How much do doctors make in Canada? (2024)

Net income among physicians varies widely. Figures in this article are based on data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (October 2021), and represent average gross clinical income before overhead, taxes and other expenses.

Are you a medical student thinking about choosing your specialty? Maybe you’re in residency wondering where to practise. Or maybe you’re just curious about the average income of a physician in Canada.

Take me to the income tables

How much do doctors make in Canada? (1)

This article will list average physician earnings for family medicine and 17 medical and surgical specialties in 10 provinces. But first, let’s define some terms.

How are physicians paid?

In Canada, physicians can be paid in the following ways:

  • Fee for service: The physician bills their provincial ministry of health a specified amount for each type of visit or procedure.
  • Alternative payment plans: Under these arrangements, the province pays physicians directly using a model other than fee for service, such as salary, sessional (payment on an hourly or daily basis), capitation (payment based on the number of patients on a doctor’s roster), or block funding (in which practice groups are paid for services beyond the clinical, like teaching, research or administration).

In the tables below, we show the “gross clinical payment per full-time equivalent.”

Gross clinical payment: This is the amount that the government pays the physician, whether it is fee for service or an alternative payment plan. From this amount, the self-employed physician will need to pay their overhead expenses (e.g., rent, staff salaries, equipment, insurance) and other deductions. The remaining is the physician’s net clinical revenue, from which they will pay personal taxes and/or corporate taxes if their medical practice is incorporated.

Here is a simplified illustration, using an unincorporated physician:

Gross clinical payment400 000 $
Overhead-$150,000
Net clinical revenue$250,000
Personal income tax-$100,000
Take-home pay$150,000

Full-time equivalent: Not all physicians work full-time, and part-time earnings can distort the calculation of average income. The “full-time equivalent” metric aims to produce statistics that are comparable between full-time and part-time, across jurisdictions and across specialties.

How much do doctors make in Canada? (2)

Tables of physician income in Canada

The figures in the following tables are from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, published in October 2021 based on 2019–2020 data.1

CIHI provides information for family medicine and a select number of medical and surgical specialties.

Note that because of the varying payment methods across Canada, there are limitations to the comparability of this physician payment information. Anesthesia data, in fact, is excluded from service counts because of concerns about the comparability of certain jurisdictions.

An asterisk (*) indicates that data were suppressed to protect confidentiality where there are four or fewer physicians; n/a indicates not applicable and/or there were no physicians for this specialty in the particular province. In general, there were not enough data for Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut.

Average physician gross annual income

By province

ProvinceAnnual income
Alberta$448,098
Saskatchewan$418,060
Manitoba$417,413
Quebec$415,071
New Brunswick$403,677
British Columbia$389,716
Prince Edward Island$377,211
Nova Scotia$357,318
Ontario$356,508
Newfoundland and Labrador$355,523
Average$387,756

How much do doctors make in Canada? (3)

By specialty

SpecialtyAnnual income
Ophthalmology$879,858
Thoracic/cardiovascular surgery$670,652
Neurosurgery$602,130
Surgical specialists$573,586
Urology$572,164
General surgery$539,707
Cardiology$531,746
Otolaryngology$523,053
Plastic surgery$514,086
Orthopedic surgery$507,807
Gastroenterology$493,060
Obstetrics/gynecology$472,548
Internal medicine$464,759
Dermatology$457,191
Medical specialists$404,328
Pediatrics$361,623
Neurology$356,913
Physical medicine$341,008
Family medicine$331,615
Psychiatry$318,984

Gross annual income by province

Cardiology

ProvinceAnnual income
Alberta$643,215
British Columbia$599,541
Saskatchewan$576,559
Manitoba$548,207
Quebec$514,500
Ontario$508,233
New Brunswick$485,973
Newfoundland and Labrador$478,812
Nova Scotia$357,312
Prince Edward Islandn/a
Average$531,746

Dermatology

ProvinceAnnual income
Alberta$666,555
Manitoba$636,129
New Brunswick$581,224
Nova Scotia$580,236
Newfoundland and Labrador$515,679
British Columbia$505,756
Saskatchewan$463,633
Quebec$448,877
Ontario$361,097
Prince Edward Island*
Average$457,191

Family medicine

ProvinceAnnual income
Alberta$393,248
Quebec$369,185
Manitoba$364,825
New Brunswick$341,161
Saskatchewan$322,026
Prince Edward Island$317,968
Nova Scotia$312,420
British Columbia$308,399
Ontario$303,656
Newfoundland and Labrador$290,388
Average$331,615

Gastroenterology

ProvinceAnnual income
Saskatchewan$544,297
British Columbia$542,929
Alberta$537,539
Manitoba$521,276
New Brunswick$500,828
Quebec$486,144
Ontario$478,715
Newfoundland and Labrador$435,780
Nova Scotia$350,724
Prince Edward Islandn/a
Average$493,060

General surgery

ProvinceAnnual income
Alberta$637,393
Manitoba$628,103
Quebec$611,821
Saskatchewan$587,697
New Brunswick$556,302
Prince Edward Island$552,027
British Columbia$537,065
Nova Scotia$511,467
Ontario$481,451
Newfoundland and Labrador$468,256
Average$539,707

Internal medicine

ProvinceAnnual income
Alberta$546,288
British Columbia$507,457
Saskatchewan$488,589
Manitoba$482,233
Quebec$470,028
Prince Edward Island$447,909
Ontario$441,783
New Brunswick$438,960
Newfoundland and Labrador$422,537
Nova Scotia$365,418
Average$464,759

The figures for internal medicine include all subspecialties of internal medicine, including cardiology and gastroenterology which are also reported as individual specialties.

Neurology

ProvinceAnnual income
British Columbia$456,129
Alberta$412,966
Newfoundland and Labrador$379,965
Manitoba$363,673
Prince Edward Island$359,155
Saskatchewan$358,399
Ontario$342,627
Quebec$334,388
New Brunswick$311,167
Nova Scotia$288,633
Average$356,913

Neurosurgery

ProvinceAnnual income
Saskatchewan$700,258
Ontario$697,647
British Columbia$652,253
Newfoundland and Labrador$586,906
Manitoba$533,423
Quebec$529,882
New Brunswick$443,023
Nova Scotia$347,957
Albertan/a
Prince Edward Islandn/a
Average$602,130

Obstetrics/gynecology

ProvinceAnnual income
British Columbia$568,742
Alberta$540,451
Saskatchewan$539,522
New Brunswick$538,434
Prince Edward Island$520,185
Manitoba$509,233
Quebec$463,067
Nova Scotia$450,795
Ontario$436,002
Newfoundland and Labrador$379,067
Average$472,548

Ophthalmology

ProvinceAnnual income
Alberta$1,302,765
Manitoba$1,162,421
Prince Edward Island$1,103,068
Saskatchewan$1,069,210
Newfoundland and Labrador$969,021
British Columbia$962,062
Nova Scotia$907,615
Quebec$806,676
New Brunswick$805,655
Ontario$747,346
Average$879,858

Orthopedic surgery

ProvinceAnnual income
Newfoundland and Labrador$604,053
Alberta$595,058
Saskatchewan$570,139
Manitoba$567,600
Prince Edward Island$526,246
British Columbia$518,090
Quebec$514,266
Ontario$473,882
Nova Scotia$464,793
New Brunswick$461,365
Average$507,807

Otolaryngology

ProvinceAnnual income
Alberta$683,991
Saskatchewan$561,689
Manitoba$551,799
New Brunswick$537,585
Nova Scotia$533,296
Ontario$518,968
British Columbia$512,028
Newfoundland and Labrador$490,704
Quebec$469,263
Prince Edward Island*
Average$523,053

Pediatrics

ProvinceAnnual income
British Columbia$420,660
Alberta$418,964
New Brunswick$412,370
Saskatchewan$392,600
Quebec$389,287
Newfoundland and Labrador$378,609
Nova Scotia$354,401
Manitoba$342,411
Prince Edward Island$337,984
Ontario$327,477
Average$361,623

Physical medicine

ProvinceAnnual income
Saskatchewan$416,393
Manitoba$413,298
British Columbia$394,457
Alberta$373,556
New Brunswick$348,825
Quebec$326,258
Ontario$319,091
Nova Scotia$234,609
Newfoundland and Labrador*
Prince Edward Island*
Average$341,008

Plastic surgery

ProvinceAnnual income
Alberta$678,847
Manitoba$668,551
New Brunswick$626,131
Saskatchewan$592,275
Quebec$541,786
Nova Scotia$529,928
British Columbia$523,778
Newfoundland and Labrador$499,776
Ontario$442,706
Prince Edward Island*
Average$514,086

Psychiatry

ProvinceAnnual income
New Brunswick$380,303
Prince Edward Island$368,343
Saskatchewan$360,632
Quebec$359,352
Manitoba$345,302
Alberta$335,040
British Columbia$316,395
Nova Scotia$293,706
Newfoundland and Labrador$282,642
Ontario$281,312
Average$318,984

Thoracic/cardiovascular surgery

ProvinceAnnual income
Alberta$889,030
Saskatchewan$762,962
Manitoba$754,625
Ontario$710,681
British Columbia$634,493
Quebec$626,372
Newfoundland and Labrador$583,493
Nova Scotia$545,757
New Brunswick$540,196
Prince Edward Islandn/a
Average$670,652

Urology

ProvinceAnnual income
Manitoba$730,839
Alberta$701,111
New Brunswick$670,287
Saskatchewan$644,047
British Columbia$615,056
Nova Scotia$606,020
Newfoundland and Labrador$585,763
Ontario$537,580
Quebec$527,298
Prince Edward Island*
Average$572,164

1 To find this information, go to https://www.cihi.ca/en/physicians-in-canada. Scroll down to “National Physician Database” and download “Data tables (ZIP).” Go to the file titled “NPDB-historical-payments-data-tables-1999-2019-en-web.xlsx,” and see Table D2 (“Average payments”). Click row 3 (“Type of average payment”) and select “Average gross clinical payment per full-time-equivalent physician” from the drop-down menu.

The above information should not be construed as offering specific financial, investment, foreign or domestic taxation, legal, accounting or similar professional advice, nor is it intended to replace the advice of independent tax, accounting or legal professionals.

How much do doctors make in Canada? (2024)

FAQs

How much do doctors get paid in Canada? ›

According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), in 2020 family medicine doctors grossed $287,000, while medical specialists earned $370,000 and surgical specialists earned an average of $487,000 (CAD).

Do doctors earn more in Canada or the US? ›

While the USA generally offers higher average salaries across various medical specialties, Canadian doctors experience a more balanced salary-to-debt ratio due to lower education costs.

Which Canadian doctor has highest salary? ›

Ophthalmology, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, and urology are amongst the highest paying specialties in Canada. These doctors can make a lot of money, considering that they provide services that are highly sought after.

What is the salary in Canada vs USA? ›

Salaries in the US vs Canada

While the differences aren't large between earning amounts in Canada and the US, Americans actually have higher average salaries than Canadians. The average salary of Americans is $56,690 and it is about $43,867 in Canada. These are both in USD.

Which country pays doctors the most? ›

Top 10 Countries Offering Highest Salary to Doctors
  • Netherlands.
  • Australia. ...
  • Germany. ...
  • Austria. ...
  • Belgium. ...
  • Canada. ...
  • Ireland. ...
  • Switzerland. Doctors in Switzerland make around ₹9,670,000 a year if they're specialists, and about ₹8,624,000 annually if they're general practitioners. ...
Feb 8, 2024

Is Health Care Free in Canada? ›

The health system is funded mainly by provincial or territorial general tax revenue with some federal transfers and is free at the point of delivery for citizens. There is no cost-sharing for inpatient or outpatient care and prescription drug prices vary but are still inexpensive.

Is Canada a good place to live as a doctor? ›

Canada takes pride in its national public health care system, universally known as Medicare. This program covers most health care services for Canadians, which creates a significantly stable environment for physicians: Funding: The stable, largely government-funded system guarantees doctors reliable income.

Does Canada accept US doctors? ›

Physicians qualify for Express Entry as a Federal Skilled Worker, and when approved, are invited to apply for permanent residency. You will need to take an English or French Language test. Transitioning to Canada can take 6 months of longer, so if you are committed to moving, start this process early.

Is Canada a good place to be a doctor? ›

The average salary in Canada for doctors is exceptionally high, making it the best place for physicians to prosper in their careers. The government of Canada offers plenty of immigration options to healthcare workers who want to settle in Canada.

How much does a dentist make in Canada? ›

The national average salary for a Dentist is $117,362 in Canada. Filter by location to see Dentist salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on 42 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Dentist employees.

How much does a nurse make in Canada? ›

The entry-level nurse in Canada earns $59,875 per year, and the most experienced employee earns up to $105,477 per year. The Registered Nurse with an entry-level position earns $59,762 per year and the most experienced worker earns $83,168 per year. The Clinical nurse gets $88,396 per year based on 2175 salaries.

How much does a pilot make in Canada? ›

The national average salary for a Pilot is $98,627 in Canada. Filter by location to see Pilot salaries in your area.

Is it cheaper to live in Canada or USA? ›

Overall, Canada is more affordable than the US, but the US has a higher median income. Comparing the cost of living in both countries is tricky because living costs vary dramatically within each city. It's important to consider the hidden costs and savings of public goods and services when comparing costs of living.

Is Canada cheaper to live in the US? ›

On average, living in the USA tends to be more expensive compared to Canada. However, it's vital to understand that these costs vary significantly within each country. While some expenses may be higher in Canada, such as food and real estate, the USA faces higher costs in areas like healthcare and education.

Are taxes higher in Canada or USA? ›

The IRS taxes the richest Americans at 37%, whereas the top federal tax rate in Canada is 33%. Wealthy Americans have access to many tax deductions that Canada's Alternative Minimum Tax does not allow.

How much are doctors paid in Canada per hour? ›

As of Apr 14, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Medical Doctor in Alberta is $103.35 an hour.

How much a doctor can earn in Canada per month? ›

The national average salary for a Doctor is $1,47,279 in Canada. Filter by location to see Doctor salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on 124 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Doctor employees.

How do doctors get paid in Canada if healthcare is free? ›

Doctors are self-employed, which means they can determine their own hours and work location, and they are responsible for paying their employees, for office space and other overhead expenses. Doctors earn money by billing their provincial government for the services they provide to patients.

How much do doctors make in Canada first year? ›

There are also other specializations included in that field, with different salaries. Internal medicine doctor starting salary is $404,000 per year, and neurologists earn an average $311,000 per year.

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