Woman laughing while sitting at her computer. Dark blue colour cuts off the photo diagonally with the Lighthouse Labs logoAccording to Randstad's Salary Guide, among those who switched careers, 62.5% said their reason for leaving their current job was the hunt for a higher salary. This goes to show that a livable, stable wage is vital in today's economy. More than just a way to pay the bills, send the kids to skating and music lessons or cover Fluffy's newly prescribed special cat food, a wage you can rely on offers peace of mind and freedom. It's no wonder that since the pandemic, more and more people are seeking jobs that offer them fair pay and growth opportunities. In fact, one of the main reasons our alumni came to Lighthouse Labs for a tech education was salary growth.

The tech industry is a natural default for those wanting to switch to a salary-stable career now and in the future. Growth within the technology sector is expected to outpace others in the coming years, meaning your sought-after salary is generally safe from economic pitfalls.

But there are many jobs in the tech world, and you may wonder if becoming a web developer in Canada is enough to keep your finances where you want them. We'll dive into the details of where web development training can take you and what the salary expectations are for various roles.

Without further ado, let's get into it.


Do web developers get paid well in Canada?

The short answer is yes. A junior developer just starting out can make, on average, $53,076 annually. That number quickly increases as they work their way up the ladder, add more skills to their technical toolkit, and gain valuable experience in the ever-changing and evolving web development landscape. It is not uncommon for developers with some seniority and experience to make six figures. According to Randstad, a full-stack developer has the highest paying salary in Canada for 2023, with top earners bringing in $130,000 per year.

Salary can also vary widely by company or industry. Those working for a tech company, higher education, or a financial institution may earn more than those in other industries. The good news is that essential skills like JavaScript, React Js, Ruby on Rails, SQL, and others are highly transferable and make it easier for those who possess them to switch industries.

Ready to learn all the skills mentioned above and more to launch your tech career? Lighthouse Labs offers a 12 or 30-week Web Development Program that sets you up for long-term career success.


What is the average salary for web developers in Canada?

According to Indeed, the average web developer's salary is $70,121 annually. According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, the average hourly wage for web developers is $30/hr, with the highest earners residing in Ontario making $32/hr. However, with experience and advancing to more senior positions, developers can make upwards of $56/hr.

It's important to remember that the average salary can differ depending on the province, experience, and company. Let's look closer at salaries across locations, positions, and seniority.

Web Developer Salaries by Province

Province Annual Salary
British Columbia $63,863
Alberta $58,695
Saskatchewan $54,313
Manitoba $59,557
Ontario $79,992
Quebec $75,000
New Brunswick $53,898
Nova Scotia $52,500

Salary can even differ within provinces depending on the region. Take a look at the mid-range salary for Fullstack Developers in various areas around British Columbia.

Metropolitan Area Annual Salary
Fraser Valley $85,300 - $114,000
Greater Vancouver $98,700 - $131,400
Greater Victoria $86,100 - $115,100
Kelowna $84,900 - $113,500
Prince George $86,300 - $115,400

As you can see, the average salary ranges above are about the same, except for the Greater Vancouver area where the upper and lower extremes are higher. This is typical as salaries tend to be higher in larger cities. Still, it also means a higher cost of living.

While most developers will wind up as either front-end, back-end, or full-stack developers, other paths are available. Plus, with the increased demand for those with an understanding of essential development skills, even more positions may be available to you in the coming years.

National Average Salary by Job Title

Job Title Annual Salary
Web Developer $69,928
Front End Developer $83,790
Back End Developer $93,834
Full Stack Developer $87,592
Software Engineer $86,259
Scrum Master $92,642
Sales Engineer $78,265

You may frequently hear of tech jobs equaling six-figure salaries and wonder why those posted above fall short. Remember that these are averages across all seniority levels, meaning the higher-paying salaries of senior web developers have meshed with those of entry level web developers just getting started. To better understand the salaries as you climb the ranks, check out the chart below for full-stack developers.

Seniority Annual Income
Junior Developer $53,192
Full Stack Web Developer $87,592
Senior Full Stack Developer $123,557

The trend continues with Sales Engineers.

Seniority Annual Income
Junior Sales Engineer $69,822
Senior Sales Engineer $114,409


What types of employment do web developers have?

There are many different options for web developers regarding their workplace and schedule. Given that web developers are well set up to work from home, many work as freelancers, run their own businesses, or work full-time.

Most of those who receive web development training become front-end, back-end, or full-stack developers. Front-end developers work to build and improve the user interface, in other words, the part of the site visitors interact with. Back-end developers work on the "server-side" of the website or application, ensuring the infrastructure is bug-free. You can think of each technical component, front and back-end, as a stack, meaning that full-stack developers work in each layer of the stack, dealing with both front and back-end components.

There are many other positions outside of the typical developer jobs. With the proper training and certifications, you could branch out to become a scrum master, software engineer, sales engineer, Java developer, mobile application developer, or database administrator.

Flexibility is also a huge plus when it comes to developer work. Among the surveyed Lighthouse Labs graduates, 52% work remotely, 43% work hybrid, and just 5% work full-time in an office. Web developers often have flexible working hours and, depending on the company, can work from anywhere in the world.

Web developers aren't limited to full or part-time employment for an outside company. Many developers freelance on the side or as a full-time gig or end up founding their own venture and digging into the world of entrepreneurship. For example, Lighthouse Labs Web Development alumnus, Jackson Cunningham, started his own company that sells modern cat furniture (yes, really!) that fits with peoples' home decor. Alongside his entrepreneurial endeavours, he's still using skills he picked up during his bootcamp, including JavaScript.

With a wealth of web development know-how, some in the field have been known to branch into writing, teaching, or consulting - all jobs that can be done freelance or according to your schedule.

Whatever your plans, we can get you started with the Web Development Program. Complete with Student Success Coordinators and a Career Services team obsessed with your long-term success; sign up today to launch your tech career.