A Guide To IT Salaries In Canada

IT Industry in Canada

In the past decade, the IT industry in Canada has grown twice as fast as other industries in the country. ICT now constitutes 5% of Canada’s total GDP. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the umbrella term for software, hardware, telecommunications, and services that help in access, storage, and transfer of data between users and systems. The diverse ICT sector in Canada is growing like never before, with one in three (30%) small and medium size businesses planning to invest in software in the next one year. The tech sector is expected to grow by 22.4% during the 2021-24 period. 

According to Statista, the ICT industry is one of the main providers of employment in Canada, accounting for over 960 thousand jobs in 2020. There’s an ever-growing demand for jobs in software engineering, web design, web development, artificial intelligence, etc. 

IT Engineer Skills

IT Engineers or Software Engineers are high level IT professionals responsible for developing, designing, writing, testing, modifying and debugging software as per specific requirements. The specific duties of an IT engineer depend on the type of organization and the type of computer system they are required to manage. However, there are several key duties and responsibilities all IT Engineers need to perform. 

If you’re aspiring to pursue a career as an IT Engineer, you’ll need to develop certain skills and qualities to be best on the job and have a successful career. Here’s a list of technical skills and abilities that can help to jumpstart a lucrative career as an IT Engineer in Canada.

• Computer Programming and Coding – Computer programming is one of the most basic software engineering skills, and programming knowledge requirements may vary according to the job role you’re applying for. There are several programming languages, the most in-demand ones being:

• Java
• Python
• Ruby
• C#/.Net
• Mean

• Software Development – Software development skills include the ability to design, test and develop software according to user needs. 
• Object Oriented Design - Object Oriented Design (OOD) entails planning a system of interacting objects in order to solve a software problem. There are numerous online certifications through leading platforms like Simplilearn that can help you gain basic knowledge of OOD. 
• Software Testing and Debugging – Testing and debugging are an integral part of any software project, hence a much needed skill for IT job aspirants.
• Problem Solving and Logical Thinking - Even the tiniest errors can lead to software problems, and programmers spend more time debugging code than writing them. Hence, a good IT engineer must be able to pinpoint software issues and use logical reasoning to solve such problems. 
• Mathematical Skills – An IT Engineering career demands strong mathematical skills, to know your way around calculations and measurements so that it becomes easier to reduce complications.  
• Written and Verbal Communication – Good communications skills are a priority when it comes to employers looking to hire IT Engineers. A good software engineer must be able to communicate clearly with coworkers or clients. They must be able to explain technical or complex software issues to a layperson. 
• Interpersonal Skills – software engineers often work as part of teams; so, it’s important to have good team working abilities. 
• Time Management Skills – IT engineers must be able to manage their time effectively. They should have a clear understanding of how to evaluate project duration and to calculate the time needed to accomplish any project.
• Knowledge of Security Protocols, IT Systems, Database Systems, Networking
• Ability to Manage Multiple Projects Simultaneously
• Web Application Development

IT Engineer Roles and Salary

According to Glassdoor, the national average salary for an IT Engineer in Canada is $77,663 annually.  

The average salary range for IT Engineers is between $65,104 and $115,374. 

Entry-level IT Engineer Salaries start at $58,500 per year, while experienced engineers can earn up to $105,018 per year.  

Some of the top in-demand IT Engineer job roles in Canada are:

• Software Engineer – the average salary for a Software Engineer is $84,712 in Canada. Entry level positions start at CA$57,859 per year, while experienced engineers can earn as high as CA$127,264 as IT salary in Canada per year.
• Software Designer – According to Payscale, the average annual salary for Software Designer in Canada is C$69536. Entry level positions start at $62,829 per year, while experienced workers make $95,425 per year.
• Software Architect – the average salary for Software Architect in Canada is CA$1,22,236. Entry level positions start at $92,957 per year, while experienced workers can earn up to $154,440 per year.

Our Learners Also Asked:

1. What is an entry level IT job salary in Canada?

According to Glassdoor, the national average salary for an entry level IT job in Canada is $75,154.   

Some entry level IT jobs are:

• IT Support Technician
• Web Developer
• Database Administrator
• Business Analyst
• Associate

2. Which IT job is the highest paid in Canada?

For 2021, Software Developer is the highest paid IT job in Canada.

The national average salary for a Software Developer in Canada is $75,628 annually.

3. What is a good tech salary in Canada?

The IT industry provides some of the best salaries in Canada. According to Glassdoor, the national average salary for a Tech job in Canada is $50,237. Entry level technicians can make about $34,125 per year, while most experienced professionals can earn up to $113,006 per year. 

4. Are IT jobs in high demand? 

The global Information Technology market is expected to reach $5 trillion by the end of this year. IT workers are in high demand everywhere and are expected to remain among the most sought-after workers in the coming years.  

Jobs in the IT sector are predicted to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030, at a faster rate than the average of all other occupations.  

Explore IT careers now as there are ample opportunities for advancement in both responsibility and salary. 

Some of the highest paying IT jobs roles include:

• Software Developer
• IT Project Manager
• IT Business Analyst
• Database Analyst
• Data Science Specialist
• Digital Media Specialist
• Quality Assurance Analyst
• Security Analysts and Architects
• Business Systems Analyst
• Network Engineer

Conclusion

Now that you’ve read through our guide to IT Salary in Canada, you can analyze the job market easily and decide which job is better suited to your situation. We recommend you check Simplilearn's Caltech Coding Bootcamp from Simplilearn to help you upgrade your skills and get a headstart in preparing for your dream job as an IT professional in Canada.

If you have any questions or queries, feel free to post them in the comments section below. Our team will get back to you at the earliest.