Median wage in Canada
$38.46 an hour
Highest median wage
$64.57 an hour
Nunavut
Lowest median wage
$35.00 an hour
Manitoba
Wages by province and territory
Median wage in Canadian dollars an hour, from 2023-2024 data (Job Bank 2025 release).
Median hourly wage for social workers by province and territory Canada: $38.46 (low $25.00, high $50.26). Nunavut: $64.57 (low $44.64, high $78.28). Northwest Territories: $56.76 (low $38.88, high $77.56). Yukon: $47.69 (low $44.23, high $57.44). Newfoundland and Labrador: $40.01 (low $33.65, high $47.00). New Brunswick: $40.00 (low $22.50, high $45.64). Prince Edward Island: $40.00 (low $25.33, high $46.56). Alberta: $39.60 (low $23.97, high $51.24). Ontario: $38.66 (low $25.00, high $53.32). Saskatchewan: $38.00 (low $27.08, high $46.00). Quebec: $37.00 (low $25.00, high $48.68). British Columbia: $36.81 (low $26.18, high $52.00). Nova Scotia: $36.26 (low $24.00, high $47.18). Manitoba: $35.00 (low $27.47, high $49.00). $0 $20 $40 $60 $80 Canada: $38.46 (low $25.00, high $50.26) Canada $38.46 Nunavut: $64.57 (low $44.64, high $78.28) Nunavut $64.57 Northwest Territories: $56.76 (low $38.88, high $77.56) Northwest Territories $56.76 Yukon: $47.69 (low $44.23, high $57.44) Yukon $47.69 Newfoundland and Labrador: $40.01 (low $33.65, high $47.00) Newfoundland and Labrador $40.01 New Brunswick: $40.00 (low $22.50, high $45.64) New Brunswick $40.00 Prince Edward Island: $40.00 (low $25.33, high $46.56) Prince Edward Island $40.00 Alberta: $39.60 (low $23.97, high $51.24) Alberta $39.60 Ontario: $38.66 (low $25.00, high $53.32) Ontario $38.66 Saskatchewan: $38.00 (low $27.08, high $46.00) Saskatchewan $38.00 Quebec: $37.00 (low $25.00, high $48.68) Quebec $37.00 British Columbia: $36.81 (low $26.18, high $52.00) British Columbia $36.81 Nova Scotia: $36.26 (low $24.00, high $47.18) Nova Scotia $36.26 Manitoba: $35.00 (low $27.47, high $49.00) Manitoba $35.00 Bars show the median wage. Lines run from the low to the high wage, which are Job Bank’s 10th and 90th percentiles. Grey is all of Canada.
Job outlook by province and territory
Job Bank’s 3-year outlook for 2025-2027, on a scale of 1 (very limited) to 5 (very good).
Job outlook for social workers by province and territory, 1 to 5 Nunavut: undetermined. Northwest Territories: Moderate (3 of 5). Yukon: Moderate (3 of 5). Newfoundland and Labrador: Good (4 of 5). New Brunswick: Good (4 of 5). Prince Edward Island: Good (4 of 5). Alberta: Moderate (3 of 5). Ontario: Moderate (3 of 5). Saskatchewan: Moderate (3 of 5). Quebec: Moderate (3 of 5). British Columbia: Moderate (3 of 5). Nova Scotia: Good (4 of 5). Manitoba: Moderate (3 of 5). 1 2 3 4 5 Nunavut: undetermined Nunavut Undetermined Northwest Territories: Moderate (3 of 5) Northwest Territories Moderate Yukon: Moderate (3 of 5) Yukon Moderate Newfoundland and Labrador: Good (4 of 5) Newfoundland and Labrador Good New Brunswick: Good (4 of 5) New Brunswick Good Prince Edward Island: Good (4 of 5) Prince Edward Island Good Alberta: Moderate (3 of 5) Alberta Moderate Ontario: Moderate (3 of 5) Ontario Moderate Saskatchewan: Moderate (3 of 5) Saskatchewan Moderate Quebec: Moderate (3 of 5) Quebec Moderate British Columbia: Moderate (3 of 5) British Columbia Moderate Nova Scotia: Good (4 of 5) Nova Scotia Good Manitoba: Moderate (3 of 5) Manitoba Moderate 1 is a very limited outlook and 5 a very good one.
Licence needed?
In 11 of 13 provinces and territories. A licence, registration or certificate is required to work in this occupation in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Northwest Territories.
Each regulator sets its own steps, fees and exams.
Education and training
TEER category 1
Usual education A university degree is usually required.
Wages from 2023-2024 data, Job Bank 2025 release. Job outlooks for 2025-2027.
Occupation titles, codes and TEER categories come from the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Statistics Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada .