What Registered Nurses Earn in Canada

A registered nurse in Canada earns roughly $30 to $54 an hour, with a national median near $43. Full-time, that works out to about $85,000 to $90,000 a year. Entry-level starts closer to $70,000, and experienced or specialized nurses often pass $104,000. Where you land depends on your province, your experience, and how you structure your work. Here is the full picture, plus how casual shifts add to it.

The national range

Federal wage data puts registered nurses between about $30.00 and $54.37 an hour, with a national median near $43.27. National salary averages sit around $85,000 to $90,000 a year, and reported averages run higher once overtime and specialty pay are included (Source: Job Bank, Indeed, Talent.com, 2026).

What moves your number

• Province. British Columbia leads, with wages from $41.42 to $59.52 an hour and top steps near $116,000 a year. Alberta averages about $47.38. Saskatchewan runs from a grad rate of $33.30 up to $56.14 for advanced roles. Ontario sits near the national median.

• Experience. Most provinces use a step scale, so pay climbs each year until you reach the top of your grid.

• Specialty and setting. Emergency, ICU, and operating-room nurses, and those in leadership, earn at the top of the range.

The benefits that come with it

Public nursing roles usually carry a defined-benefit pension, health and dental coverage, and generous paid leave. That total package is part of the number, even though it does not show on an hourly rate.

Adding casual shifts

Plenty of nurses want more than a single employer. Some hold a permanent line and still have open days. Others want to choose their own hours and settings entirely.

Staffy is an on-demand marketplace that connects nurses with facilities that need coverage. You browse registered nurse shifts, claim the ones that fit your schedule and radius, and get paid for what you complete. You work as an independent contractor and set your own calendar. There is no fixed roster to hold.

For an RN, that means you can keep a permanent position and add shifts on your terms, or build your income from casual work across several facilities. Casual and short-notice shifts often carry a higher hourly rate, because facilities pay more to fill urgent gaps.

How to start

Create your profile on the Staffy app, verify your registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario or your provincial regulator, and complete the standard checks shown as you build your profile. Each listing shows the facility and rate before you claim it.

The takeaway

The headline nurse salary in Canada is a starting point, not a ceiling. Province and experience set the band. How you structure your work, permanent, casual, or both, decides where you land inside it, and casual shifts are the fastest way to lift your hourly rate.

Common questions

How much do registered nurses make in Canada? Most earn between $30 and $54 an hour, or about $85,000 to $90,000 a year full-time. Entry-level is closer to $70,000 and experienced nurses can pass $104,000.

Which province pays nurses the most? British Columbia leads, with top collective-agreement steps near $116,000 a year. Alberta and Saskatchewan also pay above the national median.

Can nurses make $100,000 in Canada? Yes, with experience, specialty work, overtime, or casual shifts on top of a permanent role, six figures is realistic in most provinces.

Can nurses earn more with casual work? Casual and short-notice shifts often pay a higher hourly rate than salaried lines, because they carry no benefits or guaranteed hours. They suit nurses who want flexibility or extra income.

Your skill is in demand across every setting in Canada. Whether you want a permanent base, casual shifts, or a mix of both, you can build the schedule and the income that suit you. Create your profile and start picking up work on your terms.

Get started at staffy.com.