Canadian CPAs with three or more years of experience reported a national median salary of $154,000 in 2024, up from $143,000 the prior year, according to a new study.
Leger surveyed over 7,500 Canadian CPAs from May 12 to May 30, 2025, on behalf of CPA Canada. The largest proportion of respondents surveyed (23%) had 25 years or more of work experience, followed by 22% with 10 to 14 years of experience.
The survey found that while 79% of Canadian CPAs' compensation increased, early-career CPAs saw the smallest gains while late-career CPAs saw the largest. CPAs with less than three years of experience reported a median salary of $92,000, and those with three to four years of experience reported a median of $109,000 — both six-point increases year over year. Meanwhile, CPAs with 10 to 14 years of experience reported a median salary of $150,000 (15-point increase), those with 15 to 19 years of experience reported $162,000 (12-point increase), and those with 20 to 24 years of experience reported $170,000 (15-point increase).
Among the industries with at least 100 CPAs surveyed, oil and gas remained the top-paying industry at $200,000, followed by real estate and building management at $180,000, software at $178,000 and financial services at $178,000.
"From AI assurance to sustainability disclosure, CPAs are at the forefront of some of the most urgent and complex issues facing businesses today," Andy Thomas, vice president of education at CPA Canada, said in a statement. "As demand grows for trusted expertise, so too does recognition of the CPA's strategic value, reflected in increased compensation levels across the profession."
Canadian CPAs' salaries trailed behind international CPAs surveyed, with a median salary of $264,000. The U.S. made up the largest proportion of international CPAs surveyed (46%), with a median salary of $306,000.
Among the provinces and territories with at least 100 respondents surveyed, compensation was the highest in Alberta at $169,000, followed by Ontario at $163,000 and Saskatchewan at $147,000. Eastern Canadian provinces reported the lowest median compensation, ranging from $124,000 to $131,000.
In regard to benefits and work-life balance programs, work-from-home remained the most commonly used flexibility program but declined 3 points in both offering and usage, suggesting a shift back to the office.
