Work in Canada
Jobs in Canada
Express Entry, no lottery, and competitive tech pay in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.
Editorial
Reviewed April 2026 (visa) and August 2026 (salary). Guidance only — not immigration legal advice. Market estimates, not job offers. How we source this
Work permit
Express Entry and employer work permits
Mid software engineer · Toronto
CA$137,360
Studio rent · Toronto
$1,700/mo
Visa
Express Entry and employer work permits
Canada is unusual in offering a points-based permanent route (Express Entry / Canadian Experience Class) alongside temporary work permits. Many skilled hires enter on an LMIA-based work permit or the International Mobility Program, then apply for PR. There is no H-1B-style lottery. Provincial nominee programs add extra points if a province wants your occupation. IRCC processing times move — check the live tool before you book a move.
English is sufficient in Toronto and Vancouver. French materially helps in Montreal and in federal roles.
Job market
How hiring actually works
Toronto and Vancouver absorb most English-language tech and finance hiring; Montreal adds a bilingual, slightly lower-cost market. Nominal pay sits below US coastal cities but public healthcare and a clearer path to permanent residence are the trade. Housing in Toronto and Vancouver is the main budget shock.
Cities on this page: Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal. Search on Global Job Scanner is account-gated; create a free account to run a live Canada query.
Pay
Mid-level salaries, local currency
Same model as the salary checker (2025–2026 market estimates, Q1 2026 FX). Not an offer.
| City | Software Engineer | Product Manager | Data Scientist |
|---|---|---|---|
| TorontoCAD | CA$137,360 | CA$141,440 | CA$129,200 |
| VancouverCAD | CA$128,520 | CA$131,920 | CA$120,360 |
| MontrealCAD | CA$120,360 | CA$123,760 | CA$112,880 |
Compare Toronto against another city · Rent and budget in the cost of living calculator
Questions
Before you book a one-way ticket
What visa do I need to work in Canada?
Express Entry and employer work permits. Canada is unusual in offering a points-based permanent route (Express Entry / Canadian Experience Class) alongside temporary work permits. Many skilled hires enter on an LMIA-based work permit or the International Mobility Program, then apply for PR. There is no H-1B-style lottery. Provincial nominee programs add extra points if a province wants your occupation. IRCC processing times move — check the live tool before you book a move.
What does a software engineer earn in Canada?
A mid-level software engineer in Toronto is about CA$137,360 in our 2026 model (local currency, market estimate — not an offer). Compare other roles in the table on this page or the salary checker.
Can I get by in English?
English is sufficient in Toronto and Vancouver. French materially helps in Montreal and in federal roles.
Search
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