Software Developer Jobs in Canada – A 2025 Look

Canada’s technology sector is booming, driven by thriving tech hubs in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and other major cities. This growth has fueled high demand for qualified software developers across the country. As Canada continues to embrace innovation and invest in emerging fields like artificial intelligence and mobile computing, software developers find ample opportunities to launch and advance their careers.

This guide provides an overview of software developer jobs, its roles, requirements, salaries, job prospects and top regions in Canada. Whether you’re looking to immigrate to Canada as a developer or expand your skills locally, this article will help you understand the landscape and opportunities of this dynamic profession.

Job Market Trends for Software Developers

Canada’s job market outlook remains optimistic for software professionals nationwide. However, geographic and labour supply variations exist.

Around 66% of Canada’s software developers work in Ontario and Quebec. Given the provinces’ established technology ecosystems, this imbalance will continue.

British Columbia and Alberta represent emerging regional hotspots. These provinces present growing opportunities, especially in Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton.

Atlantic Canada currently offers fewer software engineering jobs. However, the technology sector is slowly growing in major urban centers like Halifax and St. John’s.

Canada faces a shortage of qualified software developers nationally. Despite 48,800 projected job seekers by 2031, demand for software skills continues to outpace supply, leading to competitive salaries aimed at attracting talent.

Ultimately, software professionals in Canada can expect strong career prospects and expanding opportunities well into the future.

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

What are Software Developer Roles and Responsibilities?

Software developers design, build, test and maintain software applications, programs and systems. They utilize programming languages and various tools to create functional, user-friendly software that meets client or organizational requirements.

Developers work across diverse industries, including:

• Information technology
• Computer systems design
• Software publishing
• Finance and insurance
• Professional, scientific and technical services
• Manufacturing
• Healthcare

Core technical skills for software developers include:

• Proficiency in programming languages like Java, Python, C++, JavaScript, SQL
• Software design and debugging
• Testing and quality assurance
• Cloud computing platforms like AWS
• Agile development methodologies
• Source control with Git and GitHub

Soft skills are equally crucial for succeeding in this role:

• Communication and Collaboration
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Creativity and innovation
• Attention to detail
• Time management and organization

Common job duties include:

• Conferring with clients and stakeholders to determine software specifications and requirements
• Designing architecture and writing code for software programs and applications
• Testing software for bugs and issues before release
• Deploying software across operating systems and computing platforms
• Updating and improving existing software systems
• Providing maintenance and troubleshooting support
• Writing technical documentation for reference

Software developers typically work full-time hours, averaging 35-40 hours per week. Though office-based jobs are common, opportunities for remote work and flexible arrangements have grown in recent years.

What are Software Developer Salaries in Canada?

According to Talent, the average salary for software developers in Canada is $116,727 per year or $59.86 per hour as of December 2024, which exceeds the national average annual wage of $72,800 for Canadian-born employees. However, developers earn significantly higher pay in some provinces.

Here are the average annual software developer salaries across different regions of Canada:

Province/Territory	Average Salary
National Average	$104,808
Quebec	$130,000
Ontario	$127,970
British Columbia	$112,997
Nova Scotia	$110,383
Alberta	$109,029
New Brunswick	$108,939
Manitoba	$106,125
Saskatchewan	$104,325
Prince Edward Island	$77,669

Salaries also vary based on experience level:

• Entry-level software developers in Canada earn approximately $75,070 per year on average.
• Senior-level and experienced developers can make up to $162,772 per year.

Specific job titles also influence pay, for example:

• Software development engineers average around $124,191 per year.
• Java developers earn approximately $123,238 annually.
• Systems engineers make about $115,114 per year on average.

Quebec and Ontario offer the highest developer salaries due to the high density of IT companies and startups in cities like Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Waterloo. However, ample jobs exist nationwide.

Source: https://ca.talent.com/salary?job=software+developer

What are Job Outlook and Prospects for Software Developers?

The job outlook for software developers in Canada is robust. According to the Canadian Occupational Projection System, there is a shortage of software developers and computer programmers in Canada.

In 2021, over 221,300 Canadians worked as software developers and programmers. The median retirement age is 62, meaning many older workers will leave the workforce in the coming decade.

However, it’s estimated that only 89,900 new software developer job seekers will enter the Canadian labor market between 2022 and 2031. This suggests a talent shortage, as many new openings will be left unfilled.

Most provinces are expected to experience good or moderate growth:

Province	10-Year Job Growth Rating
Alberta	Moderate
British Columbia	Moderate
Manitoba	Good
New Brunswick	Moderate
Newfoundland and Labrador	Good
Nova Scotia	Good
Ontario	Moderate
Prince Edward Island	Good
Quebec	Good
Saskatchewan	Good

Canada’s rapidly expanding technology sector fuels rising demand. Key drivers include:

• Growth of mobile and web apps, cloud computing, AI, big data and other emerging fields
• Retirement of existing developers from the workforce
• Advantageous immigration policies attracting skilled foreign talent

These factors signal positive prospects for software developers across Canada in the years ahead.

Source: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/outlook-occupation/22548/ca

How to become a Software Developer in Canada?

To become a software developer in Canada, you’ll need:

Education

Most employers require at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Coursework covers programming languages, databases, operating systems, and software development methodologies.

Many colleges and universities across Canada offer relevant programs, including:

• University of Waterloo
• University of Toronto
• McGill University
• University of British Columbia
• Concordia University
• Simon Fraser University
• University of Alberta

Alternatively, coding boot camps and online courses offer accelerated training, specifically in programming. These programs may be suitable for transitioning professionals.

Work Experience

Gaining Canadian work experience—even via internships—can considerably improve your prospects when job searching as a new software developer in Canada. These opportunities allow you to:

• Apply your skills in real workplace settings
• Understand how development teams operate
• Expand your network and get references
• Gain “Canadian experience” valued by employers

When starting, highlight any freelance work, contributions to open source projects or academic programming projects on your resume. These demonstrate hands-on coding ability.

Language Skills

Most software developer jobs require strong English or French skills. Bilingual (French/English) candidates have an advantage, especially in regions like Montreal or roles involving Quebec.

You may need to take language tests like IELTS or TEF to prove proficiency when applying for immigration programs or jobs.

Skills and Certifications

While a degree provides foundational knowledge, you must continually build your skills. Specialized training and certifications in cloud computing, cybersecurity and project management help you stand out.

Relevant options include:

• AWS Certified Developer
• Google Cloud Professional Cloud Developer
• CompTIA Security+
• PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
• Agile certifications like PMI-ACP and CSPO

Some developers take online courses annually to learn new programming languages and frameworks like React and Node.js. This helps keep your skills current.

What are Top Regions for Software Developers in Canada?

Canada’s major technology hubs provide software developers with the most significant job opportunities.

Toronto

As Canada’s largest city and a global financial center, Toronto offers a range of software developer roles with major banks, insurance companies, government agencies, healthcare providers and other large institutions. Abundant startups also present opportunities.

Top companies hiring developers in Toronto include:

• Shopify
• TD Bank
• CIBC
• Ontario Government
• IBM

Average Salary: $127,970

Vancouver

Vancouver has a thriving startup ecosystem and numerous gaming and animation studio openings. Major tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Tableau have regional offices.

Top companies hiring developers in Vancouver:

• Amazon
• Microsoft
• Hootsuite
• MDA Corporation
• Electronic Arts

Average Salary: $112,997

Montreal

Montreal is a bilingual city that attracts many European tech firms offering French-language work. The city also has a thriving gaming industry led by Ubisoft and Gameloft.

Top companies hiring developers in Montreal:

• Ubisoft
• CGI Group
• Gameloft
• Lightspeed
• Morgan Stanley

Average Salary: $130,000

Waterloo

Waterloo produces exceptional tech talent from the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. Companies like Google, Facebook and Oracle run large offices here, and over 1,000 startups are based in the region.

Top companies hiring developers in Waterloo:

• Google
• Facebook
• Oracle
• OpenText
• Shopify

Average Salary: $127,970

Ottawa

As Canada’s capital and fourth largest city, Ottawa offers many government software developer jobs. Due to partnerships with local universities, QNX, IBM, and other tech companies have offices in the region.

Top companies hiring developers in Ottawa:

• Federal Government of Canada
• QNX Software Systems
• IBM
• Nokia
• Halogen Software

How can Immigrants Become Software Developers in Canada?

Immigrating to Canada as a software developer presents exciting career opportunities, aided by strong demand for technical skills and fast-track visa pathways. However, strategically evaluating your qualifications and aligning them with Canadian employer needs is key to securing a job after arrival.

Assessing Your Job Readiness as a Foreign Software Developer

Carefully review your credentials to identify any gaps compared to typical requirements in Canada:

Evaluating Your Education

• Get your credentials assessed to confirm your degree/diploma is equivalent to Canadian standards.
• Identify gaps in your core computer science knowledge that Canadian education provides.
• Research how your skills align with in-demand programming languages and frameworks like Python, JavaScript and .NET.

Analyzing Your Technical Experience

• Review job postings to understand the most sought-after technical skills and methodologies like Agile and DevOps.
• Identify experience gaps – are you lacking work with specific operating systems, cloud platforms or applications?
• Consider learning opportunities to fill experience gaps like online courses, freelance projects and open source contributions.

Determining Your Language Proficiency

• Check that your IELTS, CELPIP or TEF scores meet eligibility for both immigration and employment.
• If needed, enhance your technical English fluency and vocabulary through language learning apps, YouTube tutorials, and reading programming documentation.

Exploring Optimal Immigration Programs for Software Developers

Leverage Canada’s skilled immigrant visas designed for tech talent:

Federal Skilled Worker Program

• Fast-track PR visa through Express Entry for candidates with high education, skills and language scores.
• Software developers are actively recruited due to being NOC Skill Type A occupations.

Canadian Experience Class

• The Alternative Express Entry pathway favours applicants with prior work experience in Canada.
• Getting a work permit to gain Canadian experience can facilitate this route.

Provincial Nominee Programs

• Provinces like BC, Ontario and Quebec offer accelerated tech streams to meet local talent needs.
• PNP tech streams often prioritize applicants with a job offer from a local employer.

By proactively enhancing your qualifications to match Canada’s software development needs as an immigrant, you can realize your goals of launching a new technology career.

Launching a Software Development Career in Canada

Canada provides excellent opportunities to begin or advance a software development career, aided by fast-track immigration pathways targeting tech talent. Thriving tech hubs like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Waterloo offer a range of roles with innovative startups, global tech giants, financial institutions, gaming studios and other organizations.

By gaining Canadian education and experience, software developers can build expertise highly valued by employers nationwide. Certifications, language skills and understanding local market needs also help newcomers adapt and succeed as immigrants. With demand outpacing qualified talent, those who strategically upskill and market themselves can realize significant rewards in this dynamic field.

Curious about other careers in Canada? Read more here:
Engineering Jobs in Canada

FAQs related to software developer jobs and salaries in Canada

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Article Sources

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Software Developer average salary in Canada, 2025 – ca.talent.com
Wages Software Developer in Canada – jobbank.gc.ca
How To Become a Software Engineer – ca.indeed.com