Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Toronto vs Ottawa

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Toronto
$134,230
/ year
+5%
difference
Ottawa
$127,318
/ year
Bottom line: Ottawa offers better purchasing power despite Toronto paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Toronto
Ottawa
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$134,230✓ higher
$127,318
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$86,806✓ higher
$82,336
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$207,563✓ higher
$196,875
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$91,276✓ higher
$86,576
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$107,384
$117,887✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.25×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$118,056✓ higher
$111,977
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$282,286✓ higher
$267,750

What if you move from Toronto to Ottawa?

Gross salary change
$6,912
5% decrease
Take-home change
$4,700
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$10,503
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Toronto$134,230
P10: $118,056Median: $134,230P90: $282,286
Ottawa$127,318
P10: $111,977Median: $127,318P90: $267,750

More Data Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Engineer earn more in Toronto or Ottawa?

The median Data Engineer salary in Toronto is CA$182,553/yr compared to CA$173,152/yr in Ottawa. Toronto pays 5% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Engineer salary worth more in Toronto or Ottawa after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Toronto salary has the purchasing power of $107,384/yr in a median-cost city, vs $117,887/yr for Ottawa. Ottawa offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Engineer in Toronto vs Ottawa?

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Toronto takes home approximately $91,276/yr, vs $86,576/yr in Ottawa. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.