If you’re teaching, or thinking about teaching, in Ontario, you’ve probably wondered how much teachers actually earn. It’s a common question, especially if you’re settling into life in Canada or coming from a teaching career in another country. Salary plays a big role in planning your future. It affects where you live, how you budget, and how you support the people you care about, whether they’re here with you or thousands of kilometres away.
At Remitly, we get it. Money decisions feel different when you’re navigating a new country, new systems, and sometimes a brand-new chapter of your life. So, in this guide, we’re breaking down what a teacher’s salary in Ontario in 2026 may look like.
How teacher pay works in Ontario
Understanding how pay works can feel overwhelming at first, especially if you’re new to Canada or exploring teaching as a second career. Ontario uses a structured salary system that’s guided by experience and qualifications. Instead of everyone earning the same salary, your pay depends mainly on two things: how long you’ve been teaching and the professional qualifications you’ve earned along the way. Pay is set through collective agreements between school boards and teachers’ unions.
Experience and the salary grid
Most Ontario school boards use a salary grid. In many cases, each full year of qualifying teaching experience puts you another step up on the grid, reflecting the skills teachers develop over time. While progression is generally consistent, there are other factors at play, such as part-time work or supply teaching.
Even so, the grid makes long-term planning easier. You can understand where you are today and estimate your expected salary growth at a future point.
Qualifications and the QECO categories
Qualifications also shape how much you earn. In Ontario, qualifications are assessed by the Qualifications Evaluation Council of Ontario (QECO). They place teachers into salary categories based on their education and professional training.
Teachers who complete Additional Qualification (AQ) or Additional Basic Qualification (ABQ) courses, postgraduate studies, or approved coursework sometimes fall into higher salary categories, depending on the type of course and how the QECO evaluates it.
Many teachers decide to upgrade their qualifications once they’re already working in the classroom, especially when they see how upgrading can open doors to new roles or faster salary progression. For internationally trained teachers, additional coursework sometimes helps align credentials with Ontario’s requirements and, in some cases, support movement into a higher salary category.
A real-life example
Picture two teachers starting in the same school. One has just completed their basic teacher education program. The other arrives with previous years of teaching experience and a few additional qualifications. Even if they both start teaching at the same time, the second teacher may begin at a higher point on the salary grid and continue earning more as the years go on. It depends on how their credentials are recognized by QECO and the school board.
Over time, differences in experience and qualifications can lead to noticeable differences in salary growth.
If you’re still collecting documents, waiting on credential recognition, or working toward additional qualifications, it’s completely normal. Many teachers in Ontario work their way up step by step as their experience is recognized and they upgrade their qualifications.
What teachers earn today
Talking about salary can feel awkward, but it’s an important part of deciding whether teaching in Ontario fits your life and goals.
The salary picture today (2025 snapshot)
At the moment, many new teachers in Ontario start somewhere in the low-to-mid $50,000s CAD, depending on their qualifications and QECO category. As teachers gain experience and upgrade their qualifications, salaries can rise into the $75,000 CAD to $95,000 CAD range, particularly for those with higher qualifications.
Teachers who reach the top step on the salary grid could earn around 100,000 CAD, with some school boards even offering salaries above that. Salaries aren’t identical everywhere, but pay ranges across public school boards tend to follow similar grid structures and agreements.
What 2026 could look like
Teacher salaries in Ontario are shaped by negotiations between unions, school boards and provincial governments. The discussions take into account inflation and cost of living, but final outcomes vary.
Based on current patterns, 2026 will likely bring modest but steady growth rather than huge jumps. While exact numbers won’t be known until agreements are finalized, Ontario’s salary grid system has historically provided steady progression for most teachers.
How Ontario compares to other provinces
You might be weighing up different provinces before settling down. Ontario is generally considered among the better-paying regions for teachers, especially when benefits and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan are factored in. While some provinces may offer higher base salaries in some cases, the overall package in Ontario is generally considered to be strong.
For many educators, especially those building a new life, that combination of stability, predictability, and competitive compensation is an important deciding factor.
Beyond the base salary: what teachers really earn
It’s easy to focus on salary alone, but the value of the job goes beyond the number printed on a contract. Extra benefits, like pension, health coverage, and extra earning opportunities, make a meaningful difference over time.
The pension: your future self will say thank you
Ontario qualified teachers working in publicly funded schools join the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), often regarded as one of the strongest and most respected pension programs in the country. In the plan, you contribute a portion of your pay toward retirement. In 2025, this was 10.4% of your salary up to the Canada Pension Plan limit ($73,000 in 2025) and 12% of anything you earn above the limit. All contributions are matched.
While pension contributions reduce take-home pay, that contribution grows into a reliable safety net. For teachers who stay in the profession long-term in steady, full-time roles, the pension often ends up being one of the biggest financial benefits of the job.
Benefits that support everyday life
Many full-time teaching roles in Ontario include extended health and dental benefits, including prescription coverage, and sometimes additional support such as physiotherapy or counselling.
If you’ve ever paid dental bills or prescription costs without insurance in Canada, you’ll know how relieving it is to have coverage, especially for families.
However, eligibility for these benefits is tied to your employment status and the type of contract you have. If you’re a casual or occasional teacher, you may not qualify. Long-term occasional (LTO) teachers may be eligible, depending on the duration and hours of their contract.
Real take-home pay and the cost of living
Seeing a salary number on paper and imagining how it fits into your life is something everyone does, especially when moving somewhere new. In Canada, the number you see on the salary grid isn’t the amount that lands in your bank account.
Taxes, pension contributions, and benefit premiums all come off first, and that can make your first paycheque feel smaller than expected. Many teachers say that the first year takes some adjustment, but the deductions make sense once you start thinking long-term.
Where you choose to live also plays a role in how far your take-home pay goes. Life in Toronto and much of the Greater Toronto Area tends to come with higher housing and living costs. Smaller cities, such as Ottawa, Guelph, London, and Kingston, tend to be more affordable. Some teachers appreciate the pace of bigger cities, while others prefer the affordability and quieter lifestyle of smaller communities. There’s no right answer, just what fits your life best.
Finding your financial rhythm
The first year is usually about settling in, learning the budgeting style that works for you, and figuring out what your monthly expenses really look like. Over time, most teachers notice their financial situation improves as they move up the salary grid, build qualifications, and settle into stable contracts.
If you’re just starting out, it’s completely normal to feel like things are tight at first. With each year, more experience, and sometimes a few small financial goals, the picture gets clearer and more manageable.
How teachers grow their income over time
One of the reassuring things about teaching in Ontario is that you don’t stay at the starting point for long. Many teachers, especially newcomers, find it’s the kind of career where your effort really does show up in your earnings over time.
Moving up with qualifications
Your qualifications play a big part in how much you earn. Many teachers take Additional Qualification (AQ) courses, work toward specialist certifications, or eventually complete a master’s degree.
These upgrades can bump you into a higher salary category and sometimes lead to new roles you may not have expected when you first started. Don’t worry about doing all of this at once. You can spread it out so it fits alongside your work and personal life.
Experience and confidence
Experience matters too. Each full year you teach typically moves you one step higher on the salary grid. The pace is gradual, but very predictable, which you’ll probably find reassuring. Many internationally trained teachers appreciate that structure as it takes away the guesswork. As your confidence grows in the classroom, your salary grows with you.
A pathway for internationally trained educators
If you completed your teacher training outside Canada, there may be a few extra steps before you’re fully certified in Ontario. The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) reviews your credentials and sometimes recommends additional coursework so everything aligns with Ontario standards.
Once you’re certified, you join the same salary system as everyone else. Many teachers who moved here from abroad say that once they began teaching, their salary growth finally started to feel worth the wait.
Extra ways to earn along the way
There are also opportunities to increase your income beyond your base salary. Some teachers take on summer school, tutor privately, or support students with exam preparation. Others run sports teams, lead clubs, or help with after-school programs, which can sometimes come with extra pay depending on the school or board.
Leadership roles, like department head, mentor teacher, or specialist roles, can also lead to higher earnings and might even spark a new passion. These extra roles can also help you feel more connected to the school community as you build your life in Ontario.
A final thought before you take the next step
If there’s one thing many teachers in Ontario say, it’s that the career grows with you. Your income increases gradually, the benefits make a real difference over time, and the structure helps you plan for a future that feels stable and achievable. And for many, teaching becomes a community, a sense of belonging, and a meaningful way to build a secure life in Canada.
In 2026, increases are expected to be in line with previous years, helping you plan your expenses and feel reassured that your salary is moving steadily up as you gain more experience each year.
FAQs
What’s the highest salary for a teacher in Ontario?
Teachers at the top step with the highest qualification level may earn more than $100,000 CAD before extras.
Do elementary and high school teachers earn the same?
Yes. Pay is based on qualifications and experience rather than grade level.
Are salaries the same across all boards?
Most are similar, but there can be small differences.
Does international teaching experience count?
Sometimes it does, depending on how the OCT evaluates your credentials and how the school board classifies experience.
How can I increase my salary as a teacher in Ontario?
Your salary increases as you gain more experience and move up the salary grid. You can also boost your earning potential by upgrading your qualifications and specialist skills, or taking on additional roles in your school or board.