Average and Median Income in British Columbia

British Columbia offers one of Canada’s highest standards of living, but the gap between income and housing costs — especially in the Greater Vancouver area — creates significant affordability challenges. BC’s average income ranks near the top among provinces on a median-after-tax basis, yet purchasing power is stretched thin by housing costs.

Income data on this page is from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Income Survey (CIS). Both the individual income figures and the household/family after-tax income figures are from the April 29, 2026 release (2024 reference year), the most recent available.

Average and median income in British Columbia

Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Income Survey 2024 (released April 29, 2026): Table 11-10-0238-01 for individual total income (all persons 15 and over, including those with zero income) and Table 11-10-0190-01 for after-tax income.

BC’s average individual income was 3.0% above the national figure in 2024, and its median after-tax income 0.4% above. Use our salary calculator to see your BC after-tax take-home pay.

Household income by city in BC

BC’s income picture is dominated by Vancouver and Victoria, with significant differences in affordability. See those dedicated pages for local income and home price figures; Statistics Canada publishes Vancouver’s household-like income annually in the Canadian Income Survey (median after-tax income of economic families and unattached individuals: $78,900 in 2024) and household income for both cities in the 2021 Census.

Income vs. housing affordability in BC

For housing costs relative to income, particularly in Metro Vancouver, see our Vancouver and Victoria pages for current price-to-income context, and use our income to afford a home calculator to see what income is needed at a given home price.

Key industries driving BC income

• Technology: professional, scientific and technical services, which includes software and computer systems design, employed about 224,100 BC employees in 2025 (9.0% of employees, vs 8.2% nationally) at an average $49.73 an hour
• Natural resources: Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas employ a small share of BC workers (1.6% of employees in 2025) but pay well: an average $48.75 an hour, vs $37.95 for all industries
• Film and entertainment: film and TV production spending in BC was an estimated $3.56 billion in 2024, mostly by foreign productions, making BC Canada’s largest foreign-production hub (Creative BC)
• Real estate and construction: construction employed about 201,400 BC employees in 2025 (8.1% of employees, vs 7.0% nationally), and the real estate industry made up 18% of BC’s real GDP in 2024
• Tourism and hospitality: accommodation and food services employed 7.1% of BC employees in 2025 (6.0% nationally), though wages are low: an average $23.45 an hour, vs $37.95 for all industries
• Port and logistics: the Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest, supporting shipping, warehousing, and logistics employment

BC’s tax environment

BC’s tax structure has several unique features:

• Provincial sales tax (PST) of 7%: combined with the federal 5% GST for a total of 12% on most purchases
• Progressive income tax: BC’s 5.6% bottom rate rises to 20.5% on the highest income bracket (2026)
• BC Property Transfer Tax: an additional cost for homebuyers beyond the purchase price
• Speculation and vacancy tax: targeted at empty homes, particularly in Vancouver and other high-demand areas

Calculate your exact tax burden with our income tax calculator.

How BC compares to other provinces

In 2024, BC ranked third-highest among the provinces on median after-tax income; housing costs, particularly in Metro Vancouver, also shape what that income buys. Use our income percentile calculator to see how your income ranks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average salary in British Columbia? BC’s average individual income (all sources, 2024) was $61,200, against $59,400 nationally. Wages vary within the province, between Metro Vancouver and interior and rural BC. The tech sector, finance and resource industries are major sources of well-paid employment.

Is BC affordable on an average income? Housing costs are the main affordability question in BC, particularly in Metro Vancouver, and many Metro Vancouver workers commute from the Fraser Valley. Compare the two largest markets: in August 2026 the MLS HPI benchmark price of a single-family home in the Victoria core was $1,301,800 (VREB), about 17.2 times Victoria’s median after-tax household income of $75,500 (2020 income, 2021 Census), vs a detached-home benchmark of $1,799,400 in Metro Vancouver (Greater Vancouver REALTORS), about 22.6 times its $79,500. See our Victoria income guide for details.

What are the highest-paying jobs in BC? In Job Bank’s BC wage data (reference periods 2023 to 2024), well-paid occupations include senior managers in financial and business services ($101.92), managers in natural resources production ($72.12), senior government managers ($67.35), engineering managers ($67.31), lawyers ($65.00) and software engineers ($62.50); medical specialists earn a median of $317,845 a year.

Related tools and resources

• Income Percentile Calculator — See where your income ranks in Canada
• Salary Calculator — Calculate your BC after-tax pay
• Income Tax Calculator — Estimate your BC income tax
• BC Mortgage Rates — Find the best mortgage rates in BC
• BC Housing Market — Current home prices and trends
• Mortgage Affordability Calculator — How much home can you afford