Software engineer salary in Canada: how to compare job offers

Compare the whole package, not the base

• Base pay, bonus, and any equity or stock — and when each is actually paid.
• What you take home after tax and mandatory deductions.
• Benefits: health cover, retirement contributions, leave, and equipment.
• Work arrangement: office, hybrid or remote, and what the commute costs you.
• Growth: who you will learn from, and what the next role looks like.
• Stability: how long the company has been going and how its last year went.

What is specific to Canada

• Compare benefits: extended health and dental, pension matching, paid time off and any stock or bonus.
• Salaries are usually quoted before tax, and provincial tax differs, so compare the take-home amount, not only the headline.
• Compare cities on rent and commute: Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Ottawa differ a lot.
• If you are moving to Canada, ask whether the employer supports your work permit or immigration process.

Where to find the salary numbers

Use a salary-reporting site or ask people in the same role and city for current ranges, because the right number depends on the company, the city and your experience. Then put the offers into the same table.

Score the offers

Put each offer in a weighted decision matrix: list the factors above, give each a weight for how much it matters to you, score each offer, and see how close they are. If one offer fails a deal-breaker, remove it before scoring — see how to eliminate options one at a time. To research the employers themselves — reputation, reviews, benefits — name them in compare⁄io and it compares them with sources.