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The average accountant salary in Canada is $55,000-$100,000 . This guide covers accounting pay by designation, province, and industry.
Table of Contents
Accountant Salary by Designation
Designation
Entry Level
Mid-Career
Senior
Bookkeeper
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
Accounting Clerk
$42,000
$52,000
$62,000
Staff Accountant
$50,000
$65,000
$80,000
CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant)
$60,000
$90,000
$130,000+
CPA, CA (legacy)
$65,000
$95,000
$140,000+
A CPA designation adds $20,000-$40,000 to your earning potential.
CPA Salary by Role
Role
Salary Range
Staff Accountant
$55,000-$70,000
Senior Accountant
$70,000-$90,000
Manager
$90,000-$120,000
Senior Manager
$110,000-$140,000
Director
$130,000-$170,000
VP Finance
$160,000-$220,000
CFO
$200,000-$400,000+
Accountant Salary by Province
Province
Non-CPA
CPA
Ontario
$60,000
$95,000
Alberta
$58,000
$92,000
British Columbia
$58,000
$90,000
Quebec
$52,000
$80,000
Saskatchewan
$55,000
$85,000
Manitoba
$52,000
$82,000
Nova Scotia
$50,000
$78,000
New Brunswick
$48,000
$75,000
Salary by Industry
Industry
Average CPA Salary
Investment Banking
$120,000+
Big 4 (Partner track)
$90,000-$300,000+
Mining/Oil & Gas
$100,000+
Technology
$95,000+
Banking/Financial Services
$90,000+
Manufacturing
$85,000
Government
$80,000
Non-profit
$70,000
Big 4 Accounting Firm Salaries
Level
Salary
Years
Staff
$55,000-$65,000
0-2
Senior
$70,000-$85,000
2-4
Manager
$90,000-$115,000
4-7
Senior Manager
$120,000-$150,000
7-10
Director
$150,000-$200,000
10-12
Partner
$300,000-$1,000,000+
12+
Take-Home Pay (Ontario)
Gross Salary
Annual Take-Home
Monthly Net
$60,000
$46,500
$3,875
$80,000
$59,500
$4,960
$100,000
$72,500
$6,040
$130,000
$90,000
$7,500
CPA Designation Path
Requirement
Details
Education
Degree + prerequisite courses
CPA PEP
2-year program ($15,000-$20,000)
CFE Exam
3-day Common Final Exam
Experience
30 months practical experience
Timeline
3-5 years total
Public vs Private Accounting
Factor
Public (Big 4/Firm)
Industry
Starting salary
$55,000-$65,000
$60,000-$75,000
Hours
50-80/week in busy season
40-50/week
Career progression
Faster early, partnership track
Steady
Exit opportunities
Excellent
Limited
Work variety
High
Focused
Work-life balance
Poor in busy season
Better
Is Accounting a Good Career?
Pros:
Stable demand
Clear career path
Good salaries (with CPA)
Multiple industries
Work-life balance (industry)
Remote work possibilities
Cons:
CPA designation expensive/time-consuming
Long hours (public accounting)
Busy season stress
Repetitive work
Automation concerns for lower roles
Written by
WealthVieu
WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.
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