Tech workers in the U.S. earn 46 per cent more than tech workers in Canada: TMU Study
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new report on the compensation gap between Canadian and American tech workers shows tech workers in the United States earn 46 per cent more in salary when adjusted for the exchange rate and cost of living.
Using U.S. and Canadian statistical and survey data sets from 2021, the report reveals compensation disparity based on race, gender and educational attainment.
The report also offers a quantifiable analysis on non-wage compensation such as stock options and shows an average U.S. tech workers' equity compensation was valued at twice that of a tech worker in Canada.
These findings are according to a new research report, Mind the Gap: Compensation Disparity Between Canadian and American Technology Workers by the Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Among the key findings (all values in $CAD)
Median wage compensation gap by country:
- In the U.S., tech workers earn an average of $122,604, while in Canada, tech workers earn $83,698
- Non-tech workers in America earn an average of $51,830, while in Canada non-tech workers earn $46,311
Median wages by gender:
- Women tech workers in Canada earn $73,932, men earn $86,574
- Women tech workers in the U.S. earn $103,078, men earn $129,657
- For non-tech workers in Canada, women earn $41,162 and men earn $51,882
- In the U.S., non-tech workers who are women earn $46,407 and men earn $62,132
Median wages by educational attainment for tech workers:
- In Canada: doctorate: $106,026, master's degree: $92,938, bachelor's degree: $88,483, college diploma: $77,648, high school diploma: $55,479, no degree/high school diploma: $59,726.
- In the U.S.: doctorate: $160,776, master's degree: $141,543, bachelor's degree: $122,604, college diploma: $92,057, high school diploma: $84,926, no degree/high school diploma: $42,139.
Median wages by racial identity:
- In Canada, the highest paid tech workers identify as Chinese and the lowest paid tech workers identify as Black.
- In the U.S., the highest paid tech workers identify as South Asian and the lowest paid identify as American Indian and/or Alaskan Native.
"The research raises an alarm on the glaring disparity in competitiveness of the tech industries in Canada and America. The U.S. offers better wages than Canada despite the talent and potential that Canada possesses through its graduates and institutions," said Vivian Li, report author and senior policy analyst at the Dais. "If we're not competitive, we could further lose this valuable asset thereby dwarfing our capability to grow and strengthen our overall economy and prosperity."
The report also finds that simply paying workers more may not be a viable option, particularly for small and medium-sized firms. Recommendations to mitigate the compensation gap include the implementation of growth-oriented policies that, coupled with strong labour protections, allow tech companies to grow, and expand their ability to offer competitive pay.
For more insight into the compensation disparity between Canadian and American tech workers in Canada, check out the full report, Mind the Gap: Compensation Disparity Between Canadian and American Technology Workers.
For media interviews, contact Nina Rafeek Dow, marketing and communications specialist at the Dais, [email protected].
Mind the Gap is part of the portfolio of work by the Future Skills Centre, which is funded by the Government of Canada's Future Skills Program. The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.
About the Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University
The Dais is Canada's platform for bold policies and better leaders. We are a public policy and leadership think tank at Toronto Metropolitan University, connecting people to the ideas and power we need to build a more inclusive, innovative, prosperous Canada. Visit us at dais.ca
About the Future Skills Centre
The Future Skills Centre (FSC) is a forward-thinking centre for research and collaboration dedicated to driving innovation in skills development so that everyone in Canada can be prepared for the future of work. We are funded by the Government of Canada's Future Skills Program.
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