Knowing what the national average medical doctor’s pay is in Canada is important, whether you’re starting your healthcare career, beginning your residency, or considering a relocation from another country. So, how much do Canadian doctors make?

A medical doctors income in Canada may vary, and while it was your interest in medicine that drew you to the profession, your earnings potential is still a vital aspect of your decision-making process.

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Factors that can affect income potential

Several factors can affect a doctor’s income potential in Canada.

A doctor's salary can depend on:

  • Number of patients
  • Specialization
  • Location
  • Payment methods

The average Canadian physician’s salary ranges from $83,379 to $414,389 yearly.

Community/AreaSalary ($/year)
LowMedianHigh
Canada83,379216,864414,390
AlbertaN/AN/AN/A
British Columbia66,967164,237302,235
Manitoba107,223259,710472,578
New Brunswick84,781180,291324,415
Newfoundland and Labrador85,042187,675341,603
Northwest TerritoriesN/AN/AN/A
Nova Scotia77,232192,606351,221
NunavutN/AN/AN/A
Ontario83,017228,362421,184
Prince Edward Island90,646229,690357,470
QuebecN/AN/AN/A
SaskatchewanN/AN/AN/A
Yukon TerritoryN/AN/AN/A

With such a large range, what drives such a difference?

Number of patients

Doctors’ salaries can be affected by the number of patients they see. Generally, the more patients a doctor sees, the more money they make. This is because doctors generally are paid per visit, so seeing more patients means earning more money.

The majority of physicians in Canada (72%) operate under a fee-for-service structure, as stated by the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Under the fee for services model, a doctor’s salary in Canada per hour will differ based on the province where they work, the number of patients they see per hour, and the amount they can bill for each patient.

Specialization

The average annual salary for a doctor in Canada is based on your specialization. Medical fields that are more highly specialized will often demand higher salaries; however, these positions might also come with longer hours.

Some specializations may earn more in terms of doctor career salary while earning less per hour than others.

Location

The main driver of salary fluctuation is the province & location a doctor chooses to practice in.

There are areas where the government provides financial benefits to doctors who agree to work there. These programs can provide doctoral students with bursaries and loan relief. After completing medical school, fresh doctors could consider working in these programs to increase their salary and pay off any debt they may have incurred during schooling.

Payment methods

Doctors who live in regions with few patients may utilize alternate payment methods to guarantee a more constant revenue. They also offer a more competitive Canadian doctor’s salary for procedures or protocols that take up considerable time.

Salary contracts enable physicians to make extra money through sources other than patient visits. Payments through alternative methods are more common among family doctors, with 34% earning more than half of their total clinical payments this way. This was compared to 16% of medical specialists and 8% of surgical specialists.

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What do I need to practice in Canada

The Canadian Standard sets the academic criteria that must be met to be eligible for full licensure in all Canadian provinces and territories.

If you are a physician who has never been licensed to practise medicine in Canada and want to be, below are the steps you must take:

Process of an international graduate becoming licenced in Canada

Here are the steps to begin the road to licensure, whether you're in Canada or elsewhere:

You can check if your medical school is valid in Canada by going onto the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDMS) website and searching for your institution.

Locate your school and select the Sponsor Note tab. If there is a note for “Canada”, this verifies that your medical schooling will suffice for Canadian requirements.

The medical regulatory authority in the province or territory you wish to practise medicine will have information about what is required to be licensed.

Once you’ve signed up for a physiciansapply.ca account you’ll be able to use several services and apply for MCC exams.

Your physiciansapply.ca account acts as a secure place where you can store your medical credentials, making it easier to share them with provincial/territorial medical regulatory authorities and other members of the Canadian medical system.

After that, you’ll need to request source verification for the medical credentials you wish to have verified through your account. Please note that a fee is charged for each credential you submit for source verification.

a male doctor with a beard working in a clinic

Benefits of working in Canada as a Doctor

One of the benefits of working as a doctor in Canada is the high salary. As noted above, the average salary for a doctor in Canada is $269,000, which is higher than in many other countries. This can be a considerable incentive for doctors to work in Canada.

Another benefit of working as a doctor in Canada is the good work-life balance that many doctors report. In contrast to some other countries where doctors are overworked and have little time for themselves, Canadian doctors generally report that they have a good work-life balance. This can be a major draw for doctors who are looking for a good job that also allows them to enjoy their free time.

Finally, Canadian doctors report high levels of job satisfaction. In a recent survey, Canadian doctors were found to be some of the most satisfied with their jobs in the world. This is likely due to a combination of factors, including good pay, a good work-life balance, and the high level of medical care in Canada.

Conclusion

Working as a doctor in Canada has many benefits, including high salaries, good work-life balance, and top-notch medical care. Many things can affect the average medical doctor salary. so make sure you do your research!

We hope we answered the question “How much do canadian doctors make?” If you need any assistance moving to Canada, get in contact!