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

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Engineer salary lies between USD 105,100 and USD 172,150 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: Feb. 23, 2025

Salary trend

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 | 27386 jobs Python | 26583 jobs Machine Learning | 20037 jobs Computer Science | 17244 jobs Architecture | 15426 jobs Pipelines | 15054 jobs SQL | 14638 jobs AWS | 14552 jobs Security | 11338 jobs Testing | 10543 jobs Azure | 9990 jobs Java | 9502 jobs Spark | 9138 jobs Agile | 8944 jobs Data pipelines | 8783 jobs Research | 8508 jobs GCP | 8217 jobs ETL | 7930 jobs Big Data | 7668 jobs Kubernetes | 7455 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 | 24997 jobs Health care | 13733 jobs Equity / stock options | 10883 jobs Flex hours | 9317 jobs Startup environment | 8179 jobs Competitive pay | 7932 jobs Salary bonus | 6931 jobs Flex vacation | 6897 jobs Team events | 6409 jobs Insurance | 6128 jobs Medical leave | 6111 jobs Parental leave | 5878 jobs 401(k) matching | 3676 jobs Wellness | 3426 jobs Conferences | 1784 jobs Relocation support | 1719 jobs Home office stipend | 1669 jobs Transparency | 1425 jobs Flexible spending account | 1284 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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