Salaries in Quebec have gone up, but they don't look great compared to other provinces

With rent prices soaring and grocery bills climbing, it's normal to wonder how your Quebec paycheck stacks up against the rest of the country.

Well, new data from Statistics Canada just dropped, and it tells us exactly where Quebecers stand when it comes to average weekly earnings. Spoiler: it's not the best, but not the worst either.

According to Statistics Canada's latest report, released on January 30, the average weekly earnings in Canada went up by 5% in November 2024 compared to the previous year. However, in Quebec, the increase was only 3.8%, meaning workers here are not keeping pace with the national average.

So, how much do Quebecers actually make?

As of November 2024, the average weekly earnings in Quebec were $1,229.18, which works out to about $63,917 per year before taxes. That's less than the national average of $1,285.91 per week (about $66,867 annually).

Meanwhile, our Ontarian neighbours are pulling ahead with $1,329.43 per week, and Alberta isn't far behind at $1,344.47 per week.

But if you want to see big bucks, head to the Northwest Territories, where workers bring in an average of $1,988.54 per week, or over $103,000 annually. For context, they have a population of less than 45,000 people.

Here's a full breakdown by province:

• Prince Edward Island – $1,093.98/week ($56,886 per year)
• Nova Scotia – $1,151.32/week ($59,869 per year)
• Manitoba – $1,151.58/week ($59,882 per year)
• New Brunswick – $1,162.33/week ($60,441 per year)
• Quebec – $1,229.18/week ($63,917 per year)
• Saskatchewan – $1,232.50/week ($64,090 per year)
• Newfoundland and Labrador – $1,273.60/week ($66,227 per year)
• British Columbia – $1,290.38/week ($67,100 per year)
• Ontario – $1,329.43/week ($69,930 per year)
• Alberta – $1,344.47/week ($69,912 per year)
• Yukon – $1,471.77/week ($76,532 per year)
• Nunavut – $1,763.69/week ($91,711 per year)
• Northwest Territories – $1,988.54/week ($103,404 per year)

With all that said, salaries don't paint the entire picture and are just one part of the equation. The cost of living plays a huge role, too.

According to a January report from movingwaldo.com, Quebec ranks sixth on the list of most affordable provinces, with an average monthly cost of living at $2,665.56. One-bedroom apartments cost around $1,776 monthly, and homes average $525,732.

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