See table for salaries.
Average Registered Nurse Salary in Canada
The table below details the hourly wages for Registered Nurses.
The Canadian national occupation classification code (NOC) for this role is 3012.
Job titles and exact duties vary in this occupation and examples of some job titles are: registered nurse (R.N.), registered psychiatric nurse (R.P.N.), community health nurse and occupational health nurse.
According to the latest figures, the highest hourly average (median) wages are earned in Calgary – Alberta at $46.39 per hour and the lowest average (median) wages are earned in Montreal, Quebec at $33.50 per hour.
A typical full-time annual salary for this occupation is in the region of $75,000 – $95,000.
Employment prospects for registered nurses are very good in Canada. The government forecasts that as the Canadian population ages, demand for health services will increase substantially, increasing demand for health professionals in general. Slightly over 50% of job vacancies will be due to expansion demand.
Average (Median) Hourly Wages for Registered Nurses in Canada
| Location | Low Wage $ per hr |
Average Wage $ per hr |
High Wage $ per hr |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary – Alberta* | 42.54 | 46.39 | 48.15 | 2019 |
| Edmonton – Alberta* | 25.00 | 46.26 | 46.38 | 2019 |
| Vancouver / Lower Mainland – British Columbia | 23.12 | 40.00 | 45.00 | 2018 |
| Winnipeg – Manitoba | 27.30 | 40.00 | 45.00 | 2018 |
| Fredericton / Oromocto – New Brunswick | 24.65 | 38.00 | 43.59 | 2018 |
| Halifax – Nova Scotia | 24.00 | 38.00 | 41.00 | 2018 |
| Toronto – Ontario | 21.00 | 35.00 | 46.00 | 2018 |
| Ottawa – Ontario | 23.00 | 38.00 | 46.00 | 2018 |
| Windsor / Sarnia – Ontario | 22.00 | 35.00 | 45.31 | 2018 |
| Hamilton/ Niagara Peninsula – Ontario | 22.38 | 39.68 | 46.00 | 2018 |
| Prince Edward Island | 25.54 | 38.00 | 41.37 | 2018 |
| Montreal – Quebec | 23.00 | 33.50 | 42.20 | 2018 |
| Saskatoon / Biggar – Saskatchewan | 35.00 | 43.00 | 48.00 | 2018 |
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Currently, this occupation is an eligible occupation to apply for express entry immigration with the federal skilled worker permanent resident visa.
The 2020 full-time average hourly wage rate for professional occupations in nursing, which includes registered nurses, is $39.22. The 2020 corresponding median weekly wage rate is $1,492, giving an approximate full-time annual salary for this employment sector of $78,000.
Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces and territories for this occupation.
There are over 300,000 registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses working in Canada.
Head Nurses and Supervisors
Licensed Practical Nurses
Midwives/Natural Healing
Nurse Practitioners