Are you thinking about starting a career in nursing? It’s a great way to give back to your community and make a living. Nursing defines a broad category of skill sets. Registered Nurses are the ultimate goal for many aspiring Personal Service Workers (PSWs) deciding to advance their career in healthcare.
So, what can you expect in wages and salary for a career in nursing? This post unpacks the average nurse salary Montreal facilities offer based on qualifications, specialty, and experience. Are you ready? Let’s dive into the details.
What Is The Average Hourly Rate For Nursing in Montreal?
The average nurse salary Montreal healthcare facilities pay depends on the institution hiring the individual. Some healthcare companies and facilities pay hourly wages, while others use an annual salary model paid out to employees monthly.
According to data collected by ZipRecruiter, the average nurse in Montreal earns approximately CAD$130,000 per annum. However, salaries can range widely, depending on qualifications, place of employment, and nursing specialties.
Salaries range from CAD$83,400 to CAD$250,000, with this salary including allowances for transport, housing, and benefits. So, if you’re a new RN in your first month on the job, working in a rural setting on the outskirts of Montreal, you can expect to be in the lower range.
If you’re a seasoned RN or RPN working in a hospital setting in the Montreal city center, you can expect to receive closer to the higher-end range of the salary bracket. Earning towards the higher end of the spectrum seems appealing. However, it also exposes you to a larger tax responsibility during filing season.
Salaried nursing positions pay employees a fixed amount each month, regardless of how much overtime they put into their work.
The opposite side of the coin in this scenario is that you receive the same salary for working less than the hours stipulated in your employment contract. However, that might hurt you when it comes to your salary and performance review.
If you’re wondering how to convert a salaried position into an hourly wage, or vice versa, you divide the monthly salary by five working days per week and eight working hours per day. Hourly wage calculations differ slightly depending on how many hours the employee works. It also doesn’t account for employees working paid overtime in their positions.
In most instances, hourly employees receiving wages will receive better overtime rates and more overtime during the working year. Salaried employees may be required to complete a certain amount of overtime per week/month/quarter/year, depending on their contract negotiations.
Nursing Hourly Rates By Specialty
Let’s look at the average hourly wages for the top nursing specialties in Montreal.
- Registered Nurse – Operating Room
Average $46.17 p/hour
- Registered Nurse – Surgical/ Medical
Average $41.43 p/hour
- Registered Nurse – Home Health
Average $38.38 p/hour
- Clinical Nurse
Average $37.91 p/hour
- Licensed Practical Nurse
Average $31.73 p/hour
- Nurse
Average $28.64 p/hour
Median, Maximum, Minimum, Salaries, and the Range for Registered Nurses in Montreal
Across Canada, Registered Nurses typically earn around CAD$99,000 per annum. The salary range for the position is from CAD$48,800 to CAD$155,000, including benefits and allowances for transport, housing, and others. The salary range for nurses working in Montreal is from CAD$83,400 to CAD$250,000.
The annual salaries of Registered Nurse salaries vary depending on their location, gender, skill set, and experience. Let’s unpack the range in more detail to understand what you can expect to receive working as an RN in Montreal.
Median Salary
The median salary for nurses in Montreal is CAD$125,000 per annum, resulting in half the nurses working in Montreal earning less than CAD$125,000, with the other half making over this threshold. The median represents the center point of salary distributions across the nursing industry in Montreal.
Understanding Salary Percentiles
The 25th and the 75th percentiles closely relate to the median nurse salary Montreal institutions pay their staff. 25% of nurses earn under CAD$93,600, while 75% earn more than CAD$93,600. Also, 75% of nurses earn less than CAD$180,000, while 25% earn more than CAD$180,000.
Does Experience Affect Salary Rates For Nurses in Montreal?
Experience level is the greatest factor for determining nursing salaries across Canada and Montreal. The more experience you have, the higher your base salary. If we look at salaries by experience level, we find Registered Nurses with less than two years of experience in the field earn approximately CAD$57,800 per annum.
An RN with experience of between two and five years on the job earns approximately CAD$74,400 per year, earning 29% more than those with entry-level experience in the profession. RNs with between five and ten years of experience can expect to earn around CAD$103,000 per annum, which is 38% above RNs with two to five years of experience.
Registered Nurses with between ten and 15 years of experience earn approximately CAD$127,000 per annum, 24% more than those with five to ten years of experience. RNs with 15 to 20 years of experience in the job earn approximately CAD$136,000 per annum. That’s 7% more than those with ten to 15 years of experience.
Finally, Registered Nurses with over 20 years of experience receive an annual salary of approximately CAD$145,000, 7% more than those with 15 to 20 years of experience.
Does Education Affect Salary Rates For Nurses in Montreal?
Education directly affects your qualifications and how much you earn as a nurse in Montreal. So, how much more money can you make with your education?
RNs with bachelor’s degrees earn approximately CAD$72,200 per year. Registered Nurses with a master’s degree earn annual salaries of about CAD$116,000 per annum, or 60% more than those with a bachelor’s.
So, given the dramatic disparity between salaries for the two degrees, is it worth investing the time and money into furthering your higher education? Analysis of the market shows undertaking a master’s degree in Canada can cost anywhere up to CAD$149,000 and take an additional two years of study.
That’s a significant investment in time and money. You won’t receive a salary increase while working toward your master’s, but you’ll receive a salary review after completing your degree. So, looking at the figures, it’s going to take up to three years to earn back the money spent on furthering your nursing education to the master’s degree level.
Overall, investing in your education is the right move if you want to reach the top percentile of earners in the industry.
Is There a Gender Salary Gap For Nurses in Montreal?
While the gender gap is real, in most other industries outside of nursing, like finance, men get paid more than women. However, the roles are reversed in nursing. According to research, male nurses earn 4% less than their female counterparts.
What Kind Of Salary Increase And Bonus, Can I Expect As a Nurse in Montreal?
Registered Nurses, like many other jobs, receive an annual bonus and increase in line with inflation and their performance on the job. RNs can expect salary increases of around 10% every 17 months. The national average for increases across all professionals is 9% every 15 months.
However, regarding bonuses, Registered Nurses can expect less than other industries, like finance. The RN has limited involvement in revenue generation, so they don’t qualify for much of a performance bonus at year-end.
67% of RNs report they don’t receive any bonus or incentive pay, while 33% say they receive some form of monetary bonus from their employer. Those who are receiving bonuses report amounts ranging between 0% to 4% of their annual salary.
So, what are the types of bonuses RNs receive from their employers?
Individual Performance-Based Bonuses
This bonus is the most common across the nursing industry. Nurses receive this bonus based on their annual performance review by their employer.
Company Performance Bonuses
If your company does well financially during the year, it may distribute some of the excess profits to its staff, landing the nurses a bonus.
Goal-Based Bonuses
These bonuses occur when the nurse meets specific quarterly performance targets and KPIs.
End-of-Year Bonuses
These bonuses are usually given to nurses at the end of the year to help them through Christmas and the new year. It’s usually a token of appreciation from the employer.
What Are The Top Paying Companies For Nurses in Montréal, QC?
If you’re looking for a job as a nurse in Montreal, applying with any of these facilities lands you a top-rated salary.
- ESM Solutions – $58.21 per hour.
- Gifted Hands Health Services – $51.72 per hour.
- Interlake-Eastern RHA – $49.53 per hour.
- Curaga – $48.66 per hour
- Intercare Corporate Group – $43.59 per hour
How Does a Nursing Salary in Montreal Compare To Other Cities Nearby?
According to research, nursing salaries in Montreal are among the highest across Canada.
Here’s how they compare with jobs in neighboring Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario cities.
- Edmonton, AB – $50.30 per hour.
- Montréal, QC – $41.49 per hour.
- Laflèche, QC – $41.01 per hour.
- Windsor, ON – $38.26 per hour.
- London, ON – $37.98 per hour.
- Ottawa, ON – $37.90 per hour.
- Waterville, QC – $37.43 per hour.
- Barrie, ON – $36.40 per hour.
- Kitchener, ON – $35.99 per hour.
What Are The Benefits Of Working As a Nurse in Montreal?
There are several advantages to working as a nurse employed in Canada in remote or isolated First Nations communities. Nurses working these jobs receive base salaries and allowances, adding to generous compensation packages. Nurses working in these positions receive generous subsidies for callback, overtime, and standby pay.
Other benefits nurses receive include options for flexible work schedules. Some nurses may value their time off or quality of life more than making money on the job.
If that’s the case for you, you can find jobs offering the following benefits.
- Improved work-life balance.
- Parents can receive a better school-life balance for their kids.
- Better work balance for nurses commuting from suburbs.
- 12-hour shifts and four-day work weeks.
- Professional training and development days.
Nurses working in Montreal also have options for leave benefits included in their employment contracts. You can expect the following leave schedule if you’re a full-time nurse. Leave entitlements are typically pro-rated for part-time nurses. One year of service equates to 1,950 hours.
- 0 to 1 year of service: 15 days p/year.
- 1 to 16 years: 20 days p/year.
- 16 to 17 years: 22 days p/year.
- 17 to 18 years: 23 days p/year.
- 18 to 27 years: 25 days p/year.
- 28 years or more: 30 days p/year.
Other Types of Leave Available For Nurses in Montreal
Employers usually offer different types of leave for personal situations throughout the year.
These leave days include the following.
- Parental or maternity leave – 93% of your pay rate.
- Sick leave – Up to 15 days per annum.
- Bereavement leave – Up to ten calendar days off when a loved one pass.
- Family responsibility leave – Up to five days paid leave per year.
- Personal leave – 15 hours per year that does not count against sick leave or vacation leave.
Other Benefits Offered to Nurses Working in Montreal
Nurses working in isolated First Nations communities may qualify for the following additional government benefits.
Student Loan Forgiveness
This benefit can offer nurses up to $20,000 in student loan debt relief over five years ($4,000 per annum).
Health Benefits
All nurses working for the Canadian Government are automatic members of the Public Service Health Care Plan. This plan offers dental care, prescription drugs, vision care, and more benefits.
Pension
Nurses working for the Canadian Government are eligible to receive the Public Service Pension Plan. Provided they work an average of 12 hours per week. This scheme is one of the most generous pension plans in the country.
Employee Assistance Program
This program assists nurses with overcoming challenges in their lives. The Canadian Government offers nurses access to the Employee Assistance Program.
It’s a free and confidential service featuring access to dedicated professionals providing crisis management and counseling services addressing matters such as loss or grief, workplace debt management, interpersonal conflict, workplace issues, and more.
Training and Career Development
Most employers will offer chances to further your education while you work. These educational opportunities include specialty training courses, scholarship and development programs, and clinical support from supervisors and experienced nurses.
