standardized wages and benefits through union-collective agreements.

Nurses who obtain positions at prestigious hospitals and healthcare networks boost their earnings potential and career mobility. Yet many find rewarding roles across diverse settings, from major urban hospitals to small-town clinics.

Unions and Collective Bargaining Agreements

Belonging to a professional nursing union brings several potential advantages through collective bargaining:

  • Standardized Raises and Wage Boosts: Unions negotiate scheduled pay increases rather than leaving wages to employers’ discretion.
  • Improved Benefits: Union bargaining power leads to better benefits offerings such as increased paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and better health/dental plans.
  • Enhanced Working Conditions: Collective agreements regulate policies for scheduling, shifts, overtime, etc. to improve nurses’ work-life balance.
  • Continuing Education Support: Unions advocate for robust professional development opportunities and training support.

Therefore, unionized nurses may experience earnings, benefits, and working conditions advantages through collective representation and bargaining leverage.

Shift Differentials and Overtime Pay

Registered nurses who take on extra shifts often enjoy higher pay rates:

  • Shift Differentials: Nurses earn an additional $2 to $5 per hour for working evenings, nights, weekends and other undesirable shifts.
  • Overtime: Most nurses receive 1.5 to 2 times their base salary when working overtime hours.
  • Holiday Pay: Registered nurses earn premium compensation for working major holidays. For example, nurses in Ontario receive 2 times their regular pay for shifts on Christmas, New Year’s Day, and other statutory holidays.

So, registered nurses can supplement their base salaries significantly by taking on extra shifts and working holidays. A nurse working 20 hours of overtime per month at 1.5 times pay could earn approximately $5,000 more annually.

Source: https://fbnpc.com/blog/registered-nurse-salary-in-canada/

What is the Job Outlook for Registered Nurses in Canada? ebs
What are the Trends that Impact Registered Nurse Salaries and Demand in Canada?

Several important trends are shaping the growing demand for registered nurses:

  • Shortage of Nurses: The imminent talent gap from retiring nurses and unmet demand is spurring aggressive recruitment efforts across healthcare.
  • Aging Population: Canada’s aging demographics require expanded community care, long-term care, and home care nurses.
  • Increasing Healthcare Spending: With increased investments in programs and services, healthcare now accounts for over 11% of Canada’s GDP.
  • Advancements in Technology: Nurses must stay current with emerging technologies, such as telehealth platforms, wearable devices, electronic health records (EHRs), and more.

These pressing trends signal strong job security and salary growth for registered nurses across Canada. Ambitious nurses can look forward to rewarding, recession-proof careers.

What can Nursing Graduates Expect to Get?

For students considering nursing, Canada offers encouraging opportunities to obtain secure employment with lucrative upside potential. Nursing graduates benefit from:

  • High Starting Salaries: New BScN grads earn between $70,000 and $80,000 out of school, outpacing many other new graduate salaries.
  • Recession Resilience: Healthcare demand persists despite economic fluctuations, making nursing jobs highly recession-proof.
  • Career Advancement Prospects: With experience, nurses can progress into specialties, leadership roles, advanced practice, and other positions.
  • Work-Life Balance: Options like part-time hours, flexible scheduling, and union collective agreements allow nurses to achieve a satisfactory work-life balance.
  • Geographic Mobility: Registered nurses can transfer their credentials across provinces and territories, allowing them to relocate and pursue opportunities nationwide.

Overall, nursing graduates in Canada enjoy positive job prospects, competitive starting compensation, and career growth potential – making nursing an appealing choice amid economic uncertainty.

Summary

Thanks to growing healthcare demands and an aging population, Canada offers registered nurses competitive salaries and strong career prospects.

The average registered nurse earns approximately $90,414 annually, with entry-level nurses starting around $70,000-80,000 per year. Experienced nurses, especially those working in specialized roles or major hospitals, can earn over $100,000.

Regional comparisons reveal that Canada’s northern territories and western provinces currently offer the highest nursing salaries. Major cities like Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg also report strong wages for nurses. However, large urban centers such as Toronto and Montreal provide abundant openings with decent pay.

Thanks to growing healthcare demands and an aging population, Canada offers registered nurses competitive salaries and strong career prospects. ebs
Thanks to growing healthcare demands and an aging population, Canada offers registered nurses competitive salaries and strong career prospects.

A nurse’s experience level greatly impacts earning potential, with senior nurses making significantly higher salaries. Specialized designations like nurse practitioner or critical care nurse also command premium pay.

The type of employer also makes a difference. Large hospitals and reputable health networks tend to pay better and offer more benefits. Joining a nursing union can also boost wages and improve working conditions through collective bargaining power.

Overall, Canada is projected to face a major nursing shortage between 2022 and 2031. This translates to excellent job prospects and incentives to attract talent. Aspiring nurses can look forward to launching recession-resilient careers with tremendous upside potential through experience and specialization.

Here are FAQs related to the topic of Average Registered Nurse Salaries in Canada:

How much does a registered nurse make per hour in Canada?

The average hourly wage for registered nurses across Canada is $42. Hourly wages range from around $29 per hour in lower-paying provinces like Ontario and Quebec, up to $64.69 per hour in the highest-paying territory of Nunavut.

What city has the highest paying registered nurse salaries in Canada?

The city with the highest registered nurse salaries is Surrey, British Columbia, where nurses earn an average of $102,313 annually. Other cities with high RN wages include Edmonton, Alberta ($97,226 annually) and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan ($93,226 annually).

Where are the highest paying provinces for registered nurses?

The highest-paying provinces for registered nurse salaries are Nunavut with median hourly wages of $64.69, followed by Northwest Territories ($51/hour) and Yukon Territory ($48.14/hour). Among the provinces, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba offer the highest RN wages.

Why do nurses get paid more in northern Canadian regions?

Nurses receive higher salaries in Canada's northern territories and remote regions in order to attract and retain healthcare professionals in challenging locations with higher costs of living. Provinces offer financial incentives like grants and elevated wages to compensate nurses for taking jobs in isolated communities with staffing shortages.

What factors increase a registered nurse's salary in Canada?

The key factors that can increase a registered nurse's salary in Canada include years of experience, specializations or advanced certifications, employment at major hospitals versus clinics, belonging to a nursing union, working overtime and night shifts, and geographic regions facing nursing shortages where higher wages are offered.

Article Sources

Ebsource equips Canadians with the knowledge to make informed benefits decisions. Our expert insights are backed by industry standards, reliable data from trusted sources like Statistics Canada, and thorough research on leading providers. We deliver recommendations tailored to individual needs and budgets. With a strong commitment to transparency and editorial accuracy, we aim to empower Canadians to choose the right benefits with confidence. Our vision is to be Canada’s most trusted resource for benefits advice.

Registered Nurse Salary in Canada: Hourly Rates, Factors, and Skills – fbnpc.com

Registered nurse salary in Canada – ca.indeed.com

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