Salary for Senior-level / Expert Engineer in Canada during 2024

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Engineer salary lies between USD 100,000 and USD 170,000 in Canada. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Dec. 22, 2024

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Engineer job listings are Engineering, Python and Machine Learning. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Engineering | 28355 jobs Python | 27421 jobs Machine Learning | 20855 jobs Computer Science | 17405 jobs Architecture | 16264 jobs Pipelines | 15328 jobs AWS | 15263 jobs SQL | 15007 jobs Security | 12047 jobs Testing | 11308 jobs Azure | 10145 jobs Java | 10128 jobs Agile | 9909 jobs Spark | 9445 jobs Data pipelines | 8983 jobs Research | 8565 jobs GCP | 8351 jobs ETL | 8098 jobs Big Data | 7898 jobs CI/CD | 7730 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Senior-level / Expert Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Engineer job listings are Career development, Health care and Equity / stock options. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 25867 jobs Health care | 14313 jobs Equity / stock options | 11365 jobs Flex hours | 9299 jobs Competitive pay | 8480 jobs Startup environment | 8199 jobs Salary bonus | 6974 jobs Flex vacation | 6881 jobs Team events | 6844 jobs Insurance | 6172 jobs Medical leave | 6094 jobs Parental leave | 5864 jobs Wellness | 3979 jobs 401(k) matching | 3663 jobs Conferences | 1782 jobs Relocation support | 1714 jobs Home office stipend | 1665 jobs Transparency | 1418 jobs Flexible spending account | 1281 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 1258 jobs

Salary Composition

In Canada, the salary composition for a Senior-level or Expert Engineer in AI/ML/Data Science typically includes a combination of a fixed base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or equity, especially in tech companies. The base salary often constitutes the majority of the total compensation package, ranging from 70% to 85%. Performance bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company and industry, usually accounting for 10% to 20% of the total compensation. Additional remuneration, such as stock options, is more common in larger tech companies or startups and can make up 5% to 15% of the total package. The exact composition can vary based on the region, with tech hubs like Toronto and Vancouver offering more competitive packages, and the industry, with finance and tech sectors typically offering higher bonuses and equity options.

Increasing Salary Further

To increase your salary further from a Senior-level position, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in a niche area of AI/ML, such as natural language processing, computer vision, or reinforcement learning, which can command higher salaries.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into leadership or managerial roles, such as a team lead or director, which often come with higher pay.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest technologies and methodologies in AI/ML. Pursuing advanced certifications or courses can make you more valuable.
• Networking: Engage with professional networks and communities. Opportunities often arise through connections, and being well-connected can lead to higher-paying roles.
• Negotiation Skills: Improve your negotiation skills to better advocate for higher pay during performance reviews or when switching jobs.

Educational Requirements

For a Senior-level position in AI/ML/Data Science, a strong educational background is typically required. Most employers look for candidates with at least a Master's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, or Mathematics. A Ph.D. can be advantageous, especially for roles that involve research or developing new algorithms. Additionally, a solid foundation in programming, data structures, and algorithms is essential.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your profile and demonstrate your expertise:

• Certified Machine Learning Professional (CMLP)
• TensorFlow Developer Certificate
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
• Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate
• Data Science Council of America (DASCA) Senior Data Scientist (SDS) Certification

These certifications can validate your skills and knowledge, making you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level position requires substantial experience in the field, often ranging from 5 to 10 years. This experience should include hands-on work with machine learning models, data analysis, and software development. Experience in leading projects or teams is also highly valued, as it demonstrates your ability to manage complex tasks and collaborate effectively with others.

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