How Much Do Psychologists Make in Canada? Wages by Province

Psychologists in Canada are employed by hospitals, school boards, governments and universities, or work in private practice. This guide shows their pay from Job Bank and the 2021 Census, compares it with neighbouring counselling professions, and sets out how registration works in two provinces, using each regulator’s own requirements. It is part of the salary by profession hub; the social workers guide covers a neighbouring profession.

Psychologist wages from Job Bank

Nationally, Job Bank reports a median wage of $52.88 an hour for psychologists (NOC 31200), with $37.65 at the 10th percentile and $77.43 at the 90th. Converted at 37.5 hours a week for 52 weeks (1,950 hours), the median equals about $103,116 a year, and the 90th percentile about $150,989.

The national row is from the Labour Force Survey (2023-2024). For some provinces Job Bank uses Small Area Estimation instead, so the table shows each row’s period and data source.

Source: Job Bank wages (Employment and Social Development Canada), NOC 31200. Low is the 10th percentile and high the 90th percentile of wages.

Psychologist income in the 2021 Census

Census figures are annual employment income for 2020, limited to psychologists who worked the full year, mostly full time. The two right-hand columns adjust those 2020 amounts for inflation since then; they are not a newer measurement of pay, which Job Bank provides.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population, Table 98-10-0586-01: employment income in 2020 of people who worked full year, full time. Columns in August 2026 dollars multiply the 2020 figure by the change in the Consumer Price Index from its 2020 average to August 2026 and round to the nearest $100; they are not newer survey results.

Psychologists in private practice are included: Statistics Canada’s employment income covers “wages, salaries and commissions from paid employment and net self-employment income from farm or non-farm unincorporated business and/or professional practice”. The exception is income taken as dividends from a corporation, since some self-employed workers receive dividends instead of earnings. Neither source reports private-practice session fees, caseloads or overhead, so this guide doesn’t estimate private-practice income.

Psychologists, social workers and counselling therapists

Psychologists, social workers and counselling therapists each have their own NOC code. Their national Job Bank wages:

Source: Job Bank wages (Employment and Social Development Canada), 2023-2024, Labour Force Survey. Low is the 10th percentile and high the 90th percentile of wages.

Registration: two provincial examples

Psychologists are registered by a regulator in each province. Two examples, from the regulators’ own pages:

Ontario. The College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario registers two titles. An applicant with a doctoral degree in psychology who has not been registered before applies for a certificate authorizing supervised practice as a Psychologist; one with a masters degree in psychology applies for the same kind of certificate as a Psychological Associate. Both must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), developed and administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), the Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination (JEE) and an oral examination. To be invited to the oral examination, candidates must have passed the EPPP and JEE and fulfilled all other requirements, including the required period of authorized supervised practice (CPBAO, examinations).

Alberta. The College of Alberta Psychologists requires the EPPP and the Law and Ethics for Alberta Psychologists (LEAP) Examination, plus 1,600 hours of supervised and evaluated practice, before registration as a registered psychologist (CAP, examinations).

Other provinces set their own requirements.

Related guides

Income from an unincorporated private practice is taxed as business income; the self-employed vs incorporated guide compares the two structures, and the income tax calculator estimates take-home pay on a salary. In this hub, see also what physiotherapists earn and doctors’ pay.