Ottawa has always been a fantastic place to live and work. The city has a high standard of living and plenty of job opportunities. However, as with any other city, the cost of living can be high. That being said, if you want to make a good salary in Ottawa, you’ll need to know where to look, but what constitutes a “good” salary in this city?
A yearly wage of CA$54,605 is considered adequate. This equates to a monthly gross salary of CA$4,550, making Ottawa one of the highest-paying cities in Canada. With this salary, you can live comfortably and afford things like groceries, housing, transportation, and entertainment.
If you are a single person, you need about CA$2,156 per month to live comfortably in Ottawa, and a family of four requires CA$4,070 (CA$5,230). On average, a good wage in Ottawa is between CA$43,000 and CA$60,000 yearly (CA$55,000 – CA$77,000); with this amount, you can have a modest lifestyle in this beautiful city.
An example of a good salary in Ottawa
In Ottawa, a monthly gross income of CA$5,000 is considered decent and above the average. On receiving this salary, tax is deducted, leaving you with about CA$3,750 per month.
If you are a single person, this salary is high, and if you have a family to support, this salary is enough for the essentials, but you may not afford several things. If you are an extravagant person, you may spend this whole amount on necessities, but with excellent spending habits, you can easily save CA$292 per month.
Determinants of the average salary in Ottawa
The average salary of an individual working in Ottawa varies depending on:
Experience
The amount an employee earns in Ottawa is highly determined by their experience level. The greater the number of experience years, the higher you earn. If you have more than two years of experience, you make 32% more than graduates or juniors.
Those with more than five years of experience earn 36% compared to others within the company. If you have more than ten years of experience, expect to earn an additional 21% more than the others, and once you hit the 15 years mark, the amount increases by 14%.