Are you considering a career in software engineering in Ontario, or looking to benchmark your current compensation?
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of 1,067 software engineering positions across Ontario to provide insights into the software engineer salary landscape. This article details the software engineer salaries and software engineer wage in Ontario for 2025, exploring how much software engineers make and the key factors that influence software engineer pay as revealed by the data.
Average Software Engineer Salary in Ontario
The median software engineer salary in Ontario is $120,613 CAD per year or $58 CAD per hour ($88,038.9 USD). This figure provides insight into how much software engineers make in Ontario and serves as a benchmark for tech salaries in the province.
Salary Range Overview
How Software Engineers Salaries vary with
Required Educational Level and Software Engineer Qualifications
Average Software Engineer Salary by Education Level
Here’s where it gets interesting: while 77% of positions require only a bachelor’s degree, those with PhDs earn significantly more – averaging $195,593 CAD annually compared to $114,820 CAD for bachelor’s degree holders. However, the gap between bachelor’s and master’s degrees is surprisingly small in Ontario’s market, suggesting that practical experience often outweighs advanced degrees for most software engineer jobs.
Education Requirements Distribution
The data reveals that software engineering positions in Ontario predominantly require a bachelor’s degree, with over 77% of positions listing this as the minimum requirement. Interestingly, the relatively small number of PhD positions command significantly higher salaries, suggesting these roles are likely in research-intensive environments or specialized AI/ML positions.
Required Years of Experience and Software Engineer Wage Progression
But what if you’re already at the median? The data shows some fascinating inflexion points in the salary trajectory. The most significant rate of increase occurs between years 0-3, where the average software engineer salary in Canada jumps from approximately CAD 103,680 to CAD 145,116. This suggests that early career development has the most significant impact on compensation growth.
The largest concentration of job postings (26.01%) requires 3 years of experience, which aligns perfectly with the salary data showing this as a critical milestone for compensation growth. This sweet spot represents the transition from junior software engineer to intermediate level, where employers see significant value in developers who’ve moved beyond the learning curve.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Jobs |
| 0 | 4.62% | 32 |
| 8 | 4.91% | 34 |
| 1 | 8.82% | 61 |
| 2 | 21.24% | 147 |
| 3 | 26.01% | 180 |
| 4 | 5.78% | 40 |
| 5 | 22.40% | 155 |
| 6 | 5.06% | 35 |
Seniority Level and Total Pay
The progression from internship to principal software development engineer represents a 366% increase in software developer salary in Canada. This substantial differential highlights the value that experience and leadership capabilities bring to organisations in the technology sector.
We know job searching can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure out if you’re being paid fairly. The seniority progression here tells a compelling story: while the jump from entry-level to mid-level represents about a 38% increase, the real acceleration happens when you move into leadership roles. The leap from senior software engineer to manager level shows a 25% salary boost, reflecting the premium Ontario companies place on technical leadership skills.
Cities with Highest Software Engineer Salary in Ontario
| City | Average Annual Salary (CAD) | Average Hourly Rate (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Bolton | $184,950 | $88.91 |
| Ottawa | $156,089 | $75.04 |
| Milton | $150,700 | $72.45 |
| Toronto | $138,309 | $66.49 |
| Whitby | $137,394 | $66.05 |
| Waterloo | $125,634 | $60.40 |
| Kanata | $121,209 | $58.27 |
| Oshawa | $121,190 | $58.26 |
| Windsor | $121,190 | $58.26 |
| Peterborough | $109,600 | $52.69 |
| Mississauga | $107,533 | $51.70 |
| Kitchener | $91,536 | $44.01 |
Bolton, surprisingly, leads the list of highest paying cities for software engineers in Ontario, offering significantly higher software engineer pay than traditional tech hubs. This may be attributed to specialized industrial software needs or companies offering premium compensation to attract talent to smaller centers. Cities like Toronto and Vancouver provide lucrative opportunities due to strong industry demand, though they don’t top the salary charts.
Ottawa’s strong showing reflects its position as a government and tech hub, while the Waterloo region’s competitive salaries align with its reputation as “Canada’s Silicon Valley.” Toronto, despite being the largest tech center, sits in the middle of the pack—likely due to the larger talent pool and higher cost of living considerations.
Top Paying Companies in Ontario
Here is a list of the top companies that consistently offer above-average software engineer salaries in Ontario, representing some of the highest paying tech jobs in the province:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (CAD) | Average Hourly Rate (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Gusto | $285,645 | $137.33 |
| Serve Robotics | $277,425 | $133.38 |
| Vivun | $272,630 | $131.07 |
| PermitFlow | $258,017 | $124.04 |
| owl.co | $246,600 | $118.56 |
| Hopper | $238,269 | $114.55 |
| $234,955 | $112.96 | |
| Acentury | $220,844 | $106.17 |
| Lithos Carbon | $219,200 | $105.38 |
| Scribd | $208,645 | $100.31 |
| BitGo | $200,902 | $96.59 |
| Viggle | $198,541 | $95.45 |
| Veeva Consumer Products | $197,810 | $95.10 |
| Stripe | $193,960 | $93.25 |
| GPTZero | $191,800 | $92.21 |
| Vivid Seats | $188,375 | $90.57 |
| Dexian | $185,722 | $89.29 |
| VCA Software | $184,950 | $88.94 |
| PeopleToGo | $178,100 | $85.62 |
| Veeva Systems | $175,912 | $84.57 |
These organisations span diverse industry sectors, including fintech, robotics, AI/ML, and enterprise software, indicating strong demand for software engineering expertise across multiple high-growth industries. A survey by ICTC found that 74% of Canadian tech companies struggle to find skilled talent, highlighting a skills gap in the job market, which explains the premium these companies are willing to pay for top talent.
For a general insight on software engineering salaries in Canada, you can checkout 2025 Software Engineer Salary in Canada.
How to Maximize Your Software Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, we recommend the following strategies to optimize your software engineer salary in Ontario:
Strategic Career Development
- Target the 2-3 Year Experience Sweet Spot – The most significant salary increase occurs between years 1-3, so focus on skill development and impactful projects during this critical period
- Consider Geographic Arbitrage – Smaller cities like Bolton and Milton offer premium compensation packages, often with lower cost of living
- Develop Leadership Skills Early – The jump from senior software engineer to management roles offers substantial compensation increases
- Pursue Specialized Certifications – Certifications that can boost a software engineer’s career in Canada, such as the Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP), Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA), and AWS Certified Developer
Core Technical Competencies:
- Programming Languages: Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, Go
- Cloud Platforms: AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Azure
- DevOps & CI/CD: Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins
- Database Technologies: SQL, NoSQL, distributed systems
Explore our article on the required software engineering skills in 2025
Remote Work Considerations
Software developers working remotely in Canada expect an average base pay of $86,968 in 2025, though the average salary for Software Engineer (Remote) is $104,941 per year in Canada. Remote work has fundamentally changed the compensation landscape, allowing Ontario-based engineers to access global opportunities while maintaining lower living costs compared to major tech hubs.
Unlike the US, where salaries are high but work-life balance can be challenging, Canada offers a more balanced lifestyle for tech professionals. Moreover, the cost of living in Canada is lower than in the US, allowing software engineers to enjoy a high quality of life. Additionally, Canada has launched various programs and initiatives to support work-life balance, such as flexible working hours and generous parental leave policies.
The data was compiled through an analysis of 1,067 publicly available software engineering salaries in Ontario. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analysed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. The data analysis was completed in June 2025, providing the most up-to-date information on how much software engineers make in Ontario, including their base salary and additional pay.
Conclusion
The software engineering profession offers exceptional earning potential across Ontario, with the median software engineer salary reaching $120,613 CAD annually. While education provides a foundation, experience and specialization significantly influence salary levels. Location choices and company selection have equally important impacts on total compensation, including base salary and additional pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
