Alberta consistently leads all Canadian provinces in both individual and household income. Driven by the energy sector, skilled trades, and a favourable tax environment, Albertans earn significantly more than the national average income. Here’s a detailed look at income data across Alberta.
Income data on this page is from the Canada Income Survey (CIS), released by Statistics Canada in May 2025, covering the 2023 reference year — the most recent income data available. The next CIS release, with 2024 data, is expected in spring 2026.
Average and median income in Alberta
| Metric | Amount | vs. Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Average Individual Income | $64,200 | +$8,100 |
| Median Individual Income | $49,400 | +$5,200 |
| Average Household Income | $161,900 | +$15,300 |
| Average After-Tax HHI | $133,600 | +$13,000 |
| Median Household Income | $137,900 | +$16,900 |
| Median After-Tax HHI | $119,100 | +$14,300 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canada Income Survey, May 2025 release (2023 reference year).
Alberta’s average individual income of $64,200 is 14.4% above the Canadian average of $56,100. The gap is even larger for household income, where Alberta’s $161,900 average is $15,300 above the national figure. Use our salary calculator to see your Alberta after-tax take-home pay.
Average household income by city in Alberta
Income varies across Alberta’s major cities. Calgary leads with the highest household income, reflecting its status as the energy sector headquarters.
| City | Average HHI | Median HHI | Avg Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | $168,400 | $140,200 | $567,000 |
| Edmonton | $155,800 | $127,600 | $396,000 |
Calgary’s median household income of $140,200 is the highest of any major Canadian city, while Edmonton offers a strong combination of high income and more affordable housing — with an average home price of just $396,000, the price-to-income ratio is approximately 3.1×, one of the most affordable in major Canadian cities.
Income vs. housing affordability in Alberta
Alberta offers the best income-to-housing affordability of any major province:
| City | Median HHI | Avg Home Price | Price-to-Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | $140,200 | $567,000 | 4.0× |
| Edmonton | $127,600 | $396,000 | 3.1× |
Compare this to Toronto at 7.6× or Vancouver at 9.5×. Alberta’s combination of high incomes and relatively affordable housing makes it one of the most attractive provinces for homebuyers. See how much home you can afford with our mortgage affordability calculator.
Key industries driving Alberta income
Alberta’s high incomes are concentrated in several key sectors:
- Oil and gas extraction — The backbone of Alberta’s economy, with average salaries well above $100,000 for experienced workers. Calgary is the corporate headquarters for most major Canadian energy companies.
- Mining and quarrying — Adjacent to energy, this sector also commands premium wages.
- Construction and skilled trades — Strong demand for tradespeople in oil sands projects, pipeline construction, and residential building drives high wages.
- Professional and technical services — Engineering, geology, and environmental consulting firms supporting the energy sector pay competitive salaries.
- Agriculture — Alberta is a major agricultural producer, with cattle ranching and grain farming contributing to rural incomes.
Alberta’s tax advantage
Alberta’s income advantage goes beyond gross earnings. The province has:
- No provincial sales tax — Alberta is the only province with no PST or HST beyond the federal 5% GST
- Competitive income tax rates — Alberta’s provincial income tax starts at 10% (vs. 15% in Nova Scotia or 20.5% in Quebec)
- No health premium — Unlike Ontario’s health premium for higher earners
This means Albertans keep more of their earnings. An individual earning $100,000 in Alberta takes home approximately $3,000–$5,000 more per year than the same earner in Ontario. Calculate your exact take-home with our income tax calculator.
Income trends in Alberta
Alberta’s income performance has been closely tied to energy sector cycles:
- 2014–2016 — Oil price collapse drove income declines across the province
- 2017–2019 — Gradual recovery as oil prices stabilized
- 2020 — Pandemic combined with energy downturn created a double shock
- 2021–2023 — Strong recovery driven by higher commodity prices and inter-provincial migration
Alberta has been one of the fastest-growing provinces by population in recent years, with many Canadians relocating from Ontario and British Columbia to take advantage of higher incomes and more affordable housing.
How Alberta compares to other provinces
| Province | Avg Individual Income | Median Individual Income | Avg HHI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $64,200 | $49,400 | $161,900 |
| Ontario | $58,700 | $44,900 | $154,700 |
| British Columbia | $55,800 | $43,100 | $151,300 |
| Saskatchewan | $55,100 | $44,000 | $133,000 |
| Canada | $56,100 | $44,200 | $146,600 |
Alberta leads across all income metrics. Use our income percentile calculator to see how your income ranks within Alberta.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Alberta? Alberta’’s average full-time employment income is approximately $72,000–$80,000 — the highest of any province. Oil and gas, construction, and professional services drive wages significantly above the national average. Calgary and Edmonton are among the highest-median-income cities in Canada.
Is Alberta better for income than Ontario? On a take-home basis, often yes — Alberta has no provincial income tax, which saves workers $3,000–$8,000+/year compared to Ontario depending on income. Combined with higher average wages, Alberta’’s after-tax income advantage is significant. The trade-off: higher cost of living than Atlantic provinces, and Alberta’’s economy is more volatile due to oil price dependence.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Alberta? Petroleum engineers, geoscientists, pipeline operators, construction managers (in energy projects), software engineers in Calgary’’s growing tech sector, physicians, and senior financial professionals earn Alberta’’s highest wages. Skilled trades (heavy equipment operators, millwrights, instrumentation technicians) in energy projects frequently earn $90,000–$130,000+.
Cost of living context for Alberta incomes
- Average home (Calgary): ~$620,000; average home (Edmonton): ~$440,000
- Average rent (1-bedroom, Calgary): ~$1,900–$2,200/month
- No provincial sales tax (PST) — saves 7–10% vs Ontario/BC on major purchases
- Relatively affordable electricity and fuel vs other provinces
The combination of no PST and higher wages makes Alberta’’s disposable income among the best in Canada despite Calgary’’s above-average housing costs.
Related tools and resources
- Income Percentile Calculator — See where your income ranks in Canada
- Salary Calculator — Calculate your Alberta after-tax pay
- Income Tax Calculator — Estimate your Alberta income tax
- Alberta Mortgage Rates — Find the best mortgage rates in Alberta
- Alberta Housing Market — Current home prices and trends
- Mortgage Affordability Calculator — How much home can you afford