If you’re considering a career in nursing or looking to advance your role in the Canadian healthcare system, knowing which nursing specialties offer the top salaries can help you make informed decisions. In 2025, several fields stand out for offering high earning potential, professional growth, and strong job security across Canada.
Top 5 Highest Paid Nursing Specialties in Canada
1. Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Average Salary: Approximately $231,700 CAD per year
- Why So High? CRNAs are advanced practice nurses qualified to administer anesthesia, monitor patients during surgery, and manage pain. This role requires years of education, clinical hours, and certification, which leads to exceptional compensation.
- Path: Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN) → RN license → Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in anesthesiology → National certification
2. Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Average Salary: $103,438 CAD per year
- Role: These are highly trained nurses who specialize in fields like critical care, oncology, or mental health. They provide clinical expertise, support other nurses, help conduct research, and often step into leadership roles.
- Requirements: Master’s degree (MSN), RN license, specialization certification
3. Enterostomal Therapy Nurse
- Average Salary: $91,679 CAD per year
- Role: Specialists in wound, ostomy, and continence care, providing crucial support for patients after surgeries or with chronic conditions. Certification and additional training set these nurses apart and justify their high salary.
4. Operating Room/Perioperative Nurse
- Average Salary: $87,360 CAD per year
- Role: These nurses work in surgical settings, assisting surgeons during operations, preparing patients, and ensuring sterile environments. They are essential to safe surgical care and often earn higher wages, especially in high-demand hospitals.
5. Travel Nurse
- Average Pay: $60–$70 CAD per hour (can amount to $120,000+ per year depending on assignments)
- Role: Travel nurses fill staffing shortages in hospitals across different provinces, sometimes in rural or high-need areas. They are well-compensated, especially for urgent or remote placements.
Other Well-Paid Specialties
- Emergency Nurse: $78,546 CAD per year
- Oncology Nurse: $83,946 CAD per year
- Nurse Practitioner: Upwards of $129,210 CAD (in some provinces, especially with experience and advanced roles)
- Nurse Midwife: $128,790 CAD (CNMs are more common in larger city hospitals and some provinces)
Highest Paying Regions in Canada
- Alberta Nurses: Recently received a 20% pay raise; experienced nurses in rural hospitals can now earn $170,000–$180,000 CAD annually due to new union agreements, making them the top earners by province.
- British Columbia & Ontario: Consistently offer high baseline salaries for registered nurses and specialists due to cost of living adjustments and union contracts.
- Remote & Northern Areas: Nurses willing to work in the North or remote rural communities often receive additional incentives and higher rates to address staffing shortages.
What Impacts a Nurse’s Salary in Canada?
- Level of Education: Advanced certifications, master’s/doctoral degrees = higher pay.
- Experience: Seniority and specialty practice (e.g., ICU, surgery, oncology) significantly increase pay.
- Location: Urban areas and rural/high-demand regions offer premium rates and signing bonuses.
- Union Membership: Unionized hospitals have strict salary grids and regular raises.
- Overtime & Shift Premiums: Evening, night, and weekend shifts pay more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do all provinces pay nurses equally?
A: No. Alberta and some northern territories offer the highest base salaries due to staffing needs and union contracts.
Q: Is education worth it for specialty roles?
A: Absolutely. Higher education and specialized certifications (e.g., CRNA, CNS, NPs) can double, even triple, your earning potential.
Q: What is the average range for registered nurse (RN) salaries?
A: Most RNs earn between $55,736 and $120,244 CAD per year, depending on location, specialty, and years of experience.
Bottom Line
The highest paid nurses in Canada are those with advanced practice roles, specialty certifications, and a willingness to take on challenging positions or relocate for demand. Nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and travel nurses lead the pack, especially in Alberta and remote regions. Investing in professional development and targeting high-need specialties is the key to maximizing your nursing salary in Canada today.