Is $100,000 a good income in Canada? It depends on where you file

"Six figures" still sounds like a finish line. Whether $100,000 is a high income — or just a comfortable one — depends on whether you're comparing yourself to individuals or households, and which province you live in.

As an individual earner: top 13% to top 21%

Using tax-filer data from Statistics Canada, a $100,000 individual income sits at roughly:

• Nova Scotia: the 87th percentile — top 13%
• Ontario: the 81st percentile — top 19%
• Alberta: the 79th percentile — top 21%

The same salary ranks higher in provinces where wages are lower. That isn't a bonus — housing and living costs are usually lower there too, which is part of why the rank moves.

Percentiles describe where you stand against other earners. They don't say whether $100,000 covers your rent, kids, or commute.

As a household: right around the middle

Households tell a different story. A $100,000 household income in Ontario lands near the 54th percentile — a bit above the middle, not near the top. Two people earning $50,000 each are a typical household, not a wealthy one.

Be careful which comparison you're making. A single earner at $100,000 and a couple at $100,000 combined are in very different spots: the first is top-20%, the second is about average. Check both on our income percentile page and the household version.

Where $100,000 ends up after tax

Gross income and spendable income diverge quickly, and provinces diverge from each other. Metrestick's 2026 estimates for $100,000 gross:

• Alberta: about $72,883 take-home (27.1% total deductions)
• Ontario: about $72,803 (27.2%)
• Quebec: about $68,209 (31.8%)

Alberta and Ontario land nearly identical after tax, while Quebec is roughly $4,600 lower — partly offset by Quebec's benefits, including its subsidized child care and different tax credits. Run your own province in the take-home pay calculator.

So is $100,000 "good"?

It's a strong individual income almost everywhere in Canada, and a middle-of- the-road household income almost everywhere in Canada. Which one applies to you is the whole question.

Two quick checks make it concrete:

• Compare against your own housing cost. Our guide to affordable rent shows why the 30% rule can mislead.
• Compare against your savings rate. A $100,000 income saving 5% builds less wealth than a $70,000 income saving 20%.

Data: Statistics Canada tax-filer income (individual, 2023 reference year) and Canadian Income Survey (household, 2024); take-home figures are 2026 estimates. Source: Metrestick.