United States
+35%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Canada
Updated Data years: 2023, 2025 How we use data
Quick answer
In Canada, employees with tertiary education earned a median of CA$5,749 a month in 2025 (PPP$ 4,561) — +14% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 5.1%, against 5.7% for all adults aged 25 and over (2025).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO) · OECD
- +14%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2025)
- CA$5,749median monthly pay with tertiary education (2025)
- 5.1%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 5.7%, 2025)
- 9.2%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2025)
Do graduates earn more in Canada?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | CA$3,527 | 2,798 | -30% |
| Basic education | CA$3,000 | 2,380 | -40% |
| Intermediate education | CA$3,854 | 3,058 | -23% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | CA$5,749 | 4,561 | +14% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | CA$5,008 | 3,973 | 0% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | CA$6,243 | 4,953 | +24% |
| Master's or equivalent | CA$7,334 | 5,818 | +46% |
| All levels | CA$5,027 | 3,988 | — |
The degree premium ranks 115 of 128 countries with data. That is below the North America median of +25%.
Earnings over time (PPP$ a month)
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
PPP$ values are in current international dollars, so part of the rise reflects inflation.
Earnings compared with upper secondary education (OECD)
The OECD compares the earnings of adults aged 25–64 with each level of education to those who finished upper secondary school (= 100). Latest year: 2023.
| Education level | Index (upper secondary = 100) |
|---|---|
| Short-cycle tertiary | 116 |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | 148 |
| Master's, doctoral or equivalent | 172 |
| All tertiary | 141 |
| Below upper secondary | 90 |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Full-time, full-year earners.
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Canada?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 9.8% | 23.2% |
| Basic education | 9.2% | 23.5% |
| Intermediate education | 6.9% | 13.2% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 5.1% | 9.2% |
| All levels | 5.7% | 13.8% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 75 lowest of 130 countries with data. The North America median is 3.9%.
Unemployment over time, adults 25+
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
Graduate employment by field of study in Canada
Employment rate of adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education, by field of study (OECD, 2021).
| Field of study | Employment rate |
|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary Agriculture, Veterinary science | 83.6% |
| Information and communication technologies Computer science | 83.6% |
| Engineering, manufacturing and construction Aerospace engineering, Architecture, Chemical engineering, Civil engineering | 82.6% |
| Medicine and dentistry Dentistry, Medicine | 81.9% |
| Law Law | 81.8% |
| Nursing and associate health fields Biomedical science, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy | 81.5% |
| Education Education | 81.1% |
| Health and welfare Biomedical science, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing | 80.7% |
| Business, administration and law Accounting and finance, Business management, Law, Marketing | 80.7% |
| Business and administration Accounting and finance, Business management, Marketing | 80.6% |
| Social sciences, journalism and information Criminology, Economics, Geography, International relations | 80.4% |
| Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics Biology, Chemistry, Data science, Environmental science | 80.1% |
| Humanities (except languages) History, Philosophy | 79.0% |
| Services Hospitality and tourism, Sports science | 77.2% |
| Arts Design, Music | 76.4% |
| Arts and humanities Design, English literature, History, Modern languages | 76.4% |
| Generic programmes and qualifications | 72.4% |
| All fields | 80.4% |
Studying and working in Canada
Rules on student visas, work after graduation and recognition of qualifications change often. Use the official sources below and check the date on any advice you read.
- Official study portal
- Student visa and residence information
- Working after graduation (official)
- Public job portal
- Recognition of foreign qualifications
Guide: how to choose a country to study in · Guide: getting your degree recognised abroad
Country context
- Population
- 41.7M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $66,746 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 76.3% (2023)
Questions about graduate jobs in Canada
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Canada?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Canada with tertiary education earned a median of CA$5,749 a month in 2025, compared with CA$5,027 for all employees — +14%. The degree premium ranks 115 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Canada?
In 2025, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Canada was 5.1%, compared with 5.7% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 9.2%.
Where can I find official information about studying in Canada?
Start with the official study portal and immigration pages linked on this page. They set out entry requirements, student visas and any rights to work after graduating, which change more often than most guides are updated.
Compare with other countries in North America
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2025
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2025
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Relative earnings and employment by field of study
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Canada: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/canada/ (accessed September 26, 2026)