Average Salary in Montreal 2026

Montreal Salary Overview 2026

Montreal's median full-time salary is $62,000 in 2026 — the lowest of any major Canadian city covered in this guide, but the comparison requires important context. Montreal's cost of living, particularly housing, is dramatically lower than Toronto or Vancouver. A $62,000 salary in Montreal leaves roughly $43,200 after federal and Quebec provincial taxes; the same salary in Toronto nets $45,800. The $2,600 difference is more than offset by Montreal's average 1BR rent of $1,480 vs. Toronto's $2,280 — a $9,600 annual savings in housing alone.

Montreal's economy is driven by technology (home to major AI research at Mila and IVADO), aerospace (Bombardier, CAE, Pratt & Whitney Canada), gaming (Ubisoft, EA, WB Games), pharmaceutical manufacturing, and financial services. These sectors create well-paying professional jobs that coexist alongside a large service economy. Quebec's generous social programs — subsidized childcare ($10.35/day), low university tuition ($4,000–$5,200/year for residents), and accessible healthcare — substantially boost the effective purchasing power of Montreal salaries beyond their nominal value.

Salary by Industry — Montreal 2026

Montreal's Tech & AI Ecosystem

Montreal has emerged as one of the world's top AI research hubs, anchored by the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms (Mila), the Vector Institute's Quebec connections, and major AI labs operated by Google, Microsoft, Meta, and DeepMind. This has driven technology salaries to levels competitive with Toronto: senior ML engineers and AI researchers earn $120,000–$175,000, while data scientists earn $85,000–$130,000.

The city's video game industry — one of the largest gaming clusters outside Japan and the US — employs approximately 14,000 developers, artists, and producers. Ubisoft Montreal (Assassin's Creed, Far Cry), EA Montreal, WB Games Montreal, and dozens of independent studios create a diverse market with salaries ranging from $52,000 for junior developers to $140,000+ for technical directors and lead programmers with AAA experience.

Quebec's Higher Tax Rate: The Trade-Off

Quebec has among the highest provincial income tax rates in Canada, with rates ranging from 14% to 25.75% on provincial income. Combined with federal rates, Montreal workers face effective marginal rates of 37.12% on income between $51,780–$103,545 and 53.31% on income above $246,752. This is 6–10 percentage points higher than Ontario at comparable income levels.

However, Quebec's social programs offset this tax burden significantly. The $10.35/day childcare program saves families $15,000–$22,000/year compared to Ontario market rates ($2,000+/month). Low university tuition saves families $12,000–$25,000 over four years versus Ontario. RAMQ (provincial health insurance) covers certain services not covered under OHIP. These benefits are effectively a salary supplement not captured in nominal wage comparisons.

FAQ

Is $62,000 a good salary in Montreal?

$62,000 is the Montreal median. After Quebec taxes, take-home is approximately $40,600–$43,200/year. With average 1BR rent at $1,480/month ($17,760/year), housing costs 41–44% of take-home — tight but manageable, especially compared to Toronto or Vancouver at the same salary. Couples earning combined $100,000+ in Montreal live quite comfortably given the city's lower cost structure.

Why are Montreal salaries lower than Toronto?

Lower nominal salaries reflect lower living costs, a bilingual labour market (French requirement reduces the candidate pool for some roles), and historically lower private sector activity versus public/government emphasis. However, the gap has narrowed significantly in tech, where Montreal competes nationally for talent.