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Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Average Salaries in Canada 2024

How much money does a person working in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology make in Canada?


Average Yearly Salary
160,000 CAD
( 13,300 CAD monthly)

LOW
80,000
CAD
AVERAGE
160,000
CAD
HIGH
285,000
CAD
All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

A person working in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada typically earns around 160,000 CAD. Salaries range from 80,000 CAD (lowest average) to 285,000 CAD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).


Salary Variance

The provided figure represents the median compensation that encompasses housing, transportation, and other perks. The salaries within the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology domain in Canada exhibit significant discrepancies across various professions. In case you seek information about the remuneration of a specific position, please refer to the salaries listed below for respective job titles.

Salaries for specific jobs

Job TitleAverage Salary
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Assistant Pharmacist100,000 CAD
Assistant Pharmacy Director194,000 CAD
Associate Medical Affairs Director255,000 CAD
Bioethics Specialist142,000 CAD
Biofabrication Specialist151,000 CAD
Bioinformatics Scientist244,000 CAD
Bioinformatics Technician106,000 CAD
Biological Scientist257,000 CAD
Biological Technician103,000 CAD
Biomanufacturing Technician126,000 CAD
Biomarker Scientist178,000 CAD
Biomedical Electronics Technician96,600 CAD
Biomedical Engineer98,500 CAD
Biomedical Engineering Director199,000 CAD
Bioprocess Engineer124,000 CAD
Biostatistician167,000 CAD
Biotechnologist 151,000 CAD
Biotechnology Lead Data Manager122,000 CAD
Cell Therapy Scientist212,000 CAD
Chemical Process Technician116,000 CAD
Clinical Consultant155,000 CAD
Clinical Data Manager153,000 CAD
Clinical Data Specialist146,000 CAD
Clinical Informatics Specialist122,000 CAD
Clinical Operations Manager226,000 CAD
Clinical Pharmacist146,000 CAD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist187,000 CAD
Clinical Programmer79,400 CAD
Clinical Project Manager146,000 CAD
Clinical Research Associate135,000 CAD
Clinical Research Manager225,000 CAD
Clinical Study Manager193,000 CAD
Clinical Trials Compliance Officer270,000 CAD
Compliance Specialist159,000 CAD
Computational Chemist189,000 CAD
Cytology Laboratory Technologist132,000 CAD
Cytotechnologist124,000 CAD
Digital Biomarker Developer163,000 CAD
Digital Health Specialist146,000 CAD
Drug Safety Specialist169,000 CAD
GCP Auditor131,000 CAD
Gene Editing Compliance Officer203,000 CAD
Gene Editing Specialist154,000 CAD
Gene Therapy Researcher169,000 CAD
Hospital Pharmacy Technician113,000 CAD
Manufacturing Engineer132,000 CAD
Medical 3D Printing Specialist121,000 CAD
Medical Affairs Director253,000 CAD
Medical Device Compliance Specialist152,000 CAD
Medical Device Data Analyst150,000 CAD
Medical Device Designer137,000 CAD
Medical Representative 106,000 CAD
Medical Science Liaison168,000 CAD
Medical Technology Writer112,000 CAD
Molecular and Cellular Biologist265,000 CAD
Nuclear Pharmacist168,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Compliance Auditor221,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Manager271,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Lead287,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Operations Excellence Manager241,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Process Engineer135,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Production Assistant Manager175,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Project Manager154,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Quality Auditor173,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs Assistant125,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs Manager178,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs Specialist143,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Representative105,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Research Associate151,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Research Scientist223,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Researcher226,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing Manager197,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Sales Manager229,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative109,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Manager245,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Team Leader168,000 CAD
Pharmaceutical Technologist123,000 CAD
Pharmacist151,000 CAD
Pharmacogenomics Expert186,000 CAD
Pharmacovigilance Analyst171,000 CAD
Pharmacy Aide100,000 CAD
Pharmacy Manager221,000 CAD
Pharmacy Stock Controller93,300 CAD
Pharmacy Technician86,200 CAD
Precision Medicine Compliance Analyst176,000 CAD
Precision Medicine Specialist155,000 CAD
Records Management Coordinator86,700 CAD
Shift Encapsulator92,600 CAD
Staff Pharmacist152,000 CAD
Synthetic Biologist194,000 CAD
Telepharmacy Technician92,900 CAD


Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Jobs Pay Scale and Salaries in Canada

Median and salary distribution Canada Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology yearly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
155,000 CAD or more
10% of people earn
136,000 to 155,000 CAD
20% of people earn
92,500 CAD or less
65% of people earn
92,500 to 136,000 CAD
Minimum Salary
80,000 CAD
Median
142,000 CAD
Maximum
285,000 CAD




Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range

All salary figures displayed here are per year except when noted otherwise.
  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada range from 80,000 CAD (starting average salary) to 285,000 CAD (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). To clarify, the number presented is not the legally mandated minimum wage. Rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that involved thousands of participants and professionals from across the entire country.

  • Median Salary

    The median income in the field of Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology is 142,000 CAD, implying that half of the workforce in Canada earns less than this figure, and the other half earns more. It represents the central value of salaries. As a rule of thumb, you would prefer to be part of the group earning above the median wage, situated on the right-hand side of the salary distribution chart.

  • Percentiles and Salary Scale

    Two values that are highly correlated with the median are the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution diagram, it is possible to determine that 25% of individuals employed in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada earn less than 117,000 CAD, while 75% of them earn more. Additionally, the diagram reveals that 75% of individuals earn less than 166,000 CAD, while 25% earn more than that.

  • Pay Scale Structure

    Data was regrouped into brackets to provide a better understanding of what salaries can be expected. This approach was deemed more accurate than relying solely on the average salary, as it offers greater insights into the distribution of salaries in the field of Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada. The analysis revealed that roughly 65% of all reported salaries fell within the range of 92,500 CAD to 136,000 CAD. Approximately 20% of salaries were below the 92,500 CAD mark, while 10% ranged from 136,000 CAD to 155,000 CAD. Only 5% of individuals earned a gross salary of 155,000 CAD or higher.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage.

Generally speaking, employees in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.

Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.

As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.

Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.


Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark.
* Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.


Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

Salary Comparison By Education
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Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.

It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income?

We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degree levels across many jobs in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada, below are our findings.

Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.

Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.

Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.


Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?

A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Canada costs anywhere from 50,000 CAD to 150,000 CAD and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.

Employees can't expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming they already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.

Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.

The decision really depends on the situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if a person can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. Degree costs can be recovered roughly in a year or so.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology / Canada

Salary comparison by gender Canada Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology yearly
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In the field of Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 4%.

Male
163,000 CAD
Female-4%
156,000 CAD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Comparison By Gender in Canada for all Careers

Salary comparison by gender yearly Canada
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Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology / Canada

How much are annual salary increments in Canada for individuals working in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology? How often do employees get salary raises?

Professionals working in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 10% every 14 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 9% granted to employees every 15 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate Canada Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
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The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.

Canada / All Professions

Annual Salary Increment Rate Canada
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The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.

How to calculate the salary increment percentage?

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Canada is 7%.

Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs

World Average Annual Salary Increment
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Salary Packages and Schemes

Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.

Bonus and Incentive Rates / Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology / Canada

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate Canada Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
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49% of surveyed staff in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 51% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 4% to 5% of their annual salary.

Received Bonus
51%
No Bonus
49%

Types of Bonuses Considered

Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.

Company Performance Bonuses

Occasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.

Goal-Based Bonuses

Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.

Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.

Bonuses Are Not Commissions!

People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.


What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?

The main two types of jobs

Revenue GeneratorsSupporting Cast

Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business.

Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations.

Example:
A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company.

Example:
A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital.


Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.

Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.

Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level

Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.

Hourly Average Wage / Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology / Canada


77 CAD per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada is 77 CAD.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.


Hourly Wage = Annual Salary / ( 52 x 5 x 8 )

About The Hourly Pay Rate

The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

The minimum pay rate per hour for people working in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada is 38 CAD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Salary Comparison By City

CityAverage Salary
Brampton164,000 CAD
Calgary169,000 CAD
Edmonton167,000 CAD
Gatineau154,000 CAD
Halifax156,000 CAD
Hamilton165,000 CAD
Kitchener161,000 CAD
Markham159,000 CAD
Mississauga170,000 CAD
Montreal180,000 CAD
Ottawa172,000 CAD
Quebec169,000 CAD
Regina152,000 CAD
Richmond144,000 CAD
Saskatoon153,000 CAD
Surrey158,000 CAD
Toronto180,000 CAD
Vancouver172,000 CAD
Vaughan156,000 CAD
Windsor155,000 CAD
Winnipeg166,000 CAD

Salary Comparison By State

StateAverage Salary
Alberta172,000 CAD
British Columbia175,000 CAD
Manitoba165,000 CAD
New Brunswick147,000 CAD
Newfoundland-Labrador144,000 CAD
Northwest Territories160,000 CAD
Nova Scotia151,000 CAD
Nunavut167,000 CAD
Ontario180,000 CAD
Prince Edward Island139,000 CAD
Quebec177,000 CAD
Saskatchewan155,000 CAD
Yukon142,000 CAD

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Canada is 4% on average across all career fields.

Private Sector
117,000 CAD
Public Sector+4%
122,000 CAD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide

What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada?

A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 142,000 CAD and 166,000 CAD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.

Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)

All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary for jobs in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Canada ranges from 80,000 CAD to 117,000 CAD. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.


What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary


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