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Nursing is one of the most challenging careers out there. However, it is also one of the most rewarding ones—emotionally and financially. A nurse’s salary depends on a few factors: location, years of experience, and nursing specialty.
As of 2017, the annual salary of a nurse in Canada—more specifically: registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and psychiatric nurses—ranges from $46,000 to $160,000. This is based on a standard 40-hour week which translates to $22.00 and $80 an hour, respectively. Reportedly, the median wage for nurses in Canada is $36 an hour in 2017. The head nurse/supervisor level nurse would be receiving the highest pay.
Top five nurse practitioner specialties in terms of the number of jobs were family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, mental health and emergency room. The highest-paying specialty would be the emergency room. The other specialties are neonatal units, retail clinics, gerontology and mental health.
Things to consider:
Pay varies by location as each province would have different ranges. In 2017, registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses in Nunavut were reported to receive higher median wages than any other provinces or territories in the country.
The salary also depends on whether they work in hospitals, private or public clinics, psychiatric facilities, schools, or elsewhere. Receiving master’s degrees and specializing in certain areas of healthcare can significantly influence a Nurse’s salary.
The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions reports that 80% of nurses in Canada belong to unions, which lobby government on behalf of their members to improve pay and working conditions. As a result, nurses have some of the best rates of salary growth in the country. For example, Ontario nurses can expect to start with a salary above $50,000, exceed $60,000 by their 4th or 5th years, and exceed $70,000 by their 7th or 8th year.
One reason why nurses are well-paid is that there’s a shortage of them. Many nurses take on much more overtime than people in other professions. So even though the number of hospital nurses making more than $100,000 in 2011 was eight times higher than it was in 2006, these bigger salaries are usually a result of an extraordinary amount of extra work.
General wages
|
Location |
Wage ($/hr) |
| Canada | $22 – $45.64 |
| Alberta | $25 – $49.31 |
| British Columbia | $23 – $43.00 |
| Manitoba | $25 – $45.00 |
| New Brunswick | $24.05 – $40.25 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $23.48 – $30.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $19 – $40.05 |
| Ontario | $22 – $45.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | $22.10 – $40.25 |
| Quebec | $20 – $40.05 |
| Saskatchewan | $28 – $48 |
CALLING ALL NURSES!!
There are hundreds of hard-working experienced nurses from other countries who come from various backgrounds and cultures. These nurses should try their luck in applying to work in Canada. With hard work and determination, they can find success in Canada.
PhotoCredit: Philippine Nurses Association of Manitoba
