Starting your career in Canada comes with a big question most programs never answer directly: what should you actually expect to earn? Whether you are finishing a degree in engineering, nursing, computer science, or business, knowing realistic salary ranges for new graduates helps you evaluate offers, negotiate with confidence, and plan your finances from day one.
Quick takeaways
- Engineering new grads typically start between $65,000 and $80,000 depending on discipline and province
- Computer science and software development roles range from $70,000 to over $110,000 at top tech employers
- Nursing salaries are largely set by provincial collective agreements, landing most new RNs between $65,000 and $75,000
- Accounting and finance grads start around $55,000 to $65,000, with significant upside after completing the CPA designation
- Federal public service entry roles (PM-01 classification) start near $60,000 with defined annual progression
- City of work matters: cost of living in Toronto and Vancouver significantly reduces purchasing power compared to Calgary or Halifax
What the Data Shows for New Grad Salaries in Canada
Salary data for new Canadian graduates comes from several credible sources: Statistics Canada's National Graduates Survey (NGS), federal Treasury Board collective agreements, and employer-reported data on platforms like Glassdoor Canada. Together they form a reliable picture, even if no single source captures everything.
The NGS consistently shows that STEM and health fields outperform humanities and social sciences at the entry level. However, the gap is not always as dramatic as headline numbers suggest once you factor in unionized roles, co-op experience, and regional labour markets.
A note on total compensation: the numbers below are base salary ranges. Many employers layer on benefits, pension contributions, and performance bonuses that meaningfully change total value. It is worth asking about the full package during your interview, not just the base number.
Salary Benchmarks by Field
Engineering ($65,000 to $80,000)
Mechanical, civil, electrical, and chemical engineering graduates in Canada generally enter the market between $65,000 and $80,000. Software-adjacent engineering disciplines tend to skew higher. Provincial variation is real: Alberta's energy sector and Ontario's manufacturing and infrastructure sectors tend to offer stronger starting packages than some Atlantic provinces.
Engineers-in-training working toward their P.Eng designation often see salary increases once they accumulate required work hours and pass their professional practice exams. The first two to three years represent a clear investment in your longer-term earning trajectory.
Computer Science and Software Development ($70,000 to $110,000+)
This is the widest range of any field covered here. Entry-level developer roles at small and mid-size Canadian companies typically start between $70,000 and $85,000. Roles at larger tech employers or Canadian arms of major US tech companies can reach $100,000 to $110,000 or higher when signing bonuses are included.
Co-op and internship experience during your degree significantly affects where you land in that range. Graduates with two or three completed co-op terms and a visible project portfolio routinely receive offers noticeably higher than classmates without that experience. If you completed a co-op, lead with it when you apply.
Nursing ($65,000 to $75,000)
Registered Nurse salaries in Canada are largely governed by provincial collective agreements, which makes starting pay more predictable than most fields. A new RN starting in Ontario typically enters the pay grid at a rate that translates to roughly $70,000 to $78,000 annually on a full-time schedule. British Columbia and Alberta have comparable starting rates.
In practice, many new nursing graduates begin in casual or part-time roles while waiting for a permanent position. Once you secure a permanent line, collective agreement increments provide reliable annual progression that is negotiated at the bargaining table rather than individually assessed by a manager.
Accounting and Finance ($55,000 to $65,000)
New accounting graduates without their CPA designation typically start in the $55,000 to $65,000 range at public accounting firms or in corporate finance roles. The CPA designation functions as a significant salary multiplier in Canada: designated accountants typically earn substantially more than pre-designation peers within a few years of completing the program.
The large public accounting firms hire heavily from university programs and generally offer structured CPA support as part of the employment package. When interviewing, ask specifically about CPA time-off policies and exam fee coverage, as these vary considerably between employers.
Federal Public Service ($60,000 to $63,000 at Entry Level)
The federal public service uses standardized classification and pay grids posted publicly on the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat website. Entry-level policy analyst and program officer roles often fall under the PM (Program and Administrative Services) classification at the PM-01 level, which as of recent collective agreements starts around $60,000 to $63,000.
Other relevant entry-level federal classifications include EC-02 (Economics and Social Science Services) and CS-01 (Computer Systems). The post-secondary recruitment process opens annually and covers multiple streams for recent graduates, making it worth bookmarking if you are interested in a public service career.
Federal roles typically include defined benefit pension plans, health and dental benefits, and job security provisions that add meaningful value beyond the base salary number.
Cost of Living: Your Salary in Four Canadian Cities
Base salary alone does not tell you how comfortable your finances will be. Where you live shapes your actual purchasing power as much as the number on your offer letter.
Toronto
Toronto is the highest-cost major city for most new grads. After Ontario provincial income tax, a $70,000 salary yields roughly $52,000 to $54,000 in take-home pay. Average one-bedroom rents in Toronto were running above $2,200 per month in 2025, leaving many grads with under $25,000 annually after rent alone. Many manage this by sharing accommodations or living in surrounding municipalities like Mississauga or Hamilton and commuting in.
Vancouver
Vancouver is broadly similar to Toronto in housing costs and often slightly higher for rental apartments in central neighbourhoods. The same $70,000 salary yields a comparable after-tax take-home under BC's rates. The city's technology sector and film industry create genuine entry-level demand, but the cost-of-living math requires careful planning before you relocate for a role.
Calgary
Calgary's lower average rents and Alberta's absence of provincial income tax make the purchasing power of a $65,000 salary meaningfully higher than the same number in Toronto or Vancouver. A new engineering or accounting grad in Calgary can expect noticeably more financial breathing room. The energy sector creates significant demand for engineering, geoscience, and finance graduates, and the city has been expanding its technology sector as well.
Halifax
Halifax is the most affordable of the four cities covered here. Rental costs are substantially lower, and while salaries in some fields run slightly lower than Ontario or Alberta levels, they go considerably further day to day. The Atlantic tech sector, healthcare system, and federal government presence create real entry-level opportunities. If you are open to Atlantic Canada, Halifax is worth serious consideration as a place to start your career.
What Affects Your Starting Offer
Several factors influence where within a range your first offer lands:
- Co-op and internship experience: Demonstrated, paid work experience in your field is the single strongest predictor of a higher starting offer
- Location within a province: Urban centres generally offer higher nominal salaries, though cost-of-living differences may offset this
- Employer size and type: Large employers typically offer higher base salaries; smaller companies or non-profits may compensate with flexibility or mission alignment
- Field-specific designations: P.Eng, CPA, or RN licensure creates structured pay gates that are either immediate or built into your progression timeline
- Negotiation: Many first offers have room, and asking professionally is expected in most sectors
How to Negotiate Your First Salary
Negotiating your first salary can feel uncomfortable, but it is standard practice. Most hiring managers work with a range, not a single fixed number, and a professional conversation about compensation rarely damages a relationship that has already reached the offer stage.
Prepare before you receive the offer. Research the typical salary for your role, field, and city using Statistics Canada data, Glassdoor Canada, and your university career centre if they publish salary outcome reports. When you receive an offer, thank the employer, ask for time to review it (24 to 48 hours is normal), and respond with a specific counter if your research supports one.
A practical framing: "Based on my research and the co-op experience I bring in [relevant area], I was hoping we could reach [specific number]. Is there flexibility in the offer?" This is direct, professional, and far more effective than vague hesitation.
YouthAtWork.ca lists entry-level openings across Canada where many employers now post salary ranges directly in the job listing, which takes some of the guesswork out of your research.
Beyond the Base: What Else to Evaluate
When you are comparing two offers or deciding whether to accept, the full compensation package matters more than the base salary alone:
- Benefits: Employer-paid health, dental, and vision coverage has real dollar value that you would otherwise pay out of pocket
- Pension or RRSP matching: Government roles often include defined benefit pensions; many private employers offer RRSP matching up to a percentage of your salary
- Vacation: Two weeks is the legal minimum in most provinces; some employers start new hires at three weeks, which matters for work-life balance
- Professional development support: Exam fees, conference allowances, and paid study time matter especially in accounting, engineering, and tech where designations affect your earnings
- Flexibility: Remote or hybrid arrangements affect commuting costs and daily quality of life in ways that are worth quantifying when you compare offers
FAQ
What is a typical starting salary for new grads in Canada in 2026?
Starting salaries vary significantly by field. STEM and health graduates typically start between $60,000 and $80,000, with software development roles ranging higher at large tech employers. Humanities and social science graduates often start in the $40,000 to $55,000 range depending on the specific role and sector. City of work also plays a meaningful role in both the nominal number and what that number actually buys.
Should new grads in Canada negotiate their salary?
Yes, and most hiring managers expect it. Many employers set initial offers with room to adjust, particularly in private sector roles. Research the typical range for your field and city beforehand, and come to the conversation with a specific number rather than a vague ask. A polite, evidence-based counter during the offer stage is expected and rarely backfires.
Is the federal government a good employer for new Canadian graduates?
It depends on your priorities. The federal public service offers predictable pay grids, strong benefits, defined benefit pensions, and job security. Starting salaries are competitive but not the highest available in any given field. For grads who value stability, structured progression, and mission-driven work, federal roles are a strong option worth pursuing through the annual post-secondary recruitment process.
How does city choice affect a new grad's actual take-home pay?
Significantly. A $70,000 salary in Calgary has more purchasing power than the same salary in Toronto or Vancouver due to lower housing costs and Alberta's absence of provincial income tax. Halifax offers even greater affordability relative to salary. Geographic flexibility can make a meaningful difference to your financial position during the first few years of your career, so it is worth running the numbers before you decide where to apply.
When should I expect a raise after starting my first job?
Most employers conduct annual performance reviews that may include salary adjustments. Unionized roles follow collective agreement increment schedules that are set at the bargaining table and apply regardless of individual performance ratings. For non-union private sector roles, raises are typically tied to annual review outcomes. It is reasonable to ask during your interview what the typical review and raise cadence looks like before you accept an offer.
Where can I find entry-level jobs in Canada that show salary ranges?
Employers are increasingly required or encouraged to post salary ranges in job listings, particularly as provinces move toward pay transparency legislation. Job boards focused on the Canadian market, including the YouthAtWork.ca job seekers page, list entry-level roles across industries where you can search by field and location and find listings that include compensation ranges upfront.
Start Your Search With Realistic Expectations
Understanding the salary landscape as a new grad puts you in a stronger position whether you are evaluating your first offer, choosing between graduate program options, or deciding where in Canada to plant your career. The ranges in this guide reflect real market benchmarks drawn from government surveys, pay grids, and employer-reported data. Your co-op experience, location, field, and how you present yourself in the interview all shape where within those ranges you land.
Ready to take the next step? Visit YouthAtWork.ca at https://youthatwork.ca/job-seekers to browse current openings and create a candidate profile.