Are you interested in becoming a lawyer but want to know the average lawyer salary in Canada before you take the leap? Great!

Legal professions are diverse, but you will always put your degree to good use. So, do lawyers in Canada earn good money? There isn't just one answer.

This article will break down the average lawyer salary by month and year, entry-level, and by cities and provinces. Let's get started.

Canada has over 130,000 lawyers to date. Though that number pales compared to the 1.3 million active attorneys in the United States, it's still a lot!

Ontario has also added nearly 10,000 paralegals and Québec 4,000 notaries. In Canada, paralegals can represent clients in lower courts. Notaries can conduct work reserved for lawyers in other provinces.

There are 14 provincial and territorial law societies in Canada, each with its own professional body that regulates lawyers. This heavily regulated legal profession serves individuals, corporations, and governments.

The lawyers advise, represent, write legal documents, and defend clients. What determines their salaries?

Factors Affecting Lawyer Salaries In Canada

Lawyer salaries in Canada depend on many factors, including:

  • Firm size. Larger law firms offer higher salaries than smaller firms, as they have more resources and higher billing rates.
  • Practice area. Some areas of law, such as corporate law, may offer higher salaries than others, such as family law.
  • Demand for lawyers. The need for lawyers in a particular practice area can also affect salaries. Since Canada has strict environmental laws, environmental lawyers may earn more due to demand.
  • Cost of living. To attract and keep lawyers, salaries may be higher in cities and provinces with higher living costs.

Average Lawyer Salaries in Canada Breakdown

Let's look at Canadian lawyer wages by entry-level, average yearly, monthly, and hourly. Let's also compare salaries across Canadian provinces.

Entry-Level Lawyer Salary In Canada - $60,000 to $105,000

Starting salaries for entry-level lawyers in Canada vary depending on the abovementioned factors.

The PayScale estimate for entry-level attorneys in Canada was $60,000, ranging from $45,000 to $90,000. Some larger law firms may offer starting salaries higher than that.

As per GlassDoor, Canada's first-year attorney income is $106,907, ranging from $60,000 to $190,000.

Lawyer Salary in Canada per Year - $98,000 to $300,000

Lawyer salaries are often calculated annually. It may include basic pay, bonuses, and other benefits. In some cases, lawyers may also receive profit-sharing or stock options.

According to the Government's Job Bank, the median annual salary for a lawyer in Canada is $116,940. The lowest is $37,000, and the highest is nearly $300,000.

Indeed, on the other hand, claims that Canadian lawyers earn $98,000 annually. This estimate is based on over 1,000 salary reports.

The figure includes lawyers at all experience levels working in various practice areas. However, it's important to note that salaries depend on the location and type of practice.

Lawyer Salary in Canada per Month - $8,000 to $10,000

Lawyer salaries are reported annually in Canada. Based on the estimates above, you can compute a monthly wage. If the average lawyer earns $100,000 per year, their monthly compensation is $8,333.

Lawyer Salary in Canada per Hour - $45 to $73

According to recent estimates, Toronto, Ontario, has the highest hourly median wage at $73.17. Prince Edward Island has the lowest median wage at $45.86.

Lawyer Salary In Canada By Provinces

In the table below, you will see lawyer salaries in the top five highest-paying Canadian provinces. Alberta lawyers earn $140,808 on average, one of the highest rates in the country.

Province

Average ($/year)

Alberta

$140,808

Ontario

$131,654

Newfoundland and Labrador

$131,203

Saskatchewan

$119,587

British Columbia

$115,621

The Bottom Line

To end, we can't tell you what your "average" salary would be as a lawyer in Canada. The average depends on where you live and the law you practice.

While salaries may differ nationwide, it is generally a lucrative career path with high earning potential.

Remember that salary isn't the only thing to consider when becoming a lawyer. Consider your personal interests, values, and work-life balance too!