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Technology salary benchmarks and trends

2027 Canada Salary Guide

Get customized salary insights Job seekers: Explore opportunities and grow your career. This is not the final Salary Guide. Do not share this preview before September 10 to avoid distributing information that may change before launch. This draft version is intended for internal review and training purposes only. As organizations expand their use of AI, cloud and data platforms, technology hiring managers are aligning pay more closely to the specialized capabilities that tech and IT roles now require, selectively exceeding budgeted salary ranges to secure the talent they need. Professionals with expertise in areas such as cloud, security and data—those who can design and scale complex, fast-changing systems—are the ones receiving higher offers.  These candidates combine technical depth with human judgment and know their value, making it harder for employers to compete for them when pay falls below market rates or roles expand in scope without corresponding salary adjustments. Hiring managers: Meet with us to get customized salary insights and guidance so you can build offers candidates say yes to.

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Salaries by job category
The salaries below default to national averages. Select a job category and city to find figures for a specific market. Starting compensation can vary significantly based on a candidate’s skills, experience and certifications, as well as other factors including industry; company size, complexity or revenue; and demand for the role. To reflect this variability, we report our compensation data in 3 levels: low, mid and high.
AI, Machine Learning and Data Science Consulting and Enterprise Systems Data: Engineering, Analytics and Reporting Executive Leadership IT Operations and Help Desk IT Project Management Networking, Cloud and Systems Quality Assurance (QA) and Training Security Software and Applications Development Web Development
Job Title Low Mid High AI Architect 132000 162750 191250 Senior AI Engineer 113750 146750 168550 AI Engineer 91250 119500 144000 Data Scientist 106250 134500 158750 AI/ML Engineer 105000 127000 156250 ML Developer 91500 124250 167000 Automation Engineer 75000 91250 105250 AI/BI Consultant 98750 112000 125000
Low
The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is still developing core skills.
Mid
The candidate has moderate experience in the role or one similar, meets most requirements and may hold transferable skills or relevant certifications.
High
The candidate has extensive experience in the role, demonstrates advanced skills and often brings specialized certifications or industry experience.

2027 technology compensation trends

Insights at a glance

6 in 10

technology hiring managers are offering salaries above their planned ranges to secure top talent.

86%

cite the need to secure candidates with specialized skills as a reason.

83%

are paying more for AI-related skills, with nearly half (48%) reporting those salary premiums are higher than for other tech skills.

Specialized skills by job category

AI, ML and data science Organizations are paying more for high-impact skills tied to critical initiatives and to compete for in-demand talent.  Building AI into ERP platforms Cloud data platforms (Azure, Databricks, etc.) Large language models Machine learning Python and PySpark
Enterprise systems Organizations are paying more for high-impact skills tied to critical initiatives and to compete for in-demand talent. Oracle NetSuite Microsoft Dynamics 365 SAP S-4HANA Workday Salesforce
Data analytics Organizations are paying more for high-impact skills tied to critical initiatives and to compete for in-demand talent. Data science ERP platform proficiency Power BI
Security Organizations are paying more for high-impact skills tied to critical initiatives and to compete for in-demand talent. Application security Artificial intelligence DevSecOps SaaS SIEM systems
Software and applications Organizations are paying more for high-impact skills tied to critical initiatives and to compete for in-demand talent. .NET Artificial intelligence Full stack development Java Machine learning

Rewards that motivate career moves

When base pay is similar across opportunities, technology and IT professionals weigh other factors heavily when considering a job change. Benefits, perks and incentives can help companies strengthen offers and stand out to in-demand candidates. Top benefits and perks that motivate job changes include:

Work‑life balance and flexibility

Paid time off, remote work options, flexible schedules

Financial incentives

Bonuses, profit‑sharing programs Explore more total rewards insights

Tech: Roles, industries, certifications

Roles requiring specialized skills in areas such as business intelligence, cybersecurity, AI and ERP are expected to have salary growth above the projected +1.8% average for technology positions. +5.3% Business intelligence developer +5.2% Chief information security officer (CISO) +3.9% AI engineer +3.2% Software architect +3.0% ERP/CRM consultant +3.0% Cybersecurity engineer
Employers in these industries need skilled professionals to advance security, digital transformation, data strategy and infrastructure modernization: Financial services and insurance Health care Information and IT Manufacturing Not-for-profit Payments/fintech Professional services Technical services
Certifications can justify higher pay when they validate expertise in cloud, security, AI and enterprise systems and technology project delivery. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate/Expert (MCSA/MCSE) Salesforce Certified Development Lifecycle and Deployment Architect

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More to explore

Technology Salary Trends in Canada Explore the latest technology salary trends. Learn which roles, skills and certifications can boost earning potential.
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2026 Canada tech and IT hiring and employment trends Get insights into the state of the IT and technology job market in 2026, including which roles and skills are most in demand.
Pay and Compensation Highlights Dive deeper into salary and total rewards trends across a range of professional roles and industries.
AI in Recruiting AI is transforming hiring in Canada by adding complexity. Navigate the changing landscape with our AI in Recruiting insights.

Trends and salaries by professional field

Get 2027 starting salaries and salary insights in other professional fields. Finance and accounting Marketing and creative Legal Administrative and customer support Human resources
The salary benchmarks in the Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process designed to reflect projected market trends for 2027. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has placed nationwide, along with third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use for independent validation. Learn more about our salary methodology. Non-salary data referenced in the Canada Salary Guide is based on online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. Respondents include hiring managers and workers from small (10-99 employees), midsize (100-999 employees) and large (1,000-plus employees) private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across Canada.
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