Nurse salary in Canada after tax — 2026
Canadian RN salaries are set by provincial collective agreements and differ significantly — a British Columbia nurse earns more gross than an Ontario counterpart, but BC's higher provincial tax rate narrows the net pay gap. Here's the actual take-home across Canada's major provinces.
RN take-home by province — 2026
| Province | RN Range (Step 1–8) | Monthly Net (Step 1) | Monthly Net (Step 8) |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | C$41–C$50/hr (C$78,000–C$104,000/yr) | C$4,875/mo | C$5,880/mo |
| Ontario | C$37–C$52/hr (C$71,000–C$100,000/yr) | C$4,673/mo | C$5,770/mo |
| Alberta | C$39–C$54/hr (C$75,000–C$104,000/yr) | C$4,913/mo | C$6,150/mo |
| Quebec | C$28–C$43/hr (C$54,000–C$84,000/yr) | C$3,655/mo | C$4,945/mo |
| Manitoba | C$34–C$47/hr (C$65,000–C$90,000/yr) | C$4,210/mo | C$5,280/mo |
| Nova Scotia | C$31–C$45/hr (C$60,000–C$87,000/yr) | C$3,930/mo | C$5,040/mo |
Includes federal income tax, provincial income tax, CPP (5.95% up to YMPE C$69,700), EI (1.66% up to C$63,200). Assumes full-time employment (37.5 hours/week, 52 weeks). Sources: BCNU 2026, ONA 2026, AUPE 2026.
Alberta vs Ontario vs Quebec — the take-home comparison
Alberta wins on net take-home for most nursing salaries — Alberta has a flat 10% provincial tax and some of the highest RN wages due to oil-driven provincial wealth. Quebec pays nurses less gross and taxes more, making it the weakest province for nursing take-home. Ontario is in the middle and has the largest job market.
An experienced Alberta RN at Step 8 (~C$104,000 gross) takes home approximately C$6,150/month. An equivalent Ontario nurse on similar gross takes home ~C$5,770/month. The C$380/month difference isn't huge — but Alberta's housing costs (outside Calgary) are often lower, which amplifies the real-world difference.
Frequently asked questions
A newly registered RN in Ontario typically earns C$71,000–C$75,000 (Step 1), taking home approximately C$4,673–C$4,870/month after all deductions. An experienced RN at Step 8 (C$100,000+) takes home around C$5,770/month in Ontario. Alberta nurses at the same level take home approximately C$6,150/month due to lower provincial tax. Quebec nurses take home considerably less — around C$3,655/month at entry level.
Yes — well above the Canadian median wage and with strong collective agreement protections. But Canadian RNs earn less than counterparts in the US (particularly California), less than Australia in absolute terms, and slightly less than the UK when adjusted for purchasing power at entry level. The advantages are: universal public healthcare (so no out-of-pocket costs), reasonable job security, and in Alberta especially, high take-home on competitive wages. Canada has faced a nursing shortage since the pandemic, which has driven up agency rates and overtime pay significantly.