Ontario is Canada’s most populous province and its largest economy, home to the financial capital of Toronto, the national capital of Ottawa, and major manufacturing and technology hubs. Ontario’s average income ranks second among provinces, behind only Alberta.
Income data on this page is from the Canada Income Survey (CIS), released by Statistics Canada in May 2025, covering the 2023 reference year — the most recent income data available. The next CIS release, with 2024 data, is expected in spring 2026.
Average and median income in Ontario
| Metric | Amount | vs. Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Average Individual Income | $58,700 | +$2,600 |
| Median Individual Income | $44,900 | +$700 |
| Average Household Income | $154,700 | +$8,100 |
| Average After-Tax HHI | $126,800 | +$6,200 |
| Median Household Income | $125,700 | +$4,700 |
| Median After-Tax HHI | $108,900 | +$4,100 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canada Income Survey, May 2025 release (2023 reference year).
Ontario’s average individual income of $58,700 is 4.6% above the national average. However, the province’s higher cost of living — particularly in the Greater Toronto Area — offsets some of this advantage. After taxes, Ontario households average $126,800, reflecting the combined impact of federal and provincial income taxes plus Ontario’s health premium.
Average household income by city in Ontario
Ontario has the widest range of city-level incomes of any province, with major differences between the GTA, Ottawa, and smaller cities.
| City | Average HHI | Median HHI | Avg Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $163,100 | $131,900 | $1,009,000 |
| Ottawa | $158,200 | $131,500 | $630,000 |
| Hamilton | $142,600 | $116,800 | $807,000 |
| London | $126,500 | $103,200 | $584,000 |
Toronto and Ottawa lead in household income, but the relationship between income and housing costs varies dramatically.
Median individual income by city across Ontario (2023)
Beyond household income, Statistics Canada’s T1 Family File (taxfiler) data provides median individual total income for every Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) and Census Agglomeration (CA) in Ontario — the most granular city-by-city income data available for the province, covering everything from major metros to small communities, for the 2023 tax year.
Unlike the provincial table above, StatCan does not publish an average individual income figure at the city/CMA level in this dataset — only median, which is common for small-area taxfiler data since it is less distorted by a handful of very high earners. All figures below, including the male and female breakdowns, are medians, not averages.
| City | Median Individual Income (Both Sexes) | Median — Male | Median — Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrie | $45,450 | $53,860 | $39,310 |
| Belleville-Quinte West | $43,140 | $49,720 | $38,060 |
| Brantford | $42,900 | $48,370 | $38,590 |
| Brockville | $43,690 | $48,750 | $39,810 |
| Centre Wellington | $53,740 | $63,860 | $45,860 |
| Chatham-Kent | $41,630 | $47,040 | $36,720 |
| Cobourg | $46,940 | $54,030 | $42,050 |
| Collingwood | $48,440 | $54,710 | $43,760 |
| Cornwall | $39,750 | $44,020 | $36,170 |
| Elliot Lake | $32,420 | $34,900 | $30,490 |
| Essa | $52,620 | $66,060 | $41,960 |
| Greater Sudbury | $49,900 | $57,900 | $42,990 |
| Guelph | $51,190 | $58,260 | $45,130 |
| Hamilton | $47,310 | $54,220 | $41,840 |
| Ingersoll | $48,540 | $57,350 | $41,180 |
| Kawartha Lakes | $44,190 | $51,780 | $38,040 |
| Kenora | $53,550 | $61,050 | $47,170 |
| Kingston | $48,720 | $54,410 | $44,220 |
| Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo | $45,570 | $52,530 | $39,730 |
| London | $43,850 | $48,660 | $39,670 |
| Midland | $40,220 | $44,040 | $37,310 |
| Norfolk | $43,540 | $51,470 | $37,280 |
| North Bay | $44,170 | $49,630 | $39,500 |
| Orillia | $41,650 | $46,170 | $38,220 |
| Oshawa | $49,390 | $57,760 | $42,660 |
| Ottawa | $56,770 | $64,340 | $51,010 |
| Owen Sound | $43,060 | $47,890 | $39,460 |
| Pembroke | $45,110 | $53,100 | $39,160 |
| Petawawa | $66,100 | $82,880 | $44,390 |
| Peterborough | $43,910 | $49,180 | $39,490 |
| Port Hope | $48,410 | $57,270 | $41,310 |
| Sarnia | $46,760 | $59,340 | $37,870 |
| Sault Ste. Marie | $44,740 | $52,110 | $38,020 |
| St. Catharines-Niagara | $41,540 | $47,440 | $36,730 |
| Stratford | $48,120 | $54,840 | $42,370 |
| Thunder Bay | $48,040 | $54,430 | $42,550 |
| Tillsonburg | $44,040 | $51,590 | $37,930 |
| Timmins | $47,810 | $57,910 | $40,790 |
| Toronto | $41,900 | $46,430 | $38,300 |
| Wasaga Beach | $40,430 | $47,680 | $35,180 |
| Windsor | $41,790 | $46,340 | $36,810 |
| Woodstock | $45,680 | $53,680 | $39,190 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 11-10-0008-01, Tax filers and dependants with income by total income, sex and age, 2023 reference year.
A few patterns stand out in this data. Toronto’s median individual income ($41,900) is lower than most smaller Ontario cities — a reminder that household income (which is high in Toronto due to more earners per household and higher-paying sectors) tells a different story than individual income, which is pulled down by the city’s large population of students, part-time workers, and newcomers. Petawawa has the highest median income in the province ($66,100), driven by Canadian Forces Base Petawawa and the concentration of well-paid military and defence-related employment. Elliot Lake has the lowest ($32,420), reflecting its profile as a retirement community with a large share of residents on fixed incomes.
The gender income gap also varies significantly by city. Petawawa has the widest gap of any Ontario CMA/CA — median male income ($82,880) is more than 85% higher than median female income ($44,390), again reflecting the military employment base. Elliot Lake has one of the narrowest gaps (male $34,900 vs. female $30,490, about 14%). Across the province as a whole, median male individual income ($50,560) is roughly 27% higher than median female individual income ($39,800).
Income vs. housing affordability in Ontario
Ontario has some of the most challenging affordability ratios in Canada:
| City | Median HHI | Avg Home Price | Price-to-Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $131,900 | $1,009,000 | 7.6× |
| Hamilton | $116,800 | $807,000 | 6.9× |
| London | $103,200 | $584,000 | 5.7× |
| Ottawa | $131,500 | $630,000 | 4.8× |
Compare these ratios to Calgary at 4.0× or Edmonton at 3.1×. Ottawa offers the best income-to-housing balance among Ontario’s major cities. Use our mortgage affordability calculator to see what you can afford based on your Ontario income, or see how much income you need to afford a home.
Key industries driving Ontario income
Ontario’s economy is the most diversified in Canada:
- Financial services — Toronto is Canada’s financial capital, home to the Big Five banks, major insurance companies, and the TSX. Financial sector salaries are among the highest in the country.
- Technology — The Toronto-Waterloo corridor is Canada’s largest tech hub, with growing salaries in software engineering, AI, and data science.
- Professional services — Legal, consulting, and accounting firms concentrated in Toronto and Ottawa.
- Government — Ottawa is the national capital, with a large federal public service providing stable, well-compensated employment.
- Manufacturing — Ontario’s automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors, particularly in the Golden Horseshoe region around Hamilton.
- Healthcare and education — Major hospital networks and universities across the province.
Ontario’s tax considerations
Ontario residents face several tax factors that affect take-home pay:
- Ontario Health Premium — An additional health tax of up to $900/year for incomes above $20,000, reaching the maximum at $200,000+
- HST of 13% — Among the highest combined sales tax rates in Canada (vs. 5% in Alberta)
- Toronto Municipal Land Transfer Tax — An additional tax on home purchases unique to Toronto, adding thousands to closing costs
An individual earning $100,000 in Ontario takes home approximately $3,000–$5,000 less than the same earner in Alberta. Use our income tax calculator to compare your take-home pay across provinces.
How Ontario compares to other provinces
| Province | Avg Individual Income | Median Individual Income | Avg HHI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $64,200 | $49,400 | $161,900 |
| Ontario | $58,700 | $44,900 | $154,700 |
| British Columbia | $55,800 | $43,100 | $151,300 |
| Quebec | $52,700 | $42,200 | $135,100 |
| Canada | $56,100 | $44,200 | $146,600 |
Ontario ranks second in household income but its higher cost of living reduces the effective advantage. Use our income percentile calculator to see how your income ranks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Ontario? Ontario’’s average full-time employment income is approximately $68,000–$75,000 — above the national average. Toronto’’s tech, finance, and professional services sectors push averages significantly higher; smaller Ontario cities and rural areas are closer to the national median.
Is Ontario affordable on an average salary? Ontario housing costs are a significant challenge. Toronto and the GTA have average home prices of $900,000–$1.1 million. Hamilton, London, and Ottawa offer slightly more affordable options ($550,000–$750,000). For renters, Ontario’’s average rent has risen sharply post-2020. A household income of $100,000+ is increasingly necessary to qualify for a mortgage in the GTA.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Ontario? Finance (Bay Street banking, investment banking, asset management), technology (Toronto’’s growing tech sector), legal services (Bay Street law firms), healthcare specialists, and senior corporate management offer Ontario’’s highest wages. The provincial public service and Toronto city government also employ large numbers of above-average-income workers.
Related tools and resources
- Income Percentile Calculator — See where your income ranks in Canada
- Salary Calculator — Calculate your Ontario after-tax pay
- Income Tax Calculator — Estimate your Ontario income tax
- Ontario Mortgage Rates — Find the best mortgage rates in Ontario
- Ontario Housing Market — Current home prices and trends
- Ontario Land Transfer Tax Calculator — Calculate your closing costs