Is $20,000 a good salary in Edmonton?
$20,000 is a modest salary for Edmonton — around the 20th income percentile, so most earners (about 80%) make more. Take-home is about $18,194 after tax, CPP and EI.
Median individual income is $48,730 in Edmonton, against $47,910 across Alberta — so this salary sits at the 20th percentile locally and the 20th provincially.
Income figures cover the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Edmonton, the region Statistics Canada reports, not the municipality alone.
One page answers all three — how you compare, what you keep, and your tax rate.
I'm in the 20th income percentile in Edmonton.
Where you stand
How you compare to Edmonton earners
Based on individual employment income. You earn more than about 20% of residents.
Your paycheque
Where your $20,000 goes
Estimated 2026 deductions for a resident of Alberta, employment income.
Average tax rate ≈ 2.5% · Total deductions ≈ 9.0% · Marginal ≈ 22.0%
Educational information only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Figures are estimates based on official CRA & Statistics Canada data.
Take-home pay uses Alberta tax rates — income tax is provincial, not municipal.
Compare provinces
Where $20,000 goes furthest
Take-home pay, tax rate, and income percentile for $20,000 in every province and territory.
| # | Province / territory | Take-home pay | Avg. tax rate | Total deductions | Income percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alberta | $18,194 | 2.5% | 9.0% | 20th |
| 2 | Nunavut | $18,180 | 2.6% | 9.1% | 29th |
| 3 | Northwest Territories | $18,085 | 3.0% | 9.6% | 20th |
| 4 | Saskatchewan | $18,035 | 3.3% | 9.8% | 21st |
| 5 | Quebec | $18,001 | 3.1% | 10.0% | 19th |
| 6 | Yukon | $17,966 | 3.6% | 10.2% | 14th |
| 7 | Ontario | $17,840 | 4.3% | 10.8% | 23rd |
| 8 | British Columbia | $17,836 | 4.3% | 10.8% | 21st |
| 9 | Manitoba | $17,758 | 4.7% | 11.2% | 22nd |
| 10 | Prince Edward Island | $17,647 | 5.2% | 11.8% | 19th |
| 11 | New Brunswick | $17,596 | 5.5% | 12.0% | 22nd |
| 12 | Nova Scotia | $17,468 | 6.1% | 12.7% | 22nd |
| 13 | Newfoundland and Labrador | $17,435 | 6.3% | 12.8% | 22nd |
Ontario and Quebec figures are approximate: Ontario's surtax and Quebec's QPP2, parental insurance (QPIP), and prescription-drug contribution aren't modelled.
What's next