Quebec salaries are going up but Alberta and Ontario are still way ahead

Quebec employees just got a pay bump — on paper, at least.

The latest numbers from Statistics Canada show that the average weekly salary in Quebec hit $1,241.50 in December 2024, marking a 6.4% increase over the past year. That's an improvement over the 3.8% growth reported in November, but Quebec is still trailing much of the country when it comes to earnings.

For comparison, the national average sits at $1,290.82 per week (+5.8% year-over-year), meaning Quebec is about $49 behind. The gap widens even more when looking at provinces like Alberta ($1,339.21 per week) and Ontario ($1,328.24 per week). Meanwhile, the Northwest Territories remain in a league of their own, with salaries averaging $1,835.40 per week (that's more than $95K per year).

Here's a full breakdown of how Quebec stacks up against other provinces and territories:

• Prince Edward Island – $1,099.43/week ($57,170 per year)
• Nova Scotia – $1,135.67/week ($59,050 per year)
• Manitoba – $1,141.74/week ($59,370 per year)
• New Brunswick – $1,181.42/week ($61,035 per year)
• Quebec – $1,241.50/week ($64,558 per year)
• Saskatchewan – $1,242.31/week ($64,602 per year)
• British Columbia – $1,289.38/week ($67,047 per year)
• Ontario – $1,328.24/week ($69,068 per year)
• Alberta – $1,339.21/week ($69,639 per year)
• Yukon – $1,452.04/week ($75,506 per year)
• Nunavut – $1,719.74/week ($89,427 per year)
• Northwest Territories – $1,835.40/week ($95,441 per year)

A pay bump is promising, but it doesn't always mean more money in your pocket. Inflation and rising costs continue to chip away at purchasing power. Quebec's job market also grew slightly, hitting 4,086,544 salaried positions in December 2024, though not all sectors are thriving—health care saw strong gains, while retail trade lagged behind.

Even with higher wages, many Quebecers are still feeling the squeeze — especially in cities like Montreal, where median one-bedroom rent hit $1,710 in February and two-bedrooms climbed 2.8% year over year to $2,220. With the average weekly salary at $1,241.50, a one-bedroom still eats up over half a full-time worker's paycheck, before even factoring in essentials.

Yet, despite the financial strain, Quebec City, Laval, and Montreal topped a new Statistics Canada ranking for quality of life in big cities. While wages and rent continue their tug-of-war, many Quebecers are still finding reasons to love where they live.

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