How much do immigrants make in Canada?
A new data visualization tool from Statistics Canada offers fresh insight into the income and financial outcomes of immigrants living in Canada.
Launched on July 7, the tool allows users to filter both average and median income levels based on a variety of factors, including immigration status.
The latest reference year available for the tool is 2021.
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How much are immigrants in Canada making?
According to the data tool, the average employment income in 2021 for immigrants was CAD $49,160.
This includes income that comes from salary, wages, tips, commissions, and self-employment from those aged 15 years and older.
The median employment income for immigrants was $36,800. The median income divides the distribution of that group into two halves. That means half of the people earn more than the median amount, while half earn below the median amount.
Average income by immigrants in 2021, according to immigration status
| Immigration status | Average income (in 2021) |
| Non-permanent residents (includes those on work or study permits, or those who have claimed refugee status) | $32,080 |
| Immigrants who were admitted to Canada in the last 10 years (from 2021) | $42,320 |
| Immigrants who were admitted to Canada more than 10 years ago | $52,050 |
To compare, the average income of non-immigrants in 2021 was $51,400.
How education impacts immigrant earnings
The data visualization tool by Statistics Canada also allows filtering on the basis on one’s educational qualifications.
Here is a look at average incomes by immigrants in 2021, based on their education.
| Educational qualification | Average income (in 2021) |
| No certificate diploma or degree | $27,400 |
| Secondary school diploma or equivalency certificate | $32,920 |
| Post secondary certificate, diploma or degree | $56,800 |
| Post secondary certificate or diploma below bachelor level | $42,920 |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | $65,200 |
What other factors influence newcomer earnings in Canada?
There are some characteristics and conditions that can lead to higher earnings for newcomers in Canada.
According to Statistics Canada data in 2022, some factors that impact long-term earnings for immigrants in Canada are
- Pre-landing Canadian work experience;
- Age at landing (younger immigrants earned 44% more than older ones, even 10-11 years after landing); and
- Official language proficiency (in English or French).
In general, immigrants with higher levels of education, strong English and/or French language skills, and Canadian work experience tend to fare better in the job market.
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