According to a 2020 salary survey data report published by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Union, a nurse practitioner can expect to make between $103,974 and $121,485 salary in Canada annually.
The average nurse practitioner salary is the equivalent of $53.32 and $62.30 an hour. However, a nurse practitioner’s salary can depend on career or experience level, the organization they work for, and the city.
Annual pay can also fluctuate according to wage premiums, responsibilities, and education. Differentials are available for overtime and working on official holidays.
Additional adjustments may be made for working nights and on-call. The average nurse practitioner salary is based on shift lengths of 7 hours and 45 minutes.
Pandemic Pay
The Ontario government authorized additional pandemic pay for work performed by nurse practitioners between April 24 and August 13, 2020.
This pay differential provided an additional $4 per hour plus a monthly lump sum payment of $250. Pandemic pay went to part-time, full-time, and temporary workers, but not those in management.
To be eligible for the pay, nurse practitioners in Ontario also had to work in a publicly-funded healthcare setting. These settings included Ontario hospitals, community care centers, and home care service agencies or organizations.
Holiday Pay
When nurse practitioners work on a statutory holiday, they receive 1.5 times their normal pay rate.
The Canadian Federation of Nurses Union also states nurse practitioners have the option of getting alternating holidays off or taking pay for the day instead. In Ontario, there are 12 named holidays. These are:
- New Year’s Day
- Family Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
- December 27
Overtime Rates
Ontario’s overtime rates for nurse practitioners are different depending on the shift and whether the workday is a statutory holiday. Overtime performed on statutory holidays is paid at twice the nurse practitioner’s normal wage.
For any shift that is already at 1.5 times the normal wage, overtime is calculated as double time or at twice the normal rate. Regular overtime is 1.5 times the base wage.
Regular overtime is paid if the nurse practitioner works during their lunch period, in excess of regular daily hours and more than their regular weekly and biweekly hours.
Overtime can also be paid if a nurse practitioner’s shifts overlap and extend beyond 15 minutes, their shift is changed without adequate notice, they work more than seven days in a row, or they end up working on a scheduled day or weekend off.
Wage Premiums
In Ontario, nurse practitioners can earn wage premiums for the following reasons:
- Working night shifts
- Working weekends
- Being on call
- Having to call patients or co-workers back while on call or remote
- Traveling
The hourly premium for working night shifts is $2.65 while the hourly rate for evening shifts is $2.25. Hourly premiums for working weekends and being on call are $2.80 and $3.45, respectively.
If a nurse practitioner is on call during a holiday, the hourly wages goes up to $5.05.
Callbacks are paid at 1.5 times the nurse practitioner’s normal rate for a minimum of 4 hours. Mileage for travel is the greater of 0.22 cents per kilometer or the rate specified in the medical facility’s policy.
Position Premiums
Different responsibilities can result in premium wages for nurse practitioners in Ontario, Canada. If they are designated as in-charge or as a team lead, they earn an additional $2 an hour.
Responsibility pay is an extra $1.50 an hour, while mentor and preceptor responsibilities yield an additional hourly rate of $0.60.
Education Allowances
In Ontario, there are various allowances for different levels of education. They are as follows:
- Post-grad certificate that takes three to six months to complete: $15 a month
- Post-grad certificate that takes more than six months to complete: $15 a month
- 1-year course: $40 a month
- BCSN degree: $80 a month
- Master’s degree: $120.00 a month
These provisions are available in select hospitals and medical facilities. Not all employers provide the allowance or are obligated by law to provide them.
Sick Pay
Nurse practitioners in Ontario are covered under HOODIP for sick pay. HOODIP is a short-term sick leave plan.
The acronym stands for Hospitals of Ontario Disability Income Program. If nurse practitioners need to take either short-term or long-term disability, the length of coverage can vary.
Short-term disability covers up to the first 75 days at a percentage of the nurse practitioner’s salary determined by length of service (see also how much Personal Support Workers earn). Long-term disability kicks in after 15 weeks.
Vacation Pay
The minimum number of allotted vacation days is 15, and the maximum is 35. This range is per year. Part-time nurse practitioners receive a percentage of their gross salaries based on full-time equivalents for their vacation days.
Pension and Retirement Benefits
An employer will pay 126% of a nurse practitioner’s contributions to a pension or retirement plan in Ontario. This is for full-time employees. Part-time employees are not obligated to contribute to employer-sponsored retirement or pension plans.
Experience and Skill Level Differences
Nurse practitioners who are just starting out in their careers can expect to earn less than their seasoned counterparts. Talent.com indicates the range of nurse practitioner salaries in Ontario is $91,522 on the low end and $116,771 on the high end.
Entry-level employees are more likely to earn salaries toward the low end of the scale. Those with 10 years of experience or more can expect to earn annual salaries toward the higher end of the salary range.
Cost of Living Variances
The cost of living in different cities in Ontario can impact a nurse practitioner’s average wages. Toronto and Ottawa have higher costs of living. Consequently, nurse practitioners earn an average salary of $50 an hour as of 2018.
On the low end, they earned $23.08 an hour. Practitioners earning wages on the high end of the scale took home $60 an hour.
In the Windsor/Sarnia area, entry-level nurse practitioners tend to earn less because living expenses tend to be lower.
Nursing careers in Canada
We will also show you the different types of nursing careers that you can pursue in Canada and what makes them different from each other:
A Registered Practical Nurse (RPN)
RPNs are required to possess foundational knowledge that combines nursing skills with the sound judgment within the context of traditional nursing and bedside care like blood pressure readings, inserting catheters, or answering basic patient questions. Registered Practical Nurses require the least education and training but must complete a two-year practical nursing program from an accredited institution nonetheless.
A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
A Licensed Practical Nurse provides the patients with a variety of basic health services like checking their vital signs and assisting with bathing, dressing, and eating. LPNs’ responsibilities are crucial in order to ensure that patients’ overall comfort and well-being are maintained while they receive medical care.
Registered Nurse (RN)
RNs are generally thought of as generalists. They hold a much deeper knowledge base than an RPN or an LPN. While Registered Nurses make more money, LPNs are able to get through school much faster, thus spending less money on school. It’s not uncommon for someone to get their LPN certification, get a job, and then continue their education as an RN while working in an LPN role.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
NPs generally will start their career as RNs before moving into a specific discipline. Nurse Practitioners offer much more comprehensive treatment to patients, diagnose illnesses, offer medications, and discuss treatment plans. They also help to administer medicine prescribed by a physician, which is the biggest difference between an NP and an RN.
Specializations
One of the great things about nursing in Canada is that it offers a lot of different potential paths. RPNs, LPNs, RNs, and NPs can all specialize in one or more areas. Travel Nurse, Oncology Nurse, Nurse Midwife, Cosmetic Nurse are just a few possible other options.
FAQs
1. What is the highest paid Nurse Practitioner in Canada?
Canada’s best cities for Nurse Practitioners.
- Toronto, Ontario. 46 salaries were reported. 77.60 Canadian dollars hourly.
- Ottawa, Ontario. 38 salaries were reported. 58.73 dollars hourly.
- London, Ontario. 36 salaries are reported. 57.83 dollars hourly.
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Approximately 27 salaries were reported. 55.08 dollars an hour.
- Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. 9 salaries were reported. $55 an hour.
2. What is the highest paid nurse in Ontario?
The highest-paid nurse in Ontario is a critical care nurse. They can make up to $100,000 per year.
3. How much do PSW make in Ontario?
In Ontario, the median wage per hour for this profession is also $16.50. Personal Support Worker HQ says that PSWs working in city-owned nursing homes can earn as much as $22 per hour, and those working in hospitals can earn about $23.
4. Is there a shortage of PSW in Ontario?
Some people argue that there is a shortage of PSWs in Ontario, while others claim that there is an overabundance of PSWs. The reality likely falls somewhere in the middle, with areas of the province experiencing a shortage of PSWs and other areas having too many PSWs.
5. Is it hard being a PSW?
Being a PSW can be very hard work, both physically and emotionally. On the other hand, it can also be very rewarding to help others in their time of need. It really depends on the individual’s own personal motivations and what they hope to get out of the job.
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