See table for salaries.
Average Occupational Therapist Salary in Canada
The table below details the hourly wages for Occupational Therapists.
The Canadian national occupation classification code (NOC) for this role is 3143.
Job titles and exact duties vary in this occupation and examples of some job titles are: occupational therapist (OT), clinical occupational therapist and community occupational therapist.
A typical full-time annual salary is in the region of $70,000 – $90,000.
According to the latest figures, the highest hourly average (median) wages are earned in Calgary, Alberta at $44.48 per hour and the lowest average (median) wages are earned in Winnipeg – Manitoba at $36.00 per hour.
Employment prospects for occupational therapists are very good in Canada. The government forecasts that because the Canadian population is aging, the demand in this profession will increase for the near future.
Average Hourly (Median) Wages for Occupational Therapists in Canada
| Location | Low Wage $ per hr |
Average Wage $ per hr |
High Wage $ per hr |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary – Alberta* | 41.03 | 44.48 | 48.42 | 2017 |
| Edmonton – Alberta* | 43.24 | 43.42 | 45.89 | 2017 |
| Vancouver / Lower Mainland Southwest – British Columbia | 31.00 | 38.42 | 42.00 | 2015 |
| Winnipeg – Manitoba | 28.00 | 36.00 | 41.00 | 2016 |
| Fredericton / Oromocto – New Brunswick(1) | 32.00 | 38.00 | 42.00 | 2016 |
| Halifax – Nova Scotia(1) | 32.00 | 38.00 | 42.00 | 2016 |
| Toronto – Ontario | 28.85 | 38.46 | 44.00 | 2016 |
| Ottawa – Ontario | 28.85 | 38.46 | 44.00 | 2016 |
| Hamilton / Niagara Peninsula – Ontario | 28.85 | 38.46 | 44.00 | 2016 |
| Kitchener / Waterloo / Barrie – Ontario | 28.85 | 38.46 | 44.00 | 2016 |
| Prince Edward Island | – | – | – | – |
| Montreal – Quebec | 23.74 | 36.50 | 43.00 | 2016 |
| Saskatoon / Biggar – Saskatchewan* | 31.61 | 38.65 | 41.74 | 2013 |
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The 2018 full-time average hourly wage rate for professional occupations in health (except nursing), which includes occupational therapists, is $37.88. The 2018 corresponding median weekly wage rate is $1435, giving an approximate full-time annual salary for this employment sector of $75,000.
Membership of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists is required in some provinces.
There are over 25,000 occupational therapists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment working in Canada.
Currently, this occupation is an eligible occupation for express entry immigration with the federal skilled worker permanent resident visa.
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