What Salary Should You Be Getting In 2026?
Ontario's pay transparency rule, effective January 1, 2026, means most publicly advertised AEC roles now include a salary range. That is useful, but it is also incomplete. A posted range of $110,000 to $160,000 tells you the firm's band; it does not tell you where you should be in it, what total compensation looks like beyond base, or what a similar role in a different city would pay.
This post helps illustrate the 2026 AEC compensation picture for candidates, broken down by discipline, region, and experience. Its important to know that different types of firms, different locations, and even roles on different project types can come with different ranges of pay. Because of this, you should treat this post as a starting point for your own benchmarking instead of a final answer.
How to interpret the information below:
The ranges below are for base salary in Canadian dollars for full-time roles at mid-sized to large AEC firms. They assume a standard hybrid work arrangement. Total compensation, including bonus, profit sharing, registration reimbursement, and benefits, typically adds 8 to 15 percent on top for senior roles and 3 to 8 percent for mid-level roles. The numbers below are for full time salaried positions. Contract and project-based rates have different ranges due to different tax liabilities, potential legal exposure, and other factors.
Below we cover: The Greater Toronto Area, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal, and select Canadian secondary markets. US markets are selectively included as well.
Architecture
Intern architect (0-3 years)
GTA: $58,000 to $72,000
Vancouver: $60,000 to $74,000
Calgary: $55,000 to $68,000
Ottawa: $55,000 to $68,000
Architect, licensed (3-7 years)
GTA: $80,000 to $105,000
Vancouver: $82,000 to $108,000
Calgary: $75,000 to $98,000
Ottawa: $75,000 to $95,000
Senior architect or project architect (7-12 years)
GTA: $105,000 to $140,000
Vancouver: $108,000 to $145,000
Calgary: $100,000 to $130,000
Associate or principal architect (12+ years)
GTA: $140,000 to $200,000+
Vancouver: $145,000 to $210,000+
Calgary: $130,000 to $185,000+
Principal-level comp in architecture varies widely because of profit sharing and equity. The base salary ranges above can understate total comp by 20 to 40 percent for owners and senior partners.
Engineering
Junior engineer, EIT (0-3 years)
GTA: $65,000 to $82,000
Vancouver: $68,000 to $85,000
Calgary: $68,000 to $88,000
PEng, mid-level (4-8 years)
GTA: $92,000 to $118,000
Vancouver: $95,000 to $122,000
Calgary: $95,000 to $125,000
Senior engineer or project engineer (8-15 years)
GTA: $118,000 to $155,000
Vancouver: $120,000 to $160,000
Calgary: $125,000 to $165,000
Principal or associate engineer (15+ years)
GTA: $155,000 to $220,000+
Vancouver: $160,000 to $225,000+
Calgary: $165,000 to $230,000+
Calgary engineering compensation is higher than other Canadian markets for mid-career roles primarily due to energy and resource project exposure. Structural and civil roles will run at the higher end of each range; with building mechanical and electrical at the lower end.
Project Management and Construction
Junior PM or coordinator (0-5 years)
GTA: $72,000 to $95,000
Vancouver: $75,000 to $98,000
Calgary: $72,000 to $98,000
Project manager (5-12 years)
GTA: $105,000 to $140,000
Vancouver: $108,000 to $145,000
Calgary: $110,000 to $150,000
Senior PM or construction manager (12+ years)
GTA: $140,000 to $190,000
Vancouver: $145,000 to $195,000
Calgary: $150,000 to $210,000
Note: Construction-side PM and CM compensation runs 10 to 15 percent above design-side PM for equivalent experience in most markets.
Sustainability and Digital Practice
This is a fast growing area where we are seeing good traction for new hires within organizations.
Sustainability specialist (5-10 years with LEED, WELL, or Passive House credentials)
GTA: $95,000 to $135,000
Vancouver: $100,000 to $140,000
BIM lead or digital practice lead (8-15 years)
GTA: $105,000 to $145,000
Vancouver: $110,000 to $150,000
Senior digital practice leadership roles, particularly those with AI integration responsibilities, are increasingly commanding $150,000 to $180,000 at large firms.
What drives where you sit in the range
The ranges above can be quite broad. Because of this, its important to understand various factors that determine where you may sit within a specific range. We’ve outlined the primary factors below:
First, relevant project experience. Five years on hospital projects puts you at the top of the range for healthcare-focused firms. The same five years on smaller commercial work puts you mid-range. Focusing and developing a specialization will help increase your pay within a range more than being a generalisst.
Second, credential and licensing status. A PEng or licensed architect commands 10 to 20 percent more than an equivalent unlicensed role. For engineers, Professional Engineer with a specialized designation adds another increment.
Third, firm size and structure. Large multidisciplinary firms typically pay 8 to 15 percent more in base than small studios, but small studios often offer better quality of life, project ownership, and in some cases equity paths that make total compensation competitive.
Using this information in a salary conversation
As noted in the beginning of this post, the ranges above are a starting point. Most firms have flexibility above the posted top for exceptional candidates. With that being said, that is the exception to the rule and it will be easier for you to land a role within the firm’s stated range.
Total compensation matters more than base. When comparing offers, ensure you normalize for benefits, bonus, vacation, licensing support, and remote work flexibility. A $125,000 base with five weeks of vacation, full benefits, and licensing reimbursement is typically stronger than $135,000 with minimum vacation days, no supplementary healthcare and no licensing reimbursement.
If you find your compensation below the ranges stated above, reach out to our team and we’ll see if there are roles that may bring you better in line with your market value.
Sources
Axis Recruitment internal placement data, 2024 to 2026.
Hays Canada, "Salary Guide 2026."
Randstad Canada, AEC compensation research, 2025.
Axis Recruitment, "Ontario changed its hiring rules this year. Here's what AEC employers need to do."
